P3: Energy Resources

• P3 1) Where does most of our energy come from?

  Burning fossil fuels
• P3 3) How do power stations produce energy?

  Burning fuels heats water in a boiler. This produces steam. This drives a turbine that turns an electricity generator.
• P3 4) What is a biofuel?

  Any fuel taken from living or recently living organisms.
• P3 5) Give 2 examples of biofuels.

  Animal waste, methane gas
• P3 6) Give 2 advantages of biofuels.

  Renewable and carbon neutral
• P3 9) Give 3 types of renewable energy.

  Wind, wave, hydroelectric, biofuel, tidal power, solar, geothermal
• P3 10) How does wind generate electricity?

  Wind turns a turbine . This turns a generator.
• P3 11) How does wave power generate electricity?

  A wave generator uses the waves to make a floating generator move up and down which generates electricity.
• P3 12) How does hydroelectric power generate electricity?

  Rain water collected in reservoir. This flows downhill, which drives turbines that turn electricity generators.
• P3 13) How does tidal power produce electricity?

  Traps water from each high tide behind a barrage. This is then released to turn turbines, which drives generators to produce electricity.
• P3 14) What are solar cells?

  Flat solid cells that use the Sun's energy to generate electricity directly.
• P3 15) What are solar heating panels?

  They heat water that flow through it using the energy from the sun.
• P3 16) What is the difference between solar cells and solar heating panels?

  Solar cells use the Sun's energy to generate electricity whereas solar heating panels use the Sun's energy to heat water flowing through it.
• P3 17) What is geothermal energy?

  Comes from the energy transferred by radioactive substances deep inside the Earth. The energy transferred from these heats the surrounding rock. Water pumped underground produces steam to drive turbines to generate electricity.
• P3 18) What are 2 disadvantages of fossil fuels?

  When burnt, greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere (most scientist believe these contribute global warming), non-renewable
• P3 19) What are 2 advantages of nuclear power?

  No greenhouse gases, much more energy transferred from each kg of uranium than from fossil fuels.
• P3 20) What are 2 disadvantages from nuclear power?

  Used fuel rods will contain radioactive waste - has to be stored safely, an explosion of a nuclear reactor could release radioactive material over a wide area.
• P3 21) What are 3 advantages of renewable energy?

  Never run out because they're always being replenished, do not produce greenhouse gases, do not create radioactive waste, can be used where use of national grid is economical.
• P3 22) What are 3 disadvantages of wind turbines?

  not able to meet world demands, create whining noise that can upset people nearby, some people consider unsightly, not available all the time
• P3 23) What are 2 disadvantages of tidal barrages?

  Not able to meet world demands, affect river estuaries and the habitats of animals and plants there.
• P3 24) What are 3 disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

  Not able to meet world demands, need large resovoirs which can affect nearby plant and animal life, not available all the time