energy sources

Question 1

what is a renewable energy source?

Answer 1

a source which can be replenished at a comparable to the rate of consumption

Question 2

what is a non-renewable energy source?

Answer 2

a source which takes millions of years to form and cannot be regenerated in a short period of time

Question 3

examples of renewable energy sources

Answer 3

solar
hydroelectric
wind
biomass
ethanol
geothermal

Question 4

examples of non-renewable energy sources

Answer 4

petroleum
propane
natural gas
coal
geothermal

Question 5

how are fossil fuels formed?

Answer 5

from animals/plants that lived millions of years ago when heat and pressure turned decayed matter into crude oil

Question 6

what is coal?

Answer 6

fossilised remains of ancient trees

Question 7

what is oil/ gas?

Answer 7

remains of ancient sea creatures

Question 8

pros of petroleum

Answer 8

• transportation fuel for world: easy to transport

- economical to produce

Question 9

cons of petroleum

Answer 9

• high CO2 emissions

- environmental impacts from drilling

Question 10

pros of propane (LPG)

Answer 10

• non toxic

- economical

Question 11

cons of propane

Answer 11

• highly flammable

- varied costs with different seasons

Question 12

pros of natural gas

Answer 12

• burns more cleanly than coal or oil

- made safe by adding artificial odour so people can smell leak

Question 13

cons of natural gas

Answer 13

• high transportation costs

- pipelines affect ecosystems

Question 14

pros of coal

Answer 14

• abundant supply

- reliable for power

Question 15

cons of coal

Answer 15

• emits greenhouse gases/ acid rain

- environmental impact

Question 16

pros of nuclear energy (fission)

Answer 16

• no greenhouse gases or CO2

- refueled yearly

Question 17

cons of nuclear energy

Answer 17

• high capital costs (radioactivity, waste/storage systems etc.)
• waste water destroys aquatic life

Question 18

pros of solar energy

Answer 18

• non polluting

- abundant

Question 19

cons of solar energy

Answer 19

• dependent on weather

- high initial investment

Question 20

prons of hydroelectric energy

Answer 20

• no emissions

- reliable

Question 21

cons of hydroelectric energy

Answer 21

• expensive

- uses large amount of fossil fuels

Question 22

pros of wind power

Answer 22

• no emissions

- affordable

Question 23

cons of wind power

Answer 23

• dependent on wind speed

- spoil landscapes

Question 24

pros of biomass

Answer 24

• abundant

- used in diesel engines

Question 25

cons of biomass

Answer 25

• emits pollution

- source must be near to usage otherwise high transportation costs

Question 26

pros of ethanol

Answer 26

• easily manufactured

- fewer emissions than fossil fuels

Question 27

cons of ethanol

Answer 27

• costs more than gasoline to produce
• requires engine conversion to be used as fuel
• source must be near to usage otherwise high transportation costs

Question 28

pros of hydrogen

Answer 28

• abundant

- water vapour emissions only

Question 29

cons of hydrogen

Answer 29

• more expensive to produce than fossil fuels

- uses large amount of fossil fuel in extraction process

Question 30

pros of geothermal energy

Answer 30

• produces 1/6 of CO2 emissions of power plant

Question 31

cons of geothermal energy

Answer 31

• wells could be depleted

- few geothermal fields