1. Energy

• Kinetic - moving objects have kinetic energy
• Thermal - all objects have thermal energy
• Chemical - anything that can release energy during a chemical reaction
• Elastic potential - things that are stretched
• Gravitational potential - anything that is raised
• Electrostatic - charges that attract or repel
• Magnetic - magnets that attract or repel
• Nuclear - the nucleus of an atom releases energy
• Energy can be transferred mechanically - when work is done
• Energy can be transferred electrically - when moving charge does work
• Energy can be transferred by heating - when energy is transferred from a hotter object to a cooler object
• Conduction - when a solid is heated, the particles vibrate and collide more, and thermal energy is transferred
• Convection - when a liquid or gas is heated, the particles move faster. This means the liquid or gas becomes more dense. The denser region will rise above the cooler region. This is a convection current
• Insulation -reduces the amount of heat lost. In a house, heat loss can be prevented in a number ways; thick walls, thermal insulation (loft insulation cavity walls and double glazing)
• Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree
• Non-renewable - they are finite and will all run out, they damage the environment, but provide most of the energy needed. e.g. coal, oil, gas
• Renewable - they use natural resources to generate electricity and they are infinite so will never run out. They can be unreliable and do not provide as much energy
• Carbon neutral - When a whole process does not make a net contribution of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. e.g. burning biofuels might be carbon neutral because it only releases the same amount of carbon dioxide as it absorbed by photosynthesis when the crop was grown
• Solar - using sunlight

  Adv. - renewable, no pollution, in sunny countries its very reliable

  Disadv. - lots of energy need to build, only works in the day, cannot increase power supply if needed.
• Geothermal - using energy of hot rocks

  Adv. - renewable and reliable as the rocks are always hot. Power stations have a small impact on environment

  Disadv. - may release some greenhouse gases, only found in specific places.
• Wind - using turbines

  Adv. renewable, no pollution, no lasting damage to the environment, minimal running costs.

  Disadv. - not as reliable, does not work when there is no wind, cannot increase supply if needed
• Hydro-electric - using dams

  Adv. - renewable, no pollution, can increase supply if needed

  Disadv. - a big impact on the environement, animals and plants may lose their habitats.
• Wave power - wave powered turbines

  Adv. - renewable, no pollution

  Disadv. - disturbs the sea bed and habitats of animals. unreliable
• Biofuels

  Adv. - renewable, reliable, no pollution

  Disadv. - High costs growing biofuels may cause a problem regards to space, clearance of natural forests.
• Non-renewable - fossil fuels

  Adv. - reliable, enough to meet the current demand, can produce more energy where there is a higher demand

  Disadv. - running out, releases carbon dioxide leading to global warming, and also releases sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain.