Non-Renewable Energy Resources

Non-Renewable Energy Resources

energy resources that do not naturally renew or replenish themselves

Renewable Energy Resources

energy resources that naturally renew or replenish themselves

What is coal and how do we obtain it?

a fossilized carbon and we mine for it

What is oil and how do we obtain it?

a thick black liquid and we frack for it

What is natural gas and how do we obtain it?

it is flammable, colorless, and odorless and we frack for it

What is nuclear energy and how do we obtain it?

made out of uranium and plutonium and it is generated by nuclear fission

What is nuclear fission?

When we split atoms in to 2 or more parts and then the stuff that comes out of the atoms creates energy.

What are the 3 fossil fuels?

-Coal

-Oil

-Natural gas

Why are the coal, oil, and natural gas classified as fossil fuels?

Because when they first formed, fossils of plans and animals started the process

How are fossil fuels formed?

Plant, gas, and animal fossils buried in deep layers of the ground are then exposed to intense heat and pressure and over millions of years it creates fossil fuels.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of coal?

-Advantages: no shortage soon, cheap, reduces oil dependence, offers jobs

-Disadvantages: negative environmental impact, impacts miners health, mining impacts the land

What are the advantages and disadvantages of oil?

-Advantages: small amount = a lot of energy, easy to transport, easy to produce, constant reliable resource for years to come

-Disadvantages: emits greenhouse gas, spills cause water/land pollution and death to wildlife, harmful emissions from plants can make people sick

What are the advantages and disadvantages of natural gas?

-Advantages: less environment damage, burns cleaner, more abundant, safer, cheaper, best among fossil fuels

-Disadvantages: dangerous gas leaks causing explosions, burning creates greenhouse gas, expensive infrastructure for production and distribution

What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy?

-Advantages: low pollution, reliable, low electricity, production cost, little fission material needed to produce a lot of energy, easily transported

-Disadvantages: environmental impact in mining uranium, high cost in securing radioactive waste, expensive to build a plant, dangerous and costly accidents at plants

What is fracking?

A technique designed to recover gas and oil from shalerock (a thin rock)

How does fracking work?

High pressure water mixture directed into rock to break up the cracks and release the gas and oil inside

What are the uses of coal?

-Generate electricity

-Heat homes

What are the uses of oil?

-Vehicle power

-Heating

-Produce electricity

What are the uses of natural gas?

-Heat homes

-Cook food

-Produce electricity

What are the uses of nuclear energy?

-Generate electricity

How is electricity generated from non-renewable energy resources?

Fossil fuels are burned to induce heat, energy heats water, water turns to steam, steam turns a turbine, turbine shaft is connected to shaft of a generator, magnet spins within wire coils of the generator to produce electricity

Which resource does Massachusetts rely on most for electricity?

Natural Gas

Which resources does Massachusetts have to import?

Oil, coal, and Nuclear Energy

How does coal produce electricity?

Mined for in the ground, mixed with oxygen and buried in a furnace to create heat, heat creates steam, which turns a turbine to produce electricity.

How does nuclear energy produce electricity?

Power plant splits uranium atoms to make heat, heat creates steam, which turns a turbine to produce electricity.

How does natural gas produce energy?

We frack for it, then it must go into a special plant to clean, then put into main pipeline, goes through a valve to reduce pressure and add a rotten egg smell.

How does oil produce energy?

We frack for it, then oil is burned in a power plant to generate heat, which then boils water to create steam that drives a turbine, and the turbine spins a generator to produce electricity

What are the 4 types of nonrenewable energy resources?

-We mine for coal

-We drill for oil

-We get natural gas

-We use nuclear energy

What percent of home use natural gas for electricity in MA?

75%