Fossil Fuels |
#1 |
How is Coal made? |
Dead plant material accumulates and over time heat and pressure create lignite coal. |
#2 |
How is Oil and Natural Gas made? |
Oil and Natural Gas is made from the burial of marine organisms. |
#3 |
What is one advantage and one disadvantage of using fossil fuels? |
Possible advantages: generate electricity, makes plastics, home shingles, heat buildings. Some Disadvantages: create pollution, they are nonrenewable |
#4 |
Where can we find coal/oil/and Natural Gas? |
Sedimentary Rocks |
#5 |
Why are they called fossil fuels? |
They are called fossil fuels because they are made up of the remains of animals and plants. |
Nuclear Energy |
#1 |
Is Nuclear fission renewable or nonrenewable? |
nonrenewable |
#2 |
Is Nuclear fusion renewable or nonrenewable? |
renewable |
#3 |
How long is Nuclear waste determined to be radioactive? (10 yrs, 200 yrs, 10,000 yrs, 100,000 yrs) |
10,000 yrs |
#4 |
Why do you think Nuclear power plants are located near rivers and lakes? |
Because heat released in nuclear reactors produce steam, which is used to produce electricity. |
#5 |
What is the difference between Nuclear fusion and Nuclear fission? |
Nuclear fusion is when materials of low mass are fused together to form a substance of higher mass (energy from the sun). Nuclear fission is the splitting of heavy elements (like uranium) to produce energy. |
Solar/wind/hydro electricity |
#1 |
How can Solar energy be generated (how can we get energy from it)? |
Solar cells actively collect energy from the sun and transforms it into electricity. |
#2 |
What is a disadvantage of using Solar Energy? |
Solar cells work less efficiently on cloudy days and cannot work at all at night. |
#3 |
What is an advantage of using wind energy? |
Wind is nonpolluting and it's free. |
#4 |
What is a disadvantage of using wind energy? |
Wind is unpredictable. For an area to use wind energy consistently, the area must have a persistent wind that blows steadily. |
#5 |
How are ways to generate hydroelectricity? |
A large concrete dam is built to retain water. As water is released, its force turns turines at the base of the dame. The turbines then turn generators that make electricity. |
More renewable energy sources |
#1 |
What energy is obtained by using hot magma or dry rocks? |
Geothermal Energy |
#2 |
What is an advantage of using Geothermal Energy? |
The hot, dry underground rocks used can be found just about anywhere. |
#3 |
What is the definition of renewable energy resources? |
Energy resources that can be replaced in nature or by humans within a relatively short period of time. |
#4 |
About what percentage of energy in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels? |
about 90% |
#5 |
Why are trees considered a renewable energy source? |
As one tree is cut down, another can be planted in its place. |
Biomass Energy |
#1 |
What is biomass energy? |
energy used from burning organic material such as wood, alcohol, and garbage. |
#2 |
What is a disadvantage of burning wood? |
gases and small particles are released and can pollute the air. |
#3 |
How much garbage could be burned? (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 2/3) |
As much as 2/3 of what we throw away can be burned. |
#4 |
What is an advantage of burning garbage? |
It is cheap and helps reduce the amount of material to be dumped in a landfill. |
#5 |
What is a disadvantage of burning garbage? |
Burning municipal waste can produce toxic ash residue and air pollution. |