energy
TRANSCRIPT
Warm Up – Page 46
•Write the question and answer it:▫What do you think is the best energy
source to use? Why?•Copy today’s date and EQ.
▫What are the advantage and disadvantages of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources?
Nonrenewable Resources
•It’s not replaced as quickly as it is used.•Takes a long time for these to form.•Currently we depend on fossil fuels,
which are nonrenewable for the majority of our energy.
Coal
CoalAdvantages Disadvantages
• Abundant supply• Currently inexpensive to
mine• Reliable and able to
generate large amounts of power
• Emits greenhouse gases and causes acid rain
• Mining can be dangerous• Eventually, the coal supply
will run out
Oil and Natural Gas
Oil (Petroleum)Advantages Disadvantages
• Good fuel for vehicles• Economical to produce• Easy to transport
• High carbon dioxide emissions
• Found in limited areas• Supply may be used up
soon• Environmental impact
through drilling and transporting
Natural GasAdvantages Disadvantages
• Widely available• Cleanest burning fossil
fuel
• Unavailable in many areas• Still pollutes some• Pipelines impact
environment
NuclearAdvantages Disadvantages
• No greenhouse gases • Produces huge amounts of
energy from small amounts of fuel.
• Produces small amounts of waste.
• Nuclear power is reliable.
• Although not much waste is produced, it is very, very dangerous. It must be sealed up and buried for many years to allow the radioactivity to die away.
• Nuclear power is reliable, but a lot of money has to be spent on safety – if it does go wrong, a nuclear accident can be a major disaster.
Reflection Questions
•Choose 1 and answer on page 47 in at least 1 sentence▫What were the two most important points
in what we just looked at?▫Compare/contrast the use of fossil fuels
and nuclear energy.▫Which of the types of energy we have
talked about do you feel is the best? Why?▫Create a simile for fossil fuels.
Renewable Resources
•Renewable resources can be replaced in a relatively short period of time (like your lifetime).
SolarAdvantages Disadvantages
• It’s free• There’s no waste and no
pollution• It will last for 5 billion
years
• Expensive to build power stations
• Can’t collect it at night• Can be unreliable if you’re
not in a sunny climate
WindAdvantages Disadvantages
• Wind is free and requires no fuel
• No waste• Land below can still be
used for farming• Good for remote areas• Can become a tourist
attraction
• Wind is unpredictable and sometimes there is no wind
• The land in windy areas may be expensive
• Can kill birds• Is noisy and can effect TV
reception
Hydroelectric
HydroelecticAdvantages Disadvantages
• Energy is virtually free once the dam is built
• No waste• More reliable than wind
and solar• Water can be stored for
peak demands
• Expensive to build dams• Building the dam will flood
a large area• Find the right place is
difficult• Water quality and quantity
can be effected downstream
Tidal
Tidal• Turbines are placed
underwater like with a dam. Tidal turbines have to spin 180 degrees because the tide switches directions 4 times a day!
Turbines are placedunderwater like with a dam.
Tidal turbines have to spin 180 degrees because the tide switches directions 4 times a day!
TidalAdvantages Disadvantages
• Once you've built the dam, tidal power is free.
• It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste.
• It needs no fuel. • It produces electricity
reliably. • Not expensive to
maintain. • Tides are totally
predictable
• Very expensive to build. • Affects a very wide area - the
environment is changed for many miles upstream and downstream.
• Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud flats so that they can feed.
• Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out.
• There are very few suitable sites for tidal power stations.
Reflection Questions
•Choose 1 and answer on page 47 in at least 1 sentence▫In your own words, explain solar, wind, and
hydroelectric power.▫Brainstorm some solutions to the
disadvantages mentioned for solar power.▫Of solar, wind, and hydroelectric, which
would you most want to use and why?▫Draw a picture of what your life would be
like using solar or wind power.
Biomass
BiomassAdvantages Disadvantages
• Abundant Supply• Fewer emissions than
fossil fuels• Cars can be easily
converted to run on biomass
• Emits some pollution• Increases air pollution• Uses fossil fuels in
conversion
GeothermalAdvantages Disadvantages
• Minimal environmental impact
• Low emissions• Low cost after initial
investment
• Few places where geothermal is workable
• Wells could be depleted