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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?
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
