UNIT 1 PHYSICS - NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

FEB EXAM

What are non-renewable energy sources?

Non-renewable energy sources are ones that will run out at some point.

Examples:

• Fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas)

• Nuclear fuels

What are fossil fuel power stations?

Power stations where coal, oil, or natural gas are burnt to heat water.

The steam produced turns a turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity.

What are the energy transfers in a fossil fuel power station?

Chemical energy → Heat energy → Kinetic energy → Electrical energy

• Chemical energy stored in the fuel

• Is released as heat to turn water into steam

• The steam turns a turbine (kinetic energy)

• The generator converts it into electrical energy

What are nuclear power stations?

Nuclear power stations work in a similar way to fossil fuel stations - but the heat energy comes from a nuclear reaction instead of burning fuel.

What are the energy transfers in a nuclear power station?

Nuclear energy → Heat energy → Kinetic energy → Electrical energy

• Nuclear energy stored in the fuel

• Is released as heat, turning water into steam

• The steam turns a turbine (kinetic energy)

• The generator transforms this into electrical energy

Advantages of non-renewable energy sources

1. Give out lots of energy (especially nuclear fuels)

2. Are pretty cheap to use

3. We can rely on them for electricity whenever we need it

Disadvantages of non-renewable energy sources

1. They will run out (not replaced quickly)

2. They can harm the environment (pollution, global warming)

What do batteries and fuel cells do?

They store energy and transform chemical energy into electrical energy

Energy transfer in batteries/fuel cells

Chemical energy → Electrical energy

When are batteries and fuel cells useful?

When you can’t get mains electricity or other energy sources (e.g. phones, cars, space probes)

Why are batteries convenient?

They’re portable - easy to carry around

What’s a disadvantage of batteries and fuel cells?

They can be expensive to use compared to other energy sources