geography power igcse questions

8/16/2019 Geography Power IGCSE questions

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1

PHESGeography Department

Energy & Water Resources Self Study Unit

READ the following information before you start!

Energy and Water Resources is a part of the IGCSE course

The work, once completed, will form your revision notes and the knowledge and understandinggained from it will allow you to answer exam questions on this topic presented in Paper 1

It is important therefore, for you to read all that is provided, follow the instructions

carefully and be very thorough in completing this work

One word answers, poorly explained ideas and incomplete work will not help you at all!

You should complete this work using a computer (not hand written), the internet and anyother resources such as your text book

Make sure that your work is clearly presented with all relevant titles / sub-headings, etc.

The relevant pages in your Complete Geography text book are pages 284-309

You will also find the following websites very useful

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/water_rivers/water_usage_rev1.shtml

COMPLETE ALL SEVEN SECTIONS

Good luck and remember, if you are unsure / need help, ask!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources


http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/water_rivers/water_usage_rev1.shtml






2

The world's growing demand for energy poses two key questions

(Rhetorical questions – just think about them!)

According to estimates, the world's supplies of non-renewable fossil fuels are running out. So we need to

find alternative, renewable sources of energy, BUT can we produce enough energy from renewable

sources to meet an ever increasing demand for electricity and transport?

Energy generation from fossil fuels has unwelcome side effects. One of them being global warming; mayhave a catastrophic impact on the natural earth systems and its inhabitants, SO what are we going to do

about it?

Section 1

Energy consumption and energy types

The term ‘energy crisis’ , refers to the fact that demand for energy is increasing but energy resources are

running out.

The current world population is 7.3 billion and growing! As economies worldwide are growing, along with it

so does the demand of energy as well. To feed the ever increasing population of the world, more food is

required. Farming is now accomplished by advanced machinery which runs on oil or other forms of energy

thus adding to the demand. Furthermore, business and marketing has also advanced resulting in vast

globalisation. Transportation is one of the largest consumers of energy in the world. This accounts for 58%

of liquid fuel consumed by countries according to statistics of 2004. Gradually, the energy we use in

transportation will inevitably increase as more people travel. An example is air travel which is a heavy user

of fuel. Rapidly developing countries such as India and China also play a huge role in the energy

consumption. They alone make up a population of 2.5 billion. To compensate their needs, the economy

industrialises; consequently increasing energy demands.



3

Read pages 284-85 of your text book and look at Figures 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, and 11.4 before answering 1-4.

1.

For each figure stated above, describe what it tells you about energy consumption; you must use

evidence / figures from the Figures in your descriptions.

2.

What are the benefits and problems associated with higher energy consumption?

3.

Why do you think world energy consumption decreased in 2009?

4.

Figure 11.4 has renewables on it; name some renewable energy sources.

Read the first couple of paragraphs on page 286 and this website before answering 5-9.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources/energy_rev1.shtml

5.

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy?

6.

What are fossil fuels and how were they formed?

7.

What are the three largest sources of energy consumed today? Are they renewable or non-

renewable?

8.

Why is using fossil fuels unsustainable? (look up the meaning of ‘sustainable’ if you are not sure)

9.

Why can wood (i.e. fuel-wood) be considered both renewable and non-renewable?

MEDCs and LEDCs compared

There are considerable differences between the patterns of energy consumption in MEDCs and LEDCs,

including; the total amount of energy used, the amount of energy used per capita, the sources of energy

used and the ways in which the energy is used.

Some nations, e.g. the USA, account for a vast proportion of the world’s consumption, and some

areas, e.g. most of Africa, use only very small amounts

the MEDCs have less than one quarter of the total world population but use nearly three quarters ofthe world’s energy!

the average per capita energy consumption in MEDCs is almost three times that found in LEDCs

Energy is consumed in many ways – by industry, commerce, transport, and domestic uses

Factors such as the amount of manufacturing industry, the physical size of the country, the extent of

car ownership, climate, etc. affect differences in energy consumption between MEDCs and LEDCs

The Middle East has a very high per capita energy consumption

Qatar has a per capita energy consumption value of 14.2 – the highest in the world. A comparison

with Bangladesh at 0.11 and several African states with under 0.25 highlights a wide range of values

In LEDCs, over 50% of the energy consumed may come from non-commercial sources such as wood

or animal dung. Many local people are also so poor that even if commercial sources were available,

they would not be unable to afford them

MEDCs use a much larger percentage of their energy consumption on transport and commercial

uses than LEDCs, which use higher percentages on industrial and residential uses. Both groups of

countries use the same proportions on agriculture

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources/energy_rev1.shtml





4

Section 2

Environmental, Social and Political Issues

Use this website to answer question 10

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources/what_resources_rev2.shtml

10.

