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Questions and Answers
What process occurs in uranium that releases huge amounts of energy in nuclear power?
What process occurs in uranium that releases huge amounts of energy in nuclear power?
Nuclear fission (splitting of the atom)
What is the purpose of the rock above the oil and gas in the formation of fossil fuels?
What is the purpose of the rock above the oil and gas in the formation of fossil fuels?
It traps the oil and gas underneath it
What is the primary source of fossil fuels formed millions of years ago?
What is the primary source of fossil fuels formed millions of years ago?
Decay of living matter
How does the hot water produced in geothermal power generation convert into electricity?
How does the hot water produced in geothermal power generation convert into electricity?
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What is the main difference between non-renewable and renewable energy sources?
What is the main difference between non-renewable and renewable energy sources?
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What is the function of the gearbox in a wind turbine?
What is the function of the gearbox in a wind turbine?
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What is the process by which peat is compressed to form lignite?
What is the process by which peat is compressed to form lignite?
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What is the purpose of brakes in a wind turbine?
What is the purpose of brakes in a wind turbine?
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How does tidal power generation use the natural rise and fall in water levels?
How does tidal power generation use the natural rise and fall in water levels?
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What is the main driver of the increasing demand for energy worldwide?
What is the main driver of the increasing demand for energy worldwide?
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What is the role of photovoltaic cells in solar power generation?
What is the role of photovoltaic cells in solar power generation?
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What is the primary advantage of nuclear power as a replacement for fossil fuels?
What is the primary advantage of nuclear power as a replacement for fossil fuels?
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What is the process by which small animals and plants are converted into oil and natural gas?
What is the process by which small animals and plants are converted into oil and natural gas?
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What is the purpose of a dam in hydroelectric power generation?
What is the purpose of a dam in hydroelectric power generation?
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What is the role of a turbine in generating electricity?
What is the role of a turbine in generating electricity?
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What is the main advantage of biofuels as a renewable energy source?
What is the main advantage of biofuels as a renewable energy source?
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Study Notes
Fossil Fuel Formation
- Fossil fuels are carbon-based fuels formed millions of years ago from the decay of living matter.
- Coal is formed from plants, while oil and natural gas are formed from sea creatures.
- Formation of coal involves:
- Huge forests growing millions of years ago
- Vegetation dying and forming peat
- Peat being compressed between layers of sediments to form lignite (low-grade coal)
- Further compression forming coal
- Formation of oil and natural gas involves:
- Small animals and plants dying and falling to the bottom of the sea
- Sediments covering their remains
- Sediments forming layers and changing into sandstone as temperature and pressure increase
- Heat and pressure turning remains into crude oil and natural gas
- Oil and gas separating and rising through the sandstone, filling in the pores
Energy Resources and the Generation of Electricity
- The demand for energy is increasing worldwide due to:
- Increasing population size
- Increasing industrialization and urbanization
- Improvements in standards of living and expectations
- Types of energy sources:
- Non-renewable:
- Limited
- Take millions of years to get replenished
- Examples: fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), nuclear power
- Renewable:
- Can be used over and over again
- Can be replenished in a short period of time
- Examples: geothermal power, hydro-electric power, tidal power, wave power, wind power, solar power, biofuels (e.g. bioethanol, biogas, and wood)
- Non-renewable:
How Energy Sources are Used to Generate Electricity
- Fossil fuels and biofuels:
- Combustion produces a massive amount of energy used to heat water and convert it into steam
- Steam drives the turbines
- Nuclear power:
- Uranium releases huge amounts of energy when nuclear fission (splitting of the atom) occurs
- Energy is used to heat water, produce steam, and rotate the turbines
- Geothermal power:
- Uses hot rocks to heat water
- Hot water returns to the surface under pressure and heats the second supply of water using a heat exchanger
- Steam produced in the second supply moves the turbine, generating electricity
- Tidal power:
- Uses the natural rise and fall in the level of water in an area
- Water is held back by a tidal barrage (a small dam that releases water back through a turbine)
- Wave power:
- Uses smaller differences in water levels caused by wind
- Uses turbine and generator
- Hydro-electric power:
- Uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir
- Water is released from the reservoir that flows through the turbine, rotating it
- Turbine activates a generator that generates electricity
- Wind power:
- Wind turbines have shafts (blades) that rotate due to wind
- Gearbox maximizes the rotation of the shaft
- Brakes slow down or stop the rotor in very windy conditions, preventing damage to the blade
- As the turbine rotates, the generator produces electricity
- Solar power:
- Uses photovoltaic cells that produce a small electric charge when exposed to light
- A bank of cells organized into solar panels produces a significant amount of electricity
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Description
Learn about the formation of fossil fuels, including coal and oil, and how they are used to generate electricity. Understand the increasing demand for energy and its impact on the environment.
