Energy Fact or Fiction: Determine if the following statements are fact or fiction

Energy

Fact or Fiction:

Determine if the following statements are fact or fiction

Fact or Fiction1. Petroleum is the ultimate source of

energy on Earth.

2. Traditional sources of energy come from plants.

3. Fossil fuels are available in limitless supplies.

4. The stored energy in petroleum originally came from the Sun.

5. Natural gas is formed from the remains of living things.

Fact or Fiction6. Alternative energy sources are

renewable sources.

7. Solar heating uses fans to distribute heat.

8. There are no drawbacks to using hydroelectric power.

9. Energy obtained directly from heat in the earth’s crust is called geothermal energy.

Fact or Fiction10. Wind is one of the least expensive

ways to produce electricity.

11. Nuclear fuel is a nonrenewable resource.

12. No greenhouse gases are released from nuclear power plants.

13. Biomass energy sources are nonpolluting.

14. Shale oil is profitable to extract and refine.

Traditional Energy Resources

Fact or Fiction – Answers 1. Petroleum is the ultimate source of

energy on Earth.

–Fiction

2. Traditional sources of energy come from plants.

–Fact

Transfer of Solar Energy• The Sun is the ultimate source of

energy on Earth.• Fuels are materials that are burned

to produce heat or power.

Traditional Sources of Energy• Wood

– most commonly used biomass fuel – Used for thousands of years

Traditional Sources of Energy• Field Crops

– Used as fuel when wood is scarce. • The simplest way – burn them

Traditional Sources of Energy• Fecal Material

– Feces are the solid wastes of animals. – used when have limited forest

resources

Traditional Sources of Energy• Peat

– formed when dead plant material is compressed in a bog

– burns better than wood– a fossil fuel

Fact or Fiction – Answers 3. Fossil fuels are available in limitless

supplies.

• Fiction

Fossil Fuels• formed over geologic time• nonrenewable -- millions of years

Fact or Fiction – Answers 4. The stored energy in petroleum

originally came from the Sun.

• Fact

Fossil Fuels• formed from plants and animals that

lived 300 million years ago in swamps and oceans

• the plants and animals died and decomposed under tons of rock and ancient seas

Fossil Fuels• Coal

– formed from compressed organic matter in ancient swamps.

Fossil Fuels• Petroleum

– natural crude oil– formed in shallow seas

Fact or Fiction – Answers 5. Natural gas is formed from the

remains of living things.

• Fact

Fossil Fuels• Natural Gas

– Methane -- bacteria– colorless, shapeless, and

odorless

Alternative Energy Resources

Alternative Energy Resources• Petroleum - 50 years??• Coal - 150 years??

–At current usage rates! –Are rates going to stay the same?

Fact or Fiction – Answers 6. Alternative energy sources are

renewable sources.

• Fact(most of them)

Solar Energy• The Sun is the ultimate source of

energy on Earth. • The main advantages

– Free – No pollution

Fact or Fiction – Answers 7. Solar heating uses fans to

distribute heat.

• Fiction

Solar Energy• Passive Solar Heating

– Sun shining through a window– Sun shining on bricks, asphalt – heat

can be released at night.

Solar Energy• Active Solar Heating

– solar panels collect light – fans and pumps distribute heat

Solar Energy• Photovoltaic Cells

– convert solar energy into electrical energy that is stored in batteries

Fact or Fiction – Answers 8. There are no drawbacks to using

hydroelectric power.

• Fiction

Hydroelectric Power• energy produced by moving water • 20% of the world’s electricity

Aswan High Dam

Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam

How it Works

Advantages• Controls flooding• Low operating and maintenance

costs• No polluting waste products• Long (but finite) life spans• Areas of recreation

Disadvantages• Controls flooding• Large flooded areas; people

displaced• Slow moving water pathogen

breeding ground• Destroy habitat• Disrupt fish migration

Disadvantages• Sedimentation

– Dredging – Sediments don’t enrich farmland

• Expensive to build• Destroys rivers• Earthquakes

More Dams?• Not in US -- why not?• Outside US?

Tidal Power• Energy from the Oceans

– energy in waves used to generate electricity

– may disrupt coastal and marine ecosystems

Fact or Fiction – Answers 9. Energy obtained directly from heat

in the earth’s crust is called geothermal energy.

• Fact

Geothermal Energy• energy produced by steam and hot

water generated by Earth’s own internal heat

Geothermal Energy• Advantages:

– abundant and reliable• Disadvantages:

– must be managed carefully – contains large amount of minerals -

pollution – Transporting is not practical

Fact or Fiction – Answers 10. Wind is one of the least expensive

ways to produce electricity.

• Fact

Wind Energy• Wind mechanical energy

electrical energy • Most wind farms are in California,

– ND, SD, and TX have the best locations• 10% of the world’s electricity by the

year 2050

Wind Energy• Advantages:

– virtually unlimited– nonpolluting – can be built quickly– inexpensive, but only in areas with

steady winds • Disadvantages:

– not very attractive – may interfere with and even kill birds– requires land lease/purchase

Fact or Fiction – Answers 11. Nuclear fuel is a nonrenewable

resource.

12. No greenhouse gases are released from nuclear power plants.

• Fact

Nuclear Energy• During nuclear fission, atoms are

split, releasing large amount of energy

• Uranium is commonly used• 17% of the world’s electricity

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy• No new nuclear plants have been

built in the United States since 1978.– Poor management– Costs– poor designs

Nuclear Energy• Advantages

– Lots of energy available– No greenhouse gases– Uranium available

• Disadvantages– Nuclear waste storage– Radiation accidents– Weapons?

Nuclear Energy

Fact or Fiction – Answers 13. Biomass energy sources are

nonpolluting.

• Fiction

Biomass• Biomass is a renewable energy

resource – as long as the organisms are replaced. – Not wood, field crops

• Disadvantage – release carbon dioxide and particulate

matter

Biomass• Ethanol

– Made from sugar and grain crops– Grain alcohol

• Methanol– Made mostly from natural gas– Wood alcohol

Biomass• Biogas

– Made from plant and animal waste• Biodiesel

– Manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases

Fact or Fiction – Answers 14. Shale oil is profitable to extract and

refine.

• Fiction

Energy from Oil Shale and Tar Sand• Oil shale is heated to form oil

known as shale oil. • The cost of processing oil

shale is higher than the cost of traditional crude oil.– requires lots of energy– produces air and water pollution

Powering the Planet