What are the consequences of exploiting energy resources?

Use this website to answer questions 11-13

www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/geography/weather-and-climate/revise-it/climatic-and-environmental-problems

11. What are the causes and consequences of acid rain?

12.

Why is acid rain an international issue?

13.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process within our atmosphere and without our planet would

be frozen! Briefly explain how burning fossil fuels is causing global warming (i.e. the warming of

our atmosphere).

Use these websites to answer question 14

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources/what_resources_rev3.shtml

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/wasting_resources/waste_pollution_rev2.shtml

14. What can people (like you) do to become more energy efficient; reducing their demand for

electricity and petrol, etc. and therefore reducing their carbon footprint (greenhouse gas

emissions?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/energy_resources/what_resources_rev2.shtml


http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/geography/weather-and-climate/revise-it/climatic-and-environmental-problems




http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/wasting_resources/waste_pollution_rev2.shtml








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15.

Use page 287 and this website to explain how the oil industry (i.e. BP) caused unintentional harm

to the environment, using the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill as an example

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/wasting_resources/waste_pollution_rev5.shtmlto

16.

Use pages 289-290 of your text book to describe the main environmental impacts of coal mining

The UK has set energy targets for the future

There are around 66 countries of the world that have engaged in setting energy targets. The United

Kingdom carries high intentions to boost nuclear energy and renewables. The UK, being one of the leading

nations of the UN is setting targets for a more sustainable future. The gas industry however has been

arguing the fact that gas offers a cheap alternative to renewables, despite being a fossil fuel.

The UK has taken a tough challenge to deliver key policy goals:

More than 30% of the electricity will be generate from renewables

12% of heat generated from renewables

10% of transport energy from renewables

Establish a mechanism to provide financial support for renewable electricity and heat worth of

around 30 billion pounds by 2020

Increase investment in emerging technologies and pursue new sources of supply

Create new opportunities for individuals, communities and business to harness renewable

energy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/wasting_resources/waste_pollution_rev5.shtmlto





6

Section 3

Advantages and Disadvantages of Selected Energy Resources

FOSSIL FUELS – COAL, OIL AND GAS

Major source of energy in: China

Advantages Disadvantages Easily combustible, and burns at low

temperatures

Widely and easily distributed all over the

world by rail (coal), tankers (coal and oil)

and pipeline (gas)

Comparatively inexpensive to buy on the

open market due to large reserves and easy

accessibility

Good availability for much of the world

Coal is simple to mine, making it the leastexpensive fossil fuel to obtain

Very large amounts of electricity can be

generated

Gas can be piped into homes to for heating

and cooking

Gas can be used as a fuel for vehicles, being

cleaner than petrol or diesel

Is non-renewable and will run out!

Coal produces the least energy per ton

of fuel

Coal dust is an extreme explosion

hazard

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon

dioxide, a greenhouse gas,

contributing to global warming

Natural gas is mostly methane, which

is 21 times more potent as agreenhouse gas than carbon dioxide

Coal leaves behind harmful by-

products upon combustion (both

airborne and in solid-waste form),

thereby causing a lot of pollution

Gas has a high risk of explosion

Oil spills pollute the environment

Gas is vulnerable to sudden

international price changes as well as

political, economic and military

pressures

FUEL WOOD

Major source of energy in: Kenya

Advantages Disadvantages

Renewable source of energy

CO2 is also produced by burning wood; but it

is reabsorbed by growing the trees that

produce replacement wood.

As long as the net amount of wood in the

world remains constant, no net carbon-dioxide is released into the atmosphere by

burning firewood

Is currently the cheapest heating option

A great many of the world's trees have

been destroyed to obtain fuel wood,

resulting in environmental problems

such as: deforestation, increased

erosion, and increased flooding

Wood burning contributes pollution tothe environment in the form of the

smoke emitted when burnt

Wood must be stacked and protected

from the elements to prevent it from

becoming wet and difficult to burn



7

NUCLEAR

Major source of energy in: Belgium


No greenhouse gas emissions

The plants almost never experience

problems, which rarely occur as few people

are needed to operate it

Small amount of uranium creates a largeamount of energy

New reactor types have been designed to

make it physically impossible to melt down.

