Sources of energy

Question 1

What are the non-renewable source of energy

Answer 1

fossil fuels, nuclear energy

Question 2

What are the renewable sources of energy?

Answer 2

WInd, biofuels, geothermal power, hydropower, solar power

Question 3

advantages of fossil fuels

Answer 3

• relatively cheap and easy to obtain (may not always be this way)
• much of our infrastructure is designed to run using fossil fuel

Question 4

disadvantage of fossil fuels

Answer 4

• coal and oil releases sulphur dioxide gas when they burn, which causes breathing problems and acid rain.
• release carbon dioxide when they burn. adds greenhouse effect and increases global warming.

Question 5

advantages of nuclear energy

Answer 5

• No greenhouse and harmful gases
• 1 kg of nuclear fuel produces millions of times more energy than 1 kg of coal.

Question 6

disadvantage of nuclear energy

Answer 6

• if there is an accident, large amounts of radioactive material could be released into the environment.
• Nuclear waste remains radioactive and is hazardous to health for thousands of years, so it must be stored safely.
• Decommissioning a nuclear power plant is extremely expensive.

Question 7

advantage of biofuels

Answer 7

• they release as much carbon as they absorb during growth, although some carbon dioxide will be released during production

Question 8

disadvantage of biofuels

Answer 8

uses land
- needs a lot of labour
- cannot be used in cars without modifying the engine

Question 9

wind energy advantages

Answer 9

No fuel costs
- No harmful polluting gases are produced

Question 10

disadvantage of wind energy

Answer 10

• Noisy and spoils the view
• Amount of electricity generated depends on the strength of the wind
• No wind = no electricity

Question 11

advantage of hydropower

Answer 11

• No fuel costs
• No harmful polluting gases are produced
• Tidal barrages and hydroelectric power stations are very reliable and can easily be switched on

Question 12

disadvantage of hydropower

Answer 12

• Difficult to make wave machines big enough to produce large amounts of electricity
• Tidal barriers destroy where birds and fish live
• Hydroelectricity dams flood farmlands and push people from their homes
• The rotting vegetation underwater releases methane (a greenhouse gas)

Question 13

advantage of geothermal power

Answer 13

• No fuel costs
• No harmful polluting gases are produced

Question 14

disadvantage of geothermal power

Answer 14

• Most parts of the world do not have suitable places where geothermal energy can be exploited

Question 15

advantage of solar power

Answer 15

• No fuel costs
• No harmful polluting gases are produced

Question 16

disadvantage of solar power

Answer 16

• Space is needed for solar cells
• Do not work at night
• Solar panels may only produce very hot water in very sunny climates, and in cooler areas may need to be supplemented with a conventional boiler.