Topic 1: Energy Flashcards

Question

Renewable energy resources?

Answer 1

``` The sun Wind Waves Tidal Bio-fuel Tides Geothermal Hydro-electric They will never run out Some can be unreliable ```

Answer 2

Through putting up wind turbines in exposed places The wind turns the blades, which turns the generator and produces energy No pollution Can be noisy Some say they spoil the scenery Initial costs are high but no fuel costs and minimal running costs No permanent damage to the landscape You cannot increase the power output when faced with increased demand

Answer 3

Solar cells generate electric currents directly from sunlight No pollution In sunny countries, very reliable but only in the daytime Initial costs are high but energy is free and little to no running costs small-scale energy output

Answer 4

In volcanic areas where hot rocks are near the surface Source is the slow decay of various radioactive elements Free energy that's reliable and with very little damage to the environment Not many suitable locations

Answer 5

usually requires the flooding of a valley by building a dam Water is allowed steadily out which powers turbines No pollution Big environmental impact and possible loss of habitat for some species it can provide immediate responses to an increased demand for energy. Initial costs are high but no fuel costs and minimal running costs

Answer 6

Lots of small wave powered turbines located around the coast No pollution But seabed is disturbed and the habitats of marine animal can be destroyed Fairly unreliable and when the wind drops, waves die out Initial costs are high but no fuel costs and minimal running costs

Answer 7

By building a tidal barrage that is a dam built across river estuaries with turbines in them As the tide comes in, it fills up the estuary and the water is then allowed out through the turbines at a controlled speed. Tides produced by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon No pollution Prevents free access by boats, spoiling the view and altering the wildlife's habitat. Initial costs are moderately high but no fuel costs and minimal running costs

Answer 8

From either plant products or animal dung and can be burnt to produce electricity or run cars in the same way as fossil fuels. Supposedly carbon neutral Fairly reliable, as crops take a relatively short time to grow, but they cannot respond to immediate energy demands The cost to refine biofuels is very high

Answer 9

fossil fuels and nuclear energy are reliable. There's currently enough to meet current demands and are extracted from the earth at a fast enough rate that the power plants can always have fuel in stock But they are slowly running out The setup costs of a power plant can be quite high, the running costs aren't that expensive and it is cost effective. They produce CO2 into the atmosphere, adding to the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming. Coal and oil can also release sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain Coal mining spoils the landscape Oil spillages can cause serious environmental problems Nuclear power is clean but the waste is dangerous and difficult to dispose of and carries the risk of major catastrophe.

Topic 1: Energy Flashcards

(33 cards)