Chapter2 LO 1-4

Question 1

Which fossil fuel type provided a huge proportion of the energy used up until 1920? What types of uses did it have?

Answer 1

Coal
It was used for heating homes, electricity production and steel production. It was also used in the boilers to produce steam to power ships and trains

Question 2

Why did the use of fossil fuels increase greatly after WW2 ended in 1945?

Answer 2

There was a rapid increase in the usage level of crude oil from the 1950s onwards. This is because of the European Recovery Programme, or the Marshal Plan

Question 3

Give 4 reasons why fossil fuel usage has increased significantly in recent decades

Answer 3

Increase in world population
Increase in the number of goods and services
Increased travel
Capitalism

Question 4

CCEA PPQ
Explain why countries will have to reduce their use of coal-fired electricity in order to alter their greenhouse gas emissions

Answer 4

Burning coal to produce electricity releases carbon dioxide gas which is a greenhouse gas
It is implicated in causing global warming and climate change. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, countries will have to burn less fossil fuels.

Question 5

Which two nations dominated the world economy around 2000 years ago?

Answer 5

China and India

Question 6

Countries from which regions of earth have dominated the world economy since the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 6

North America, Japan and European nations

Question 7

What changes are projected to take place from 2019 up to 2050 in terms of the top economies? Which nations are going to lose out? Which nations will gain?

Answer 7

Projected top 10 economies in 2050 shows that the top economies will be economies that are currently developing and countries that will lose out will be North America and European nations

Question 8

Explain the concept of fuel security

Answer 8

Fuel security refers to a nation’s ability to access a continuous affordable supply of fossil fuels.

Question 9

Outline three ways that a country can enhance its fuel security.

Answer 9

Reduce dependency on fossil fuels
Form political alliances with fuel rich countries
Develop alternative indigenous fuel supplies, e.g. renewable energy, biomass

Question 10

In 2015 delegates from more than 190 countries gathered in Paris to agree a new global pact on climate change aimed at altering greenhouse gas emissions. Many countries ratified the Paris agreement in 2016.
Explain why countries will have to reduce their use of coal-fired electricity in order to alter their greenhouse gas emissions

Answer 10

Burning coal to produce electricity releases carbon dioxide gas which is a greenhouse gas.
It is implicated in causing global warming and climate change. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, countries will have to burn less fossil fuel.

Question 11

Describe two ways in which the global use of fossil fuels impacts on the environment.

Answer 11

Any two from;
* Habitat degradation caused by e.g. rising sea level rises, desertification and polar icecaps melting. Plants and animals cannot adapt to the new environment and do not survive in it
* Impact on biodiversity loss of species results in less food for other species so there is a knock on effect on biodiversity
* Air quality reduction combustion of fossil fuels produces Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which form acid rain. Combustion also produces soot particulates which cause breathing difficulties
* Land and water contamination disturbing the geology of a region to extract fossil fuels leads to water becoming contaminated with e.g. toxic metals. This water is not safe to drink. Land contamination can come from the process of extraction and also disposal of the waste from fossil fuels and combustion

Question 12

Explain how fossil fuel use has had a detrimental effect on the environment with reference to the following:
Habitat degradation: (2)
Air quality reduction: (2)

Answer 12

Habitat Degradation – Habitats can be destroyed through the mining and transportation of fossil fuels. If the mining is long-term then workers often build roads and housing in an area which was earlier untouched, therefore changing the use of the land. {2}
Air Quality Reduction – The burning of fossil fuels creates emissions such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. This air pollution can create acid rain which can weaken plant species and alter the pH of soils. {2}