T9:Consuming Energy Resources Flashcards
(40 cards)
What are non-renewable resources?
natural materials that can run out because they take a very long time to form and can’t be replaced quickly.
What renewable recourses?
natural materials that won’t run out because they can replace themselves quickly or are always available.
What is the national grid?
The National Grid is the system that delivers electricity from power stations to homes and businesses across a country.
What is biogas?
Biogas is a type of renewable energy produced from the decomposition of organic waste (like food scraps, manure, and plant materials) in the absence of oxygen. This can be used power generators or be used for gas to cook.
What is open cast mining?
Extracting minerals or rocks from the Earth. By removing large areas of soil and rock to reach the materials beneath. It is typically used for minerals found close to the surface, like coal or gold.
Negatives of open cast mining
Habitat destruction
Environmental damage (deforestation, loss of biodiversity)
Soil erosion due to removal of vegetation and topsoil
Water pollution from chemicals, heavy metals, and sediments
Air pollution from dust and machinery emissions
What is oil drilling?
Holes created in the earths surface. Pipes are passed down and a pump connected to remove oil from under the surface.
What are HEP companies?
Hydroelectric Power companies are businesses that generate electricity using the energy of flowing or falling water, typically through dams or river systems.
how is the landscape is impacted by wind turbines and solar panels?
Visual impact: Turbines can be intrusive in scenic areas.
Land use: Require large spaces, affecting agriculture or habitats.
Impact of Solar Panels on the Landscape:
Land use: Solar farms require significant space, impacting natural habitats.
Visual impact: Panels can change the look of the landscape.
Negatives of oil drilling
Negatives of Oil Drilling:
Environmental pollution (oil spills can contaminate land and water)
Habitat destruction (disrupts wildlife and ecosystems)
Air pollution (contributes to poor air quality)
Climate change (increases greenhouse gas emissions)
Why did the UK coal industry decline?
Cheaper imports from abroad made UK coal less competitive
Shift to cleaner energy sources like gas, wind, and solar
Declining coal reserves and rising extraction costs
What is energy consumption?
Energy consumption is the amount of energy used by people, industries, or countries to power homes, transport, and activities like heating, lighting, and manufacturing.
What are oil reserves?
Oil reserves are natural underground stores of crude oil that can be extracted and used in the future.
What do oil prices change?
High demand causes prices to rise, and falling demand causes lower prices.
Supply affects the price, if there is too much oil and the price falls, too little and it rises.
Why are countries so eager to get the territory underneath the north pole?
Huge reserves of untapped oil and natural gas
Control over new Arctic shipping routes
Strategic military and political advantage
What is unconventional energy production?
Unconventional energy production means generating energy using less traditional or newer methods, often from non-standard sources or using advanced technology.
Examples include:
Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) to extract oil and gas from shale rock
Oil sands (extracting oil from sand and clay mixtures)
Deep-sea drilling for hard-to-reach oil and gas
What is energy efficiency and energy conservation?
Energy efficiency is to reduce the amount of energy required to power products. Example: LED lights
Energy conservation is adapting our behaviours in how we use energy with the aim of using less energy. Example: Turning off lights
Deinition of energy security
Energy security means having a reliable and affordable supply of energy, without frequent interruptions or risks.
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is the process of meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is a the Kuznets Curve and what does it show?
It is a graph that shows how pollution changes in different stages of a countries economic progression. This is shown through:
Pre industrial shows the lime starting to go up
Industrial economies shows the line reaching its peak then starts going down
Post-industrial economies shows the line for pollution going back down even further.
This graph is shown in the form of a U shape
What are the three types of energy resources?
Non-renewable: Will run out (e.g. coal, oil, gas)
Renewable: Will not run out (e.g. solar, wind)
Recyclable: Can be reused (e.g. nuclear, biomass)
Why is access to energy uneven globally?
Geology: Some areas have fossil fuel reserves (e.g. Middle East)
Relief & Climate: Hydro, geothermal, and solar depend on local conditions
Development: LICs often rely on biomass, less access to technology
What causes variations in energy use?
Economic Development: HICs use more due to tech, wealth, industry
Energy Sectors: Shift from agriculture → industry → services increases energy demand
Traditional Fuels: Biomass still used in rural Africa and Asia
Where is energy demand growing most?
In emerging economies like China and India, where population and development are increasing rapidly.
