P3+ Flashcards
Year 9 (35 cards)
What is biomass?
Organic matter used as fuel in power stations.
What does carbon neutral mean?
No net release of carbon dioxide.
What fuels meet most of your energy demand?
Mostly oil, coal, and gas
What fuels nuclear power stations?
Uranium or plutonium
Why is nuclear fuel efficient?
Much more energy per kg than fossil fuels.
Are biofuels renewable?
Yes, biofuels like methane and ethanol are renewable and can generate electricity.
What does a generator do?
Converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
How is hydroelectricity made?
Water falling downhill spins a generator.
How is wind power generated?
Using wind turbines, sometimes in wind farms.
What is wave power?
Electricity from floating generators powered by waves.
How does tidal power work?
Water trapped at high tide is released to spin turbines.
What is geothermal energy?
Heat from inside the Earth used to generate electricity.
How do solar cells work?
Use Sun’s energy to generate electricity directly.
What do solar heating panels do?
Use Sun’s energy to heat water directly.
What is energy demand?
The amount of energy needed at any time in a country.
When is energy demand lowest and highest in the UK?
Lowest at night, highest during the day.
What power stations help meet changing demand?
Gas power stations and pumped storage stations.
What are costs like for different energy sources?
Nuclear is expensive to build and run; fossil fuels need costly carbon capture; renewables are cheap to run but expensive to build.
What is needed to meet future energy demands?
A mix of energy sources considering cost and environmental impact.
Why can electricity use be higher at night sometimes?
Because people use heating and lights more, and some industries work at night.
What are other reasons for high electricity use at night?
Charging devices, cooking, and TVs or entertainment.
Using electricity is cheaper e.g. washing machines.
How do fossil fuels produce energy?
They are burned to heat water, make steam, which spins turbines that generate electricity.
How does biomass produce energy?
Burning organic matter creates heat to make steam, which spins turbines to generate electricity.
What are advantages of fossil fuels?
Reliable energy, easy to store and transport, currently cheap.
