Generating Electricity

Physics - The Characteristic of Electricity

Non-Renewable Resource

a resource that cannot be replaced once it is used up (Such as Coal)

Renewable Resource

a resource that can be reused/replaced (Such as Wind)

__***Hydroelectricity***__**Advantages**

* Generates inexpensive electricity
* May be used for flood control, irrigation, drinking water, recreation
* Practical for some communities

__***Hydroelectricity***__**Disadvantages**

* Huge environmental impact when the dam is constructed
* Very expensive to build

__***Parts for Hydroelectricity***__

* **Penstock**
* **Water Flow**
* **Turbine**
* **Generator**
* **Transformer**

__***Thermoelectric Generating Plant (Fossil Fuel/Biomass)***__**Advantages**

* Can quickly adjust to changes in electricity demand
* Technology for fossil fuels are already in place

__***Thermoelectric Generating Plant (Fossil Fuel/Biomass)***__**Disadvantages**

* Releases GHGs into the atmosphere
* Mining coal is unsafe to workers and damages the environment

__***Parts for the Thermoelectric Generating Plant (Fossil Fuel/Biomass)***__

* **Water**
* **Condenser**
* **Cooling Tower**
* **Coal in Combustion Chamber**
* **High-Pressure Steam**
* **Turbine**
* **Exhaust Steam**
* **Generator**
* **Transformer**

__***Thermoelectric Generating Plant (Nuclear Energy)***__**Advantages**

* Generates Inexpensive Electricity
* Produces enormous amount of energy from very little fuel

__***Thermoelectric Generating Plant (Nuclear Energy)***__**Disadvantages**

* Poisonous/Radioactive, waste must be stored very carefully
* Very costly to construct/maintain

__***Parts for the Thermoelectric Generating Plant (Nuclear Energy)***__

* **Water**
* **Condenser**
* **Cooling Tower**
* **Nuclear Reactor**
* **High-Pressure Steam**
* **Turbine**
* **Exhaust Steam**
* **Generator**
* **Transformer**

__***Solar***__**Advantages**

* Convenient source of energy for small appliances
* Useful in remote areas

__***Solar***__**Disadvantages**

* Efficiency is low; so many photoelectric cells must be used; takes up a lot of land and space
* The most expensive energy source

__***Parts for Solar***__

* **A - (Protective Cover Glass)**
* **B - (Antireflective coating to let light in and trap it)**
* **C - (Metal Contact grid to collect electrons for circuit)**
* **D - (Silicon Layer to release electrons)**
* **E - (Silicon Layer to absorb electrons)**
* **F - (Metal Contact Grid to collect electrons from circuit)**

__***Wind***__**Advantages**

* Doesn’t produce GHGs
* Framing/Grazing can continue on land where wind turbines are located

__***Wind***__**Disadvantages**

* Wind isn’t constant or always blows
* Turbines present barriers to birds

(collisions with blades, disturb breeding, wintering, staging sites)

__***Tidal***__**Advantages**

* Generates Inexpensive Energy
* More predictable than the sun/wind

__***Tidal***__**Disadvantages**

* Environmental impact on marine life

(changes in water level/quality)

* Suitable to few areas on earth

**Relative Cost of Electricity Generation in Canada**

**Photovoltaic** (Light + Voltage)

**Micro Hydro**

**Small Hydro**

**Large Hydro**

**Nuclear**

**Wind**

Generator

Transforms the energy of motion (Mechanical Energy) into an electric current

Turbine

Uses the flow of fluid to turn a shaft

Turbine + Generator \= Electricity

Turbine Turns => Generator Generates \n

They use some other form of energy and convert it into electricity.

\
*Magnets in a generator rotated by a turbine spin coils of copper wire. This pulls electrons away from their atoms and creates a current flowing in the copper wire.*

**Form of Power**

Hydroelectric

**Original Source of Energy Substance that turns the turbines**

Water Flow  Water

Gravity (Potential Energy) (Kinetic)

**Form of Power**

Fossil Fuel Thermoelectric

**Original Source of Energy Substance that turns the turbines**

Coal (Chemical Energy) Steam

**Form of Power**

Nuclear Thermoelectric

**Original Source of Energy Substance that turns the turbines**

Nuclear Reactor Steam

(Nuclear Fission)

**Form of Power**

Geothermal

**Original Source of Energy Substance that turns the turbines**

Hot Rocks (Earth) Steam

**Form of Power**

Wind

**Original Source of Energy Substance that turns the turbines**

Wind Flow (Kinetic) Wind(Air)

**Form of Power**

Tidal

**Original Source of Energy**

Gravitational Pull of the Sun and Moon

\
**Substance that turns the turbines**

Water