ENERGY RESOURCES

Science, Technology, and Society

Mr. CANOVA

Period 11

Our Planet’s Energy Resources

• Energy- The ability to do work or cause a change

• Potential Energy- Stored Energy– Ex: Chemical, Nuclear, Gravitational, Mechanical

• Kinetic Energy- Energy in Motion– Ex: Electric, Radiant, Thermal, Mechanical

• Law of Conservation of Energy-– Energy can be converted from one form to another but it cannot be

created or destroyed

ENERGY CONVERSIONS

Identify the initial and final forms of energy• Potential-

– Motion, chemical, nuclear, gravitational

• Kinetic-– Motion, electrical, radiant, thermal

• Example 1: Ice Cream to Bicycling

• Example 2: Sunlight to Photosynthesis

• Example 3: Gasoline to School Bus

Energy Resources

Sources of Energy:Renewable vs Nonrenewable energy

• Renewable:– Biomass– Hydropower– Geothermal– Wind– Solar

• Nonrenewable:– Coal– Natural Gas– Petroleum– Nuclear

• Transuranium elements

Fossil Fuels

• Petroleum (Crude oil)- A liquid fuel made from the remains of dead sea organisms

• Hydrocarbons- The major components of petroleum. These compounds contain a tremendous amount of energy and can be easily manipulated to form many products.

Petroleum Products

• Fractional Distillation- Separating a liquid mixture by different boiling points– FUELS:

• METHANE• PETROLEUM• GASOLINE• KEROSENE• DIESEL• JET FUEL• HEATING OIL.

Other Petroleum Products:

Fertilizers

Pesticides

Solvents

Fabrics

Construction materials

Household Chemicals

How Much Petroleum Remains?

• At this pace, we have almost 37 years of oil remaining

Other Fossil Fuels

• Coal- Prehistoric plants buried in swamps transformed by heat and pressure deep within the Earth. It is used most commonly in power plants.

– 4 types:• Lignite (From Peat)• Subbituminous• Bituminous• Anthracite

• Natural Gas- Composed primarily of methane (CH4) A waste product created when petroleum is formed. It is typically a very clean burning fuel used in homes for heating and cooking.

Coal.jpg

The Source of All Energy On Earth

• The Sun- – Our star which uses

nuclear energy to produce thermal and radiant energy.

– Gives energy for photosynthesis by plants and algae.

Autotrophs provide energy at the base of all food webs.

Over millions of years, chemical energy in living organisms form fossil fuels.

Creating Electricity

• Fossil Fuels are burned to create steam which is forced through pipes to turn turbines. The turbines turn the wires within a generator creating electric current. The current comes to your homes through lines on towers and into wall sockets.

The Problems with Fossil Fuels

A) Sulfuric and Nitrogen Compounds which cause acid precipitation. This harms plants, animals, humans,and destroys buildings and

monuments.

B) Carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. These gasses trap solar energy, increasing the

average global temperature.

The Problem with Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear- supply more electricity than oil, natural gas, and hydropower. But there are major risks involved including nuclear safety, nuclear waste, and nuclear weapons.

Alternative Sources of Energy

• All are viable sources of energy but there are problems:– 1) Costs

• Technology, Infrastructure, training,

– 2) Consumer Confidence• Not the norm, What it is? Why isn’t

everyone using it?

– 3) Unforeseen circumstances• Natural disasters or changes

– 4) Lack of Reliability• Enough wind, sunlight, water in

certain areas of the world

– 5) Cultures• Not used now, why begin or we have

enough of other sources

WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU THINK WE’RE HEADING IN?

Keep this in mind as we take a look at some of the energy sources that we

rely in the upcoming days.