PHYSICS – Energy Resources

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES

1.7.2 Energy resources Supplement

Core • Understand that the Sun is the source
• Describe how electricity or other of energy for all our energy resources
useful forms of energy may be obtained except geothermal, nuclear and tidal
from:
– chemical energy stored in fuel • Show an understanding that energy is
– water, including the energy stored in released by nuclear fusion in the Sun
waves, in tides, and in water behind
hydroelectric dams
– geothermal resources • Recall and use the equation:
– nuclear fission efficiency = useful energy output
– heat and light from the Sun (solar energy input ×
cells and panels) 100%
– wind • efficiency = useful power output
• Give advantages and disadvantages of Power input × 100%
each method in terms of renewability,
cost, reliability, scale and environmental
impact
• Show a qualitative understanding of
efficiency
Electricity
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).
How is electricity generated?

Hydroelectric

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Solar
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Solar

Tidal
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Fossil Fuels Solar

Tidal
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity Wave

Fossil Fuels Solar

Tidal
 How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Geothermal Electricity Wave

Fossil Fuels Solar

Tidal
 Electricity
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).

NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES

1. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas

2. Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)
• They will all ‘run out’ one day.
• They all damage the environment
• They currently provide most of our
energy.
 Electricity
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).

RENEWABLE SOURCES

1. Wind 2. Waves 3.
NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES Tides
4. Hydroelectric 5. Biofuels
1. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas 6. Geothermal 7. Solar (from Sun)
2. Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)
• They will all ‘run out’ one day. • They will never run out.
• They all damage the environment • They do much less damage to the
• They currently provide most of our environment.
energy. • They don’t provide much energy and can
be unreliable if they depend on the
weather.
 Generating electricity

3 stages:
Boiler

Turbine

Generator
 Generating electricity

• In the boiler fuel

burns to heat water.
The water turns
into steam.
• Fuels used may be
coal, oil or gas.
 Generating electricity

• Steam travels along

pipes and makes
the turbine spin.
 Generating electricity

• The turbine turns a

generator.
• Inside the generator
there is a magnet
inside a coil of wire.
• As the magnet
spins, electricity is
generated.
Let’s just repeat the basics:-

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine
Energy
source
The generator
converts the
movement of the
turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: fuels are readily available, they

Fossil fuels
are relatively cheap, and are not reliant upon
the weather.
Disadvantages: highly polluting, contributing
to global warming and climate change. Burning
fossil fuels can produce acid rain. Oil spillages
cause serious damage to the environment.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrybridge_power_stations

The generator
In a fossil fuel power station coal, oil or converts the
natural gas burn, releasing heat energy which
is used to turn water into steam. movement of the
turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: relatively quick and natural

Biofuels
sources of energy and are considered to be
carbon neutral (do not release additional
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere).
Disadvantages: natural habitats may be
cleared to make way for biofuel crops, and
some food crops may be lost.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine
http://www.climatetechwiki.org/technology/agriculture-biofuel-
production

Biofuels are renewable energy sources. They

can be solids (eg. Straw, woodchip), liquids
The generator
(eg. Ethanol) or gases (eg. Methane biogas
from sludge digesters). converts the
They are burnt to turn water into steam, movement of the
which drives the turbine and producing turbine (kinetic
electricity in the generator.
energy) into
electricity.
 Nuclear energy

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

Nuclear fission, involving the splitting of

atoms of a nuclear fuel (eg. Uranium) releases
a lot of heat energy. The generator
Water is used as a coolant to take away this
converts the
heat energy, which is used to produce steam
to drive a turbine which then turns the movement of the
generator. turbine (kinetic
The main disadvantage of a nuclear power energy) into
station is that radioactive waste is produced.
electricity.
This can be very dangerous and difficult to
dispose of.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,

Wave Power
minimal running costs. Can be very useful on
small islands.
Disadvantages: hazard to boats, can be an
eyesore, fairly unreliable as waves disappear
when the wind drops, initial costs can be very
high, environmental impact.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/Q&A/KS3/energy/Sources/Q5.html

The generator
As waves come in to the shore they provide converts the
up and down motion which can be used to
directly drive a turbine which is linked to a
movement of the
generator. turbine (kinetic
The waves force the air through the turbine, energy) into
causing it to spin. electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,

