GCSE Physics: P3 - Energy resources

What are the main uses of energy resources?

transport

generating electricity

heating

Name the three main fossil fuels

coal

oil

natural gas

Name some advantages of fossil fuels

- fossil fuels are reliable and can always provide energy when we need it

- fossil fuels release a great deal of energy so can be used in aeroplanes

- fossil fuels are relatively cheap as the world still has plenty of fossil fuels left

- fossil fuels are extremely versatile and can be used in transport, generating electricity and heating

Name some disadvantages of fossil fuels

- burning fossil fuels releases a huge amount of carbon dioxide and this contributes to climate change

- fossil fuels are non-renewable and can not be replenished as we use them

- burning fossil fuels can release other pollutants :

- burning diesel releases carbon particles and nitrogen oxides, which are dangerous

- burning coal releases sulfur dioxide, which can lead to acid rain

Describe how the UK energy mix has changed over time

- up until the 1950s, almost all electricity generated in the UK came from burning coal

- coal and coal gas were also used for almost all heating and cooking in the UK at this time

- in the 1950s, nuclear power emerged in the UK

- and by the 1980s, nuclear power produced around 20% of all the UK's electricity

- in the 1970s, the UK became a major producer of oil and gas from the North Sea, and this began to replace coal for electricity generation

- by 2000, as much electricity was generated from burning gas as from coal

Describe the benefits of the switch from coal to gas in the UK

- burning gas generates less carbon dioxide than burning coal

- so burning gas contributes less to climate change

- gas-fired power stations are flexible and have a short start-up time

- so can be switched on quickly in times of high energy demand

- coal-fired power stations have a very long start-up time

Describe the switch to renewable energy sources in the UK

- in the 1970s, scientists began to realise that carbon dioxide emissions from human activity could be leading to climate change

- but politicians did not see it as a big issue at the time

- people were reluctant to switch away from using fossil fuels due to the economic factor that energy from fossil fuels was very cheap and therefore switching away from fossil fuels would cost money and jobs

- the Kyoto protocol in 2005 committed countries to reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Describe which renewable energy sources the UK uses

- in the last decade, the UK has opened a large number of wind farms, that use wind power

- solar power and biofuels are also being used in the UK

What is baseload?

a constant supply of electricity that is switched on all of the time

Describe what the future of UK energy holds

- the UK needs a baseload

- nuclear power is ideal for this

- because nuclear power stations can be left on all of the time and they do not generate greenhouse gases

- gas-fired power stations can be used to provide emergency power in times of peak demand

- because they have a short start-up time

- the use of renewable energy sources in the UK will increase in the UK

Describe some key features of nuclear power

- nuclear power is non-renewable

- nuclear power plants run on the elements uranium and plutonium

What are the advantages of generating electricity using nuclear power?

- nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide so nuclear power does not contribute to climate change

- nuclear power stations are reliable as they have short start-up times to generate a lot of electricity and meet energy needs in times of peak demand

What are the disadvantages of generating electricity using nuclear power?

- nuclear power plants contain highly dangerous, radioactive materials

- if an accident occurs, these materials could be released into the environment

- decommissioning a nuclear power plant is extremely expensive and it takes many years

- nuclear power plants generate large amounts of highly dangerous, radioactive waste which must be stored for thousands of years before it is safe

What is a renewable energy resource?

an energy resource that is being replenished as it is used

What are the advantages of renewable energy resources?

- renewable energy resources will never run out

- renewable energy resources do not add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere so do not contribute to climate change

What is wind power?

energy harnessed from the wind to generate electricity

Name an advantage of wind power

- wind power will never run out and it does not add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

Name a disadvantage of wind power

- wind power is not reliable as some days are not windy

What is solar power?

energy harnessed from the sun's rays to generate electricity

Name an advantage of solar power

- solar power will never run out and it does not add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

Name a disadvantage of solar power

- solar power is not reliable as it does not work well on cloudy days

What is hydroelectric power?

energy that uses the power of moving water to generate electricity

Name an advantage of hydroelectric power

- hydroelectric power is very reliable

Name some disadvantages of hydroelectric power

- hydroelectric power can cause for habitats to be destroyed when dams are built and valleys are flooded

- hydroelectricity is only useful in countries with lots of rivers

- so it is not a suitable renewable energy resource for the UK

What is tidal power?

energy harnessed from the ocean's tides to generate electricity

Name an advantage of tidal power

- tidal power is extremely reliable

Name a disadvantage of tidal power

- the UK does not currently generate electricity from tidal power

- because some argue that using tidal power could be harmful to wildlife

What is wave power?

energy harnessed from the waves at sea to generate electricity

Name an advantage of wave power

- wave power is reliable and has huge potential in the UK

- because the UK has an extensive coastline

Name a disadvantage of wave power

- wave power is still very small scale and experimental in the UK

- could harm marine wildlife

What is geothermal energy?

energy that uses heat from the earth to generate electricity and heat buildings

Name some advantages of geothermal energy

- geothermal energy is reliable

- geothermal energy does not take up that much land

Name a disadvantage of geothermal energy

- geothermal energy is not used very much in the UK as it is unsuitable

- geothermal energy can be expensive

Describe the energy used in cars in the UK

- most cars in the UK run on petrol or diesel

- which are fossil fuels

- the amount of people using electric cars will increase in the future

- as they become more affordable

What are biofuels?

renewable fuels produced from plant materials

Name some advantages of biofuels

- biofuels are carbon neutral

- so burning biofuels will not add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

- biofuels can be very useful in powering vehicles such as cars and buses

Name a disadvantage of biofuels

- if we use land to grow crops for fuel, the price of food could increase

What are the renewable energy sources?

wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power, tidal power, biofuels, geothermal energy, wave power

Name one fuel used in nuclear power stations

Uranium is used in nuclear power stations

What effect does burning fossil fuels have on the environment?

- burning fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

- this contributes to climate change

How can the impact of carbon dioxide being released by the burning of fossil fuels be reduced?

- carbon capture can be used

What does renewable mean?

renewable means that an energy resource can be replenished within a human's lifetime

Name some advantages of wind turbines

- wind turbines harness energy from the wind, a renewable energy source

- wind turbines release no greenhouse gases

- wind turbines are fuel free

Name some disadvantages of wind turbines

- wind turbines cause visual pollution

- wind turbines can damage natural habitats of animals and plants when built

- wind turbines are unreliable, as it is not always windy

Describe the energy transfers that occur in a solar panel

- light energy is harnessed from the sun's rays

- and transferred to electrical energy

Why are renewable energy resources unlikely to completely replace the use of fossil fuels for generating electrical energy?

- renewable energy resources can be unreliable

- fossil fuels are still abundant in supply

- renewable energy resources can be expensive, while fossil fuels are relatively cheap

Describe the issues with generating electricity using nuclear power stations

- nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste, which is difficult to dispose of

- nuclear power stations are expensive to set up and close down

Describe two environmental problems with using tidal-powered turbines to produce electricity

- tidal-powered turbines can harm aquatic wildlife habitats

- tidal-powered turbines can alter the natural landscape negatively

What temperature change for a given amount of energy supplied will a material with a high specific heat capacity have?

If a material has a low temperature change for the given amount of energy supplied, it will have a high specific heat capacity

What is meant by a good insulator?

A good insulator will cause the material it is insulating to have a small decrease in temperature over the given time.