national and global energy resources

• What is a trend with the amount of energy the modern world uses?

  It is grown each year
• what are the three main fossil fuels

  Coal, oil, and gas
• Approximately what percentage of the world's total energy needs are supplied by fossil fuels?

  Around 80%
• Why is reliability a significant advantage of fossil fuels?

  They always provide energy when we need it
• What makes the reliability of fossil fuels a huge advantage?

  Compared with other sources of energy
• Why is the high energy release of fossil fuels extremely useful?

  They can fly for thousands of miles before refueling
• What fuel allows airplanes to fly for thousands of miles before refueling?

  Jet fuel made from oil
• What does it mean that fossil fuels are abundant?

  The world still has plenty
• What does the abundance of fossil fuels make them?

  Relatively cheap
• What makes fossil fuels extremely versatile?

  We can use them for multiple applications
• What are some uses for versatile fossil fuels?

  Transport, generating electricity, and heating
• What is one reason that fossil fuels are versatile?

  They're portable
• What is a result of fossil fuels being portable?

  Useful to power vehicles
• How do renewable energy sources compare to fossil fuels in terms of versatility?

  Not as versatile as fossil fuels
• What is a major disadvantage of burning fossil fuels?

  Releases a huge amount of carbon dioxide
• What does the release of carbon dioxide contribute to?

  Climate change
• What does it mean that fossil fuels are non-renewable?

  Not replenished or replaced as we use them
• What will eventually happen if we continue to use fossil fuels?

  They will one day run out
• What is released when burning diesel in cars and lorries?

  Carbon particles and nitrogen oxides
• What does acid rain damage?

  Buildings and trees
• What can burning coal produce?

  Sulfur dioxide
• What does sulfur dioxide lead to?

  Acid rain
• What elements do nuclear power plants run on?

  Uranium and plutonium
• Is nuclear power renewable or nonrenewable?

  Nonrenewable
• What is one advantage of nuclear power, in terms of emissions?

  It does not release carbon dioxide while running
• How does nuclear power impact climate change?

  It does not contribute to climate change
• What makes nuclear power reliable?

  It generates electricity exactly when we want it
• What is a disadvantage of nuclear power in terms of materials?

  Nuclear power plants contain dangerous radioactive materials
• What can happen if there is an accident at a nuclear power plant?

  Radioactive materials can be released into the environment
• What was the result of the tsunami that flooded a Japanese nuclear plant in 2011?

  Release of radioactive material, evacuation of over 150,000
• What happens to a nuclear power plant at the end of its life?

  It has to be decommissioned or dismantled
• What does decommissioning a nuclear power plant involve?

  Taking many years and being extremely expensive
• What is the main issue with nuclear waste?

  It is highly dangerous and radioactive
• How long does nuclear waste need to be stored?

  Thousands of years
• What did the UK have abundant reserves of?

  Coal
• Until the 1950s, where did almost all UK electricity come from?

  Burning coal
• Besides electricity, what were coal and coal gas used for in the UK?

  Heating and cooking
• What energy source came online in the 1950s and caused a drop in coal use?

  Nuclear power
• By the 1980s, approximately what percentage of the UK's electricity was produced by nuclear power?

  Around 20%
• What resource started replacing coal for electricity generation in the 1970s?

  Oil and gas