Nuclear plants are more expensive to

build and maintain

Proliferation concerns - reactors yield

products that could potentially be

stolen and turned into a nuclearweapon

Waste products are dangerous and

need to be carefully stored for long

periods of time. The spent fuel is highly

radioactive

There is presently no adequate safe

long-term storage for radioactive

waste produced from early reactors

Nuclear power plants can be

dangerous

HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER (HEP)

Major source of energy in: Brazil


Creates no pollution and renewable

Stations can operate and run for long

periods of time

Hydroelectric power plants require little

maintenance

Dams are designed to last many decades

and so can contribute to the generation of

electricity for many years

Is generally available as needed; engineers

can control the flow of water through the

turbines to produce electricity on demand

Is a cleaner source of energy than oil, more

cost effective and efficient

High investment costs

Studies show that the plant decay

caused downstream of major dams

produces greenhouse gasses

Building of large dams can cause

serious geological damage

Can damage the surrounding

environment and alter the quality of

the water by, which impacts fish and

the surrounding ecosystems

Takes up a great deal of space and can

impose on animal, plant, and even

human environments



8

GEOTHERMAL

Major source of energy in: New Zealand


Geothermal energy generally involves low

running costs

Is a constant supply of energy

Renewable and pollution free

Governments of various countries areinvesting hugely in creation of geothermal

energy which has created more jobs for the

local people

Can be directly used

Low number of suitable locations for a

power plant

Locations may temporarily run out of

steam, during this time, the power

plant won't have enough energy togenerate electricity

Not easily transported

Hazardous gases and minerals can

come up from underground

Can cause recurring earthquakes in the

surrounding areas

SOLAR

Major source of energy in: Germany

Advantages Disadvantages Solar energy is renewable

Non-polluting, no carbon dioxide like fossil

fuels & does not harm the environment

Batteries can be used to store power for use

at night

There is more solar energy landing on the

earth every day than it would take to supply

the world for a year

Solar panels can last over twenty years

In certain countries, excessive power

generated can be sold back to local

electricity provider

When there is no solar energy to be

collected you'll have to have adequate

battery backup to get you through the

nights and rainy days

Takes a considerable amount of solar

panels depending on your location to

produce the same amount of

electricity

High cost of the semi-conducting

materials used in building one

Solar panels require quite a large area

for installation to achieve a good level

of efficiency



9

WIND

Major source of energy in: USA


The wind is free and with modern

technology it can be captured efficiently

Once the wind turbine is built the energy it

produces does not cause greenhouse gases

or other pollutants Wind turbines can be very tall but take up

only a small plot of land. So the land below

can still be used. Thus in agricultural areas

farming can still continue

Wind power is very low cost (after the initial

production and installation)

Remote areas that are not connected to the

electricity power grid can use wind turbines

to produce their own supply

The strength of the wind is not

constant and it varies from zero to

storm force. This means that wind

turbines do not produce the same

amount of electricity all the time The noise pollution from commercial

wind turbines

Many people feel that the countryside

should be left untouched, without

these large structures being built. The

landscape should left in its natural

form for everyone to enjoy

Animals that fly can be killed by

spinning turbines

TIDAL

Major source of energy in: France


Tidal and wave energy is free, renewable,

and clean source of energy

It produces clean electricity, with no

production of greenhouse gas or pollution.

Tides are active 24 hours a day, 365 days a

year

Uses an abundant, inexpensive fuel source

(water) to generate power

Highly efficient resource compared with coal

and oil

Some pollutants are released into the

atmosphere

Maintenance of tidal power station is

also a difficult task and it requires lots

of money

Lots of money required for tidal power

projects

Power generated depends on tides

Use page 296 of your text book to answer the following questions

17.

What are biofuels made from and how can they be used?

18. Why did biofuel production increase after 2000?

19.

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of biofuels?



10

Section 3

The Location and Operation of Power Stations

Power stations produce electricity by spinning a turbine at high speed. The turbine is connected to an

electro-magnetic generator which produces the electrical current. What actually causes the turbine to spin

varies between power stations. Thermal power stations burn fossil fuels to boil water to produce steam.

The steam (at high pressure) turns the turbine! HEP simply uses the force of gravity and running water toturn the turbine.

HEP

Thermal (coal, oil, gas)



11

Nuclear power is technically non-renewable because uranium, once used, cannot be used again. However, a

small amount of uranium lasts a long time and can produce vast amounts of electricity. For this reason it is

known as an alternative energy source rather than non-renewable.

Use pages 300-301 of your text book to answer the following questions;

20. How does a nuclear power station work (produce electricity)

Nuclear power station

21.

Read the statements below. They describe factors which are important to consider when deciding

where to build different types of power station. Decide which of the statements are important for

nuclear power stations. Highlight the statements that you have chosen.

