KS4 Physics Energy Resources

Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Contents Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Electricity from fuels Comparing fuels Summary activities

Sources of energy What are the sources for most of the energy on Earth? 1. The vast majority of the energy resources on Earth can trace their energy back to the Sun. 2. The Moon is another source of energy. 3. Radioactive elements made in supernova explosions are another source of energy.

Types of energy resource There are two types of energy resource: Renewable Non-renewable Renewable energy resources will never run out (at least not for a very long time), or can be regenerated. Examples: w___ and S__. Non-renewable energy resources will eventually run out – once used they can not be used again. Examples: c___ and o_. Acknowledgement © Energy Northwest/DOE/NREL Turbine installation at the Nine Canyon Wind Project; largest wind farm to be built in Washington State © Warren Gretz/NOE/NREL Cherokee Station coal-powered plant, Denver, Colorado ind un oal il

Energy resources

Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Contents Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Electricity from fuels Comparing fuels Summary activities

A fuel is a store of (chemical) energy. Fossil fuels What is a fuel? A fuel is a store of (chemical) energy. What is a fossil fuel? A fossil fuel is a fuel formed from the remains of animals and plants over millions of years. Name three fossil fuels: 1. ___________ 2. ___________ 3. ___________ Coal Oil Natural gas

How coal formed

How coal formed Millions of years ago trees died and fell to the bottom of swamps. Over time they became covered by mud and rock. …the trees became fossilized, forming coal. Over millions of years, due to high temperatures and pressure…

How oil and natural gas formed

How oil and natural gas formed Millions of years ago plankton died and fell to the bottom of seas and oceans. Over time they became covered by mud and rock. …the plankton became oil and natural gas. Over millions of years, due to high temperatures and pressure…

Nuclear fuels What fuels are used in nuclear power stations? Uranium and plutonium What process releases the nuclear energy? Nuclear fission What are the main advantages of nuclear power? © British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) Aerial view of Berkeley power station A large amount of energy for a small amount of fuel, no acid rain, no greenhouse effect, cheap to run once built.

Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Contents Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Electricity from fuels Comparing fuels Summary activities

Fossil fuel power stations Fossil fuel power stations convert c______ energy into e______ energy. hemical lectrical Oil and coal fired power stations work in a very similar way. The fuel is burnt and the heat boils water to make high pressure superheated steam, which is used to turn a turbine. Natural gas fired power stations do not use steam. The natural gas is burnt, which produces hot gases that turn the turbine directly.

Energy changes in a power station

Nuclear power stations Nuclear power stations convert n_____ energy into e______ energy. uclear lectrical In a nuclear power station the fuel is not burnt; instead it undergoes a fission reaction in the nuclear reactor, which releases heat. Like in a coal fired power station the heat is used to make high pressure steam. What are the energy transfers in a nuclear power station? Reactor Turbine Generator nuclear heat kinetic electrical

Start-up times Power stations cannot just be turned on at the flick of a switch. They need to be started up – this process can take days! The graph below shows the typical start-up times for different types of power station

Processes in a power station

Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Contents Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Electricity from fuels Comparing fuels Summary activities

Burning fossil fuels heat energy burn in oxygen ash carbon dioxide sulfur dioxide Fossil fuels are cheap and the heat energy is useful, however: ash is a waste product which needs to be disposed. carbon dioxide causes the greenhouse effect. sulfur dioxide causes acid rain.

The greenhouse effect

Global warming C_____ d_____ is a greenhouse gas – it lets the Sun’s heat energy into the Earth’s a_________ but it will not let it escape. arbon ioxide tmosphere This results in the Earth getting w_____. This effect is called the g e . G w results in the icecaps melting, which could lead to flooding and changing weather patterns. armer reenhouse ffect lobal arming

Carbon dioxide from fuels Some fossil fuels release less carbon dioxide when burnt than others. The graph below shows the relative amounts of carbon dioxide released per unit of electricity produced:

corrodes buildings and statues Acid rain Burning fossil fuels containing sulfur causes sulfur dioxide to be formed. This gas is released by power stations and mixes with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain. sulfur in coal sulfur dioxide acid rain combustion mixed with water What does acid rain do to the environment? kills trees corrodes buildings and statues kills water life acidifies soil

Reducing acid rain Acid rain is mostly caused by sulfur dioxide (which forms sulfuric acid), but carbon dioxide also contributes (by forming carbonic acid). How can acid rain be reduced? Burn fewer fossil fuels – generate electricity in other ways. Remove sulfur from oil and natural gas before it is burnt. Scrub waste gases to remove sulfur dioxide. Use expensive coal that contains little sulfur.

Pros and cons of fossil fuels Although there are problems burning fossil fuels in power stations there are also advantages: Advantages Disadvantages readily available non-renewable easily transported acid rain low fuel cost greenhouse effect low building costs inefficient short start-up times

Pros and cons of nuclear power Although there are problems in the use of nuclear power, there are also advantages: Advantages Disadvantages Cheap to run Expensive to build Conserves fossil fuels Expensive to decommission No sulfur dioxide emissions Radioactive waste No carbon dioxide emissions Links with cancer Safe under normal conditions Non-renewable Little fuel used means less transport needed Risk of disaster

Fuel reserves Fuel Time until reserves run out (years) natural gas oil coal nuclear 25-30 about 75 about 300 thousands Even though nuclear fuel will last thousands of year it will still run out eventually. natural gas oil coal nuclear

Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Contents Energy Resources Types of energy resources Non-renewable fuels Electricity from fuels Comparing fuels Summary activities

non-renewable – An energy source that cannot be used again. Glossary acid rain – Rainwater that is more acidic than normal because acidic gases have dissolved in it. fossil fuel – A fuel made from the remains of decayed plants or animals. generator – A device that transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy. global warming – The increased greenhouse effect that some scientists think is causing climate change. greenhouse effect – The warming of the Earth due to the trapping of heat by certain gases in the atmosphere. non-renewable – An energy source that cannot be used again. renewable – An energy source that can be regenerated. turbine – A device that turns heat energy into kinetic energy.

Anagrams

Energy resources

Multiple-choice quiz