Energy and Resouces

What is energy?

Power derived from physical or chemical resources (e.g. heat, light, motion).

What is electricity?

A secondary energy source made by converting primary energy (e.g. burning fuel, wind).

Why are energy and electricity NOT the same?

Energy is the source; electricity is a converted form of energy.

Why is global energy demand increasing?

Population growth + rising levels of development.

What energy source is common in LICs?

Fuelwood.

What energy source do MICs/HICs mainly use?

Fossil fuels.

How does energy use change as countries develop?

LIC → fuelwood; MIC → fossil fuels; HIC → mix of fossil fuels + renewables + nuclear.

How much energy does Earth receive from the sun?

~89,000 TW.

How much energy is in global wind?

~370 TW.

How much energy do humans use globally?

~17 TW.

What does this show?

Renewable energy potential is far greater than current usage.

What is fuelwood?

Wood burned for energy (heating, cooking, etc.).

What % of the world relies on fuelwood?

~40%.

Give one advantage of fuelwood availability.

Easy to obtain (cutting trees).

Why is fuelwood cheap?

Requires little or no money.

When is fuelwood sustainable?

If trees are replanted.

What pollution does fuelwood cause?

CO₂ + particulates (air pollution).

What environmental issue does fuelwood cause?

Deforestation.

What is energy poverty?

Lack of access to modern energy sources.

Who usually collects fuelwood?

Women and children.

How long do they spend collecting it?

4–6 hours per day.

How does this affect education?

Children miss school → cycle of poverty.

What health issue is caused by indoor wood fires?

Respiratory diseases.

Why?

Smoke inhalation in poorly ventilated homes.

How many people rely on fuelwood in LEDCs?

~2.6 billion.

What causes the fuelwood crisis?

Demand exceeds supply → deforestation.

What % of global energy is renewable?

Less than 10%.

Why is renewable energy important?

Reduces pollution, sustainable, reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Why do people in LEDCs use biomass instead of electricity?

No money, no infrastructure, no national grid, limited technology.

Why is renewable energy not widely used yet?

Expensive to set up, technology limitations, fossil fuels are easier and available, infrastructure issues.

Why is fuelwood both renewable and non-renewable?

Renewable if replanted; non-renewable if forests are depleted.

Give 2 impacts of fuelwood on the environment.

Deforestation, habitat loss.