physics 3 Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is a non-renewable energy resource?
will eventually run out and is not replaced at the same rate it is being used
What is a renewable energy resource?
will not run out, it is being (or can be) replaced at the same rate as which it is used
What are the main renewable and non-renewable resources available on Earth?
- renewable: solar, tidal, wave, wind, geothermal, biofuel, hydroelectric
- non-renewable: coal, oil, gas, nuclear
What are the main advantages of using coal as an
energy resource?
- enough available to meet current demand, reliable
- can control supply to match demand
- cheap to extract and use
What are the main disadvantages of using
coal as an energy resource?
- will eventually run out
- releases CO2 which contributes
to climate change - releases sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain
What are the main advantages of using nuclear
fuel as an energy resource?
- lot of energy released from a small mass, reliable
- can control supply to match demand
- enough fuel available to meet current demand
- no polluting gases
What are the main disadvantages of using nuclear
fuel as an energy resource?
- waste is dangerous and difficult and expensive to deal with
- expensive initial set up
- expensive to shut down and to run
What are the main advantages of using solar energy?
- can be used in remote places, no polluting gases
- no waste products
- very low running cost
What are the main disadvantages of using solar
energy?
- unreliable
- cannot control supply
- initial set up expensive
- cannot be used on a large scale
What are the main advantages of using tidal power?
- no polluting gases
- no waste products
- reliable
- can produce large amounts of electricity
- low running cost
- no fuel costs
What are the main disadvantages of using
tidal power?
- can harm marine habitats
- initial set up expensive
- cannot increase supply when needed
- amount of energy varies on time of month
- hazard for boats
What are the main advantages of using wave
turbines?
- no polluting gases produced
- no waste products
- low running cost
- no fuel costs
What are the main disadvantages of using wave
turbines?
- unreliable, dependent on weather
- cannot control supply
- initial set up expensive
- can harm marine habitats
- hazard for boats
- cannot be used on a large scale
What are the main disadvantages of using wind
turbines?
- unreliable, dependent on weather
- cannot control supply
- take up lot of space
- can produce noise pollution
What are the advantages and the disadvantages
of using geothermal energy?
- advantages: no polluting gases, low running cost
- disadvantages: initial set up expensive, available in few locations
What are the main advantages and disadvantages
of using biofuels?
- advantages: can be ‘carbon neutral’, reliable
- disadvantages: expensive to produce, use land/water that might be needed to grow food
What are the main advantages and disadvantages
of using hydroelectric power?
- advantages: no polluting gases, no waste products, low running cost, no fuel cost, reliable, can be controlled to meet demand
- disadvantages: initial set up expensive, dams can harm/destroy marine habitats
