C10 - Using resources Flashcards
What is potable water?
Water that is safe to drink.
What is not pure water?
Has dissolved salts and microbes but they are at low enough levels to drink.
Is not pure water potable?
Yes.
What are 3 sources of fresh water?
Ground water, lakes, rivers
What are 3 steps to make potable water from fresh water?
Choose appropriate source of fresh water.
Pass water through filter beams.
Sterilise water (kill microorganisms)
What are 3 methods to sterilise water?
Use chlorine, ozone or UV.
What is desalaination?
Removing salt from sea water.
How does reverse osmosis work?
Water put under high pressure.
Passed through a membrane.
Pores allow water molecules through but not most ions and molecules.
What are the disadvantages of reverse osmosis?
Expensive membranes.
Large volume of water waste - low efficiency.
How does distillation work?
Sea water heated until it boils.
Salt remains in the liquid and the steam is pure water.
What are the disadvantages of distillation?
Requires lots of energy to boil and condense the water.
The waste water is salty and can be difficult to dispose of without harming marine ecosystems.
What is the first step of treating sewage?
Screening - removing large solid particles.
What is the second step of treating sewage?
Sedimentation - solids sink to form sewage sludge, liquid remains above.
What is the liquid that remains above called?
Effluent.
What is the third step of treating sewage?
Sludge is dried and anaerobically digested (broken down by microorganisms)
What can the products of the third step of sewage treatment be used for?
Dried sludge used as fertiliser.
Digestion of sludge produces biogas which can be used for electricity.
What is the fourth step of treating sewage?
Effluent is aerobically digested in the presence of oxygen. This removes organic matter and harmful organisms.
What is a finite resource?
Can not be replaced once it has been used.
What is a renewable resource?
Can be replaced once it has been used.
What are the 4 main uses of the Earth’s resources?
- Transport.
- Food.
- Heating.
- Housing.
What is sustainable development?
Using resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.
What are sustainable methods for dealing with metals?
Recycling them.
What are sustainable methods for fuel for transport?
Use biofuels.
What are sustainable methods for electricity generation?
Use renewable energy.