P3 Energy Resources Flashcards
How do energy resources generate electricity
An energy resource rotates a turbine
This rotates a coil of wire in magnetic field called a generator
This creates an electrical current
How do fossil fuels generate energy
Fuels are stores of chemical energy and are burnt to heat a fluid
This creates steam and turns a turbine
This turns a generator that create an electrical current
What are the advantages of fossil fuels
Reliable
On-demand electricity
What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels
Not renewable
Inefficient
Contributes to global warming
What are the advantages of geothermal energy
Renewable
Reliable
Does not produce greenhouse gases
What are the disadvantages of geothermal energy
Can only be used where there is volcanic activity close to the surface
Geothermal plants can lead to the instability of the land surrounding it.
What are the advantages of wind power
Source of renewable energy
Don’t take up much land space
Relatively low cost
What are the disadvantages of wind power
Unreliable
Can be considered ugly
Can cause noise pollution
How do wind turbines create electricity
Wind blows and rotates the turbine
This turns the generator and creates electricity
How does hydroelectric power create electricity
Water above the grounds is a store of gravitational potential energy
A dam traps the water and allows it to fall, turning a turbine
This turn a generator and creates electricity
What are the advantages of hydroelectric power
Renewable
More reliable than wind and solar
Capable of producing lots of energy
What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power
Often change rive paths, moving people from houses and harming wildlife
Affected by drought
The amount of suitable places to build a dam are decreasing
How does tidal energy create electricity
Waves and tides are stores of kinetic energy
This rotates a turbine that turns a generator
This creates electricity
What are the advantages of tidal energy
Renewable
Does not produce greenhouse gases
Tide are a predictable phenomenon
What are the disadvantages of tidal energy
The creation of tidal turbines can damage fragile ecosystems in estuaries
Does not produce electricity continuously
Turbines are built close to the shore, affecting local communities
How does nuclear energy create energy
Nuclear energy stores in a atoms’ nuclei is released as kinetic energy
This heats graphite that heat a fluid
This creates steam, rotating a turbine that turns a generator
This creates electricity
What are the advantages of nuclear energy
No greenhouse gas emission
Reliable, on-demand electricity
What are the disadvantages of nuclear energy
Nuclear waste is radioactive and potentially dangerous is not disposed of properly
Nuclear waste has a very long half-life; it will continue to be dangerous for a very long time
How does solar energy create electricity
Electromagnetic waves emitted by the sun, transfers energy to the earth
Solar cells absorbs these waves and create energy without a generator
Some solar cells use heat from the sun to boil water, create steam and rotate a turbine, which turns a generator
What are the advantages of solar energy
Renewable
Produces no greenhouse gases
Produces no noise pollution
What are the disadvantages of solar energy
Only produces electricity when there is sunlight
High installation cost
Solar cells are not very efficient at converting sunlight into energy
How is the sun the original source of energy for hydroelectricity
Water is built up behind dams due to rain, produced by the water cycle, which is driven by the sun
How is the sun the original source of energy for Solar power
The sun emits the electromagnetic radiation that is transferred into electricity
How is the sun the original source of energy for wind power
Winds are created by differences in air pressure
This is a result of the air being heated unevenly by the sun
