1.4 Methods To Generate Electricity

Question 1

What is a renewable resource?

Answer 1

A natural source that is not depleted or diminished by use

Question 2

What is a non-renewable source?

Answer 2

Source of energy the exists in finite quantities
And
Not capable of being replenished once used

Question 3

Name some renewable sources of energy

Answer 3

Wind
Solar
Geothermal
Biofuels 
Tidal
Hydrological

Question 4

Name some non-renewable sources of energy

Answer 4

Coal
Oil
Nuclear

Question 5

What do all energy sources do except solar?

Answer 5

Use the source to turn a turbine to spin a generator to generate electricity

Question 6

Advantages of wind energy

Answer 6

Renewable source
Doesn’t release Greenhouse gases
Brings power to remote locations
Low running cost

Question 7

Disadvantages of wind energy

Answer 7

It is weather dependent
Installation is expensive
Visual pollution
Noise pollution

Question 8

Advantages of Solar energy

Answer 8

Renewable energy source
Low maintenance
It’s a clean energy source (No pollution)
No noise pollution

Question 9

Disadvantages of solar energy

Answer 9

The initial cost is high
It is weather dependent
Takes up a lot of space

Question 10

Advantages of Geothermal energy

Answer 10

Obtained from natural substances (volcanic areas)
Non polluting
Low maintenance cost
Not weather dependent

Question 11

Disadvantages of Geothermal energy

Answer 11

Few sites have geothermal potential energy
Danger of volcano eruption
Installation cost is high

Question 12

Advantages of biofuels

Answer 12

Renewable
No greenhouse gases
Lower pollution

Question 13

Disadvantages of biofuels

Answer 13

High cost of production
Could lead to a shortage of crops (obtained from plants)
Uses a lot of water to irrigate the crops

Question 14

Advantages of Wave/Tidal energy

Answer 14

Renewable source
Doesn’t produce greenhouse gases
71% of earth is water = large area to harness power
Efficient power

Question 15

Disadvantages of Wave/Tidal energy

Answer 15

Cost of construction is high
Few ideal locations for construction
Disrupts fish migration

Question 16

Advantages of hydropower

Answer 16

Clean source of energy
Doesn’t pollute the air
Renewable
A lot of rain in the UK

Question 17

Disadvantages of hydropower

Answer 17

Fish cannot migrate because of the dams
Dams are big and expensive to build
Can impact water quality
Impacted by droughts

Question 18

Advantages of Crude Oil and Coal

Answer 18

Everything already runs on it
Reliable energy
High energy density
Constant power source

Question 19

Disadvantages of Crude oil and coal

Answer 19

Non-renewable
Releases CO2
Contributes to pollution
Growth of terrorism/power around

Question 20

Advantages of Nuclear energy

Answer 20

Practically renewable 
Doesn't release pollution into atmosphere 
Low transport cost
Most concentrated form of energy
Doesn't depend on the weather

Question 21

Disadvantages of Nuclear energy

Answer 21

Nuclear waste is toxic
Waste is difficult to dispose
If a nuclear accident happens it can affect generations for years to come
Long start up time

Question 22

How do fossil fuels, and biofuels create electricity?

Answer 22

They are burned to heat water

The steam produced turns a turbine to spin a generator

Question 23

What substances are used in nuclear energy? Which process?

Answer 23

Plutonium and uranium

Nuclear fission

Question 24

What is carbon capture?

Answer 24

New technology designed to capture carbon

Preventing Carbon dioxide building up in the atmosphere by catching and storing it

Question 25

What are the best natural containers for carbon capture?

Answer 25

Old oil and gas fields
For example
Under the North sea

Question 26

How is electricity distributed around the country?

Answer 26

By the National grid from power stations

Question 27

Why is electricity constantly supplied?

Answer 27

It cannot be stored

Question 28

What are used along the journey of electricity?

Answer 28

Transformers

Question 29

What do transformers do at the step up?

Answer 29

They increase the voltage
Which decreases the current
Therefore the wires don’t glow and less energy is lost

Question 30

What do transformers do at the step down?

Answer 30

Decrease the voltage

To make the voltage safe for use in a home at around 240 volts