Tidal Power
minimal running costs. Tides are reliable, and
barrages are excellent for storing energy.
Disadvantages: hazard to boats, can be an
eyesore, initial costs can be very high,
environmental impact. Height of the tide is
variable, so energy output varies.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-ii/fission-and-
fusion/tidal-power.php

The generator
Tidal barrages are big dams built across river converts the
estuaries. As the tide comes in it fills the
estuary – the water is released so that the
movement of the
turbines are turned at a controlled speed. turbine (kinetic
The source of the energy is the gravity of energy) into
the Sun and the Moon. electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,
minimal running costs. Immediate response to
Hydroelectric Power increased demand, and fairly reliable.
Disadvantages: flooding a valley has a big
impact on the environment, with much loss of
habitats. Initial costs are high. Adversely
affected during times of drought.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/06/global_energy/
html/hydrowind.stm

The generator
Hydroelectric power usually involves flooding converts the
a valley to form a reservoir behind a big dam.
As water is released from the reservoir it
movement of the
falls through the dam and turns the turbines, turbine (kinetic
which then spin the generators which in turn energy) into
produce electricity. electricity.
 Geothermal Energy Advantages: free, renewable energy source.
No real environmental problems.
Disadvantages: cost of drilling down several
km to the hot rocks.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://polizeros.com/2010/09/02/geothermal-power-gaining-
attention/

The generator
Used where hot rocks lie quite near to the converts the
surface. Cold water is pumped in pipes down
to the hot rocks, and returns as steam to
movement of the
drive the turbines. Unfortunately there are turbine (kinetic
very few places where this is an economic energy) into
option. electricity.
 Solar cells
Advantages: no pollution, a very reliable
source in sunny countries. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: initially very expensive, and a
developing technology. Only produce
electricity in daytime.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://etap.com/renewable-energy/photovoltaic-101.htm

The generator
Solar cells generate electricity directly from converts the
sunlight. Solar cells are usually used to
provide electricity on a relatively small scale,
movement of the
such as for individual houses. Solar cell turbine (kinetic
‘farms’ are being developed, but connecting to energy) into
the National Grid can be expensive. electricity.
 Solar panels
Advantages: no pollution, a very reliable
source in sunny countries. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: Only heats water in daytime.
Not used to produce electricity.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22430

The generator
Solar panels use the Sun’s thermal radiation converts the
to warm up water for the house. A blackened
layer behind the pipes helps the absorption of
movement of the
the radiant energy and the warming of the turbine (kinetic
water flowing through the pipes. energy) into
electricity.
 Wind Power
Advantages: no pollution. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: can be considered an eyesore,
and there is some noise pollution. No power is
produced when the wind drops.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.newhomewindpower.com/wind-power-generators.html

The generator
Wind turbines are put up in exposed places, converts the
such as hilltops and around the coast. Each
wind turbine has its own generator, so
movement of the
electricity is generated directly. turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
The Sun as the ultimate source of energy

The Sun radiates Tidal

energy because of
nuclear fusion Tides are created by the
reactions deep gravitational pull of the
inside. Moon on the Earth’s oceans.

Solar cells
Radioactive atoms
release energy
Solar panels
Energy in plants Weather systems
Nuclear

Solar panels Wind Geothermal

Solar panels Waves

Hydroelectric
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES

1.7.2 Energy resources Supplement

Core • Understand that the Sun is the source
• Describe how electricity or other of energy for all our energy resources
useful forms of energy may be obtained except geothermal, nuclear and tidal
from: • Show an understanding that energy is
– chemical energy stored in fuel released by nuclear fusion in the Sun
– water, including the energy stored in
waves, in tides, and in water behind
hydroelectric dams • Recall and use the equation:
– geothermal resources efficiency = useful energy output
– nuclear fission energy input ×
– heat and light from the Sun (solar 100%
cells and panels) • efficiency = useful power output
– wind Power input × 100%
• Give advantages and disadvantages of
each method in terms of renewability,
cost, reliability, scale and environmental
impact
• Show a qualitative understanding of
efficiency
PHYSICS – Energy Resources