Chapter 9.5 - What are the sources of energy that we use? Flashcards
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of dead plants and animals buried in earth millions of years ago.Hence they are limited and will run out one day.
Fossil fuels are a type of fuel that are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. They are called “fossil” fuels because they are formed from the fossils of ancient organisms, which have been transformed over millions of years through the process of heat and pressure into substances like coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, meaning that once they are used up, they cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
What are alternative sources of energy?
Solar energy, hydroelectric energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, biofuels and nuclear energy.
Alternative sources of energy, also known as renewable energy, are sources of energy that are not based on finite resources such as fossil fuels. These energy sources are considered “renewable” because they are replenished naturally and can be used repeatedly without running out.
Examples:
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Geothermal Energy
Biofuels
Nuclear Energy
What is the impact of the use of solar energy on the enviroment?
Solar energy can generate electricity without releasing air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Although the production of solar panels requires energy, the process of harnessing solar energy has minimal impact on the environment. Sufficient care needs to be taken to reduce the amount of toxic waste generated during the production and disposal of solar panels.
What is the impact of the use of hydrolectictric energy on the enviroment?
Generating hydroelectric energy produces very little greenhouse gases. However, the environmental impact of harnessing hydroelectric power needs to be considered and minimised. The reservoir water floods the area behind a dam. This kills plants and forces animals to move to other areas. People who make a living by fishing may also have to relocate further inland and thus may not be able to fish anymore.
What is the Impact of the Use of Wind Energy on the Environment?
Large plots of land need to be cleared to build wind farms. This results in the potential loss of wildlife as natural habitats are destroyed. Birds may be killed if they collide into the rotating blades of the wind turbines.
The noise produced by the rotating blades can also be a source of noise pollution to nearby communities.
What is the Impact of the Use of Geothermal Energy on the Environment?
Geothermal sites usually require the clearing of large areas of land.This destroys the habitats of wildlife and thus affects the diversity of species. In addition, traces of toxic elements buried underground are also drawn out. They can cause harm to the environment if not properly handled.
What is the Impact of the Use of Biofuels on the Environment?
Like fossil fuels, the burning of biofuels releases air pollutants such as carbon dioxide into the environment.
An advantage of using biofuels is that the plants used to make biofuels can be grown in a short time. Biofuels can also be made from used cooking oil and other food waste. This helps to recycle and reduce waste. When the plants that are grown for making biofuels carry out photosynthesis, the amount of carbon dioxide they take in helps to balance the amount of carbon dioxide released when the biofuels are burnt.
What is the Impact of the Use of Nuclear Energy on the Environment?
Nuclear energy is a source of clean energy and requires less land space to generate the same amount of energy compared to other alternative sources of energy. For comparison, a solar energy farm and a wind farm require 75 and 360 times more land space to produce the same amount of electricity as a nuclear power plant respectively
List the energy conversion of Solar Energy.
Light Energy (the sun) –> Electrical Energy (Solar cell)
List the energy conversion of Hydroelectric Energy.
Gravitational Potential Energy (water stored behind a dam) –> Kinetic Energy (water flowing down) –> Kinetic Energy (turbine spinning) –> Electrical Energy (generator)
List the energy conversion of Wind Energy.
Kinetic Energy (wind) –> Kinetic Energy (wind turbine) –> Electical Energy (generator)
List the energy conversion of Geothermal Energy.
Heat Energy (Earth’s core) –> Kinetic Energy (steam) –> Kinetic Energy (steam turbine) –> Electrical Energy (generator)
List the energy conversion of Biofuels.
Chemical Potential Energy (biofuel) –> Heat Energy –> Kinetic Energy (vehicle)
List the energy conversion of Nuclear Energy.
Nuclear Energy (atoms) –> Heat Energy –> Kinetic Energy (turbine) –> Electrical Energy (generator)
