P3 - National and global energy resources (PAPER 1)

Question 1

What is a non-renewable energy resource

Answer 1

one that will eventually run out, is not replaced at the same rate as it is being used

Question 2

What are the main renewable and non-renewable resources available on Earth

Answer 2

renewable: solar, tidal, wave, wind, geothermal, biofuel, hydroelectric
non renewable: coal, oil, gas, nuclear

Question 3

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using coal as an energy resource

Answer 3

Advantages: enough available to meet current demand, reliable, control supply to match demand, cheap to extract and use
Disadvantages: will run out, releases CO2, releases sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain

Question 4

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear fuel as an energy resource

Answer 4

Advantages: lots of energy released from a small mass, reliable, can control supply to match demand, no polluting gases, enough to meet current demand
Disadvantages: waste is dangerous, difficult and expensive to set up and deal with waste, expensive to shut down and run

Question 5

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using solar energy

Answer 5

Advantages: can be used in remote places, no polluting gases, low running cost, no waste product
Disadvantages: unreliable, cannot control supply, expensive to set up, can’t be used at a large scale

Question 6

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using tidal energy

Answer 6

Advantages: no polluting gases, no waste products, reliable, can produce large amounts of electricity, low running costs, no fuel costs
Disadvantages: can harm marine habitats, initial set up expensive, cannot increase supply when needed, amount of energy varies on time of month, hazardous to boats, cannot be used on a large scale

Question 7

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using wave turbines

Answer 7

Advantages: no polluting gases, no waste products, low running costs, no fuel costs
Disadvantages: can harm marine habitats, initial set up expensive, cannot increase supply when needed, amount of energy varies on weather, hazardous to boats, cannot be used on a large scale, unreliable

Question 8

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using wind turbines

Answer 8

Advantages: no polluting gases, no waste products, no fuel costs
Disadvantages: unreliable, weather dependent, cannot control supply, take up lots of space, can produce noise pollution

Question 9

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using geothermal energy

Answer 9

Advantages: no polluting gases, low running costs
Disadvantages: initial set up expensive, available in a few locations

Question 10

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using biofuels

Answer 10

Advantages: can be carbon neutral, reliable
Disadvantages: expensive to produce, use land/water that might be needed to grow food

Question 11

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using hydroelectric power

Answer 11

Advantages: no polluting gases, no waste products, low running costs, no fuel cost, reliable, can be controlled to meet demand
Disadvantages: initial set up expensive, dams can harm / destroy marine habitats