Needs high rainfall and low evaporation levels

Needs stable geological conditions (away from volcanoes/earthquakes)

Needs a steep sided valley, impermeable rock and a large river

Needs flat land which is easier to build on

Needs to be near a large coal/oil supply as coal/oil is heavy to transport

Needs a regular and constant flow of water throughout the year

Needs large amounts of water for cooling purposes so is often by the coast / a river

Needs to be away from large populations (towns and cities)

Needs to be close to a railway to bring in large amounts of fuel



12

Section 4:

The Other Energy Crisis: Fuel-wood

Men buying fuel-wood and a woman collecting fuel wood.

22.

Complete the paragraph below, using the words from the text box.

Nearly _________ people still use fuel wood as their __________ energy source. The majority of these

people live in the _____________ world. These people cut down trees and burn the wood as fuel or to

make ___________ for fuel for their stoves. It is usually women and ___________ that collect the wood.

Sometimes they can spend up to ____________ each day, just collecting firewood. The loads are very heavy

and the time taken is time that is lost from other important things such as farming or _____________. The

population in many of these countries is also ______________ very fast. This means that too many trees

are cut down and people have to walk _______________ and further each day to find fuel. Eventually

people will be without fuel for food and heat and the environment will experience ____________ without

trees to protect it.

soil erosion five hours developing charcoal growing

children schooling primary further 3 billion

Use page 291 of your text book to answer the following questions;

23.

Why is the use of fuel-wood a concern in Lesotho?

24. What are two problems and two solutions of fuel-wood use?



13

Section 5:

CASE STUDY - Electricity / Energy supply in Germany

Use pages 302-305 to answer these questions about Germany

25. How many and what forms of energy are used to produce electricity in Germany?

26.

What % of Germany’s electricity is produced from; a. Renewable sources, b. Non -renewablesources, and c. Nuclear

27.

Even though coal contributes to global warming, why does Germany still use so much?

28.

Name two locations where coal (lignite and bituminous) is extracted from in Germany.

29. Look at Figure 11.31. What do you notice about the location of Germany’s coal mines and thermal

power stations?

30.

Describe the main features of the Heilbronn coal-fired power station shown in figure 11.30.

31.

Why is Rostock coal-fired power station not near to a coal field or a river?

32.

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using coal for Germany?

33. How many nuclear power stations does Germany have and what are they all located next to?

34. Still under development, where will Germany eventually put 95% of its nuclear waste?

35.

What is the opinion among Germans about the future of nuclear power? What do you think

about using nuclear power in Germany?

36.

If Germany was to phase out and abandon nuclear power, where would/could it get its electricity

from instead?



14

Section 6

Water Supply and Usage

Open the file “World Water Day” – Simply read and be shocked!

Above shows global water supply.

Although over 70% of the earths surface is water, very little of this is of any use to people.

37. Calculate the % of the world’s water that is easily obtained by people from groundwater, rivers

and lakes (i.e. 31.1% divided by 2.5% x 100)

38.

Use page 306, to state which sectors of society use and demand water.



15


www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/water_rivers/water_usage_rev1.shtml

39. What are the main differences in water usage between MEDCs and LEDCs?



40.

MEDCs use (and probably waste) huge amounts of water. Briefly describe what can be done tobetter manage supply and demand of water in MEDCs?



41.

Water issues in LEDCs is more to do with lack of it, diseases and water pollution. Briefly describe

what can be done to better manage water in LEDCs?

“ Water stress” areas in the world are increasing every year. Water stress means that an area does not have

enough fresh water supplies to meet the demands of its population. Water stress is sometimes referred to

as ‘water deficit’ (page 307)

Factors affecting water stress:

Amount of and reliability of precipitation

Temperature and levels of evaporation

Population density

Level of economic development

Use and management of groundwater supplies (water-bearing rocks)

Presence of rivers (or not)

Pollution of available water (by industry and domestic uses)

Intensity of irrigation used for farming

Per capita wealth (as more people become wealthy their lifestyle uses more water)

Tourism (tourists and tourist industry use lots of water)












16

Water shortages have a big impact upon people, especially in LEDCs like Kenya. Between 1998 and 2001

Kenya experienced a massive drought. The rains failed every single year!

42.

Read the speech bubbles below. Briefly describe how an unreliable rainfall can affect people in

Kenya.

CASE STUDY – Water Supply in Lesotho (and South Africa) – The Highlands Water Project

This is presented on page 308-9 of your text book. Answer the questions below; remember that case

studies need to contain place specific detail.

43.

What are the main features of this scheme and why is South Africa also involved.

44.

What are the objectives of the project?

45. How and where is water transferred to and from?

46. Why is Lesotho a good location for such a project?

47.

What were the positive and negative impacts of the project?

THE END!

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