Energy Resources

Holt: Chapter 9, Section 4 (p 258-263)

Science Fusion: Unit 4, Lesson 4 (p 274-277)

Key Terms

energy resource

nonrenewable resources

fossil fuels

renewable resources

potential energy

kinetic energy

nuclear energy

fission

fusion

electrical energy

solar energy

wind energy

geothermal energy

biomass

Nonrenewable Resources

• nonrenewable resources- cannot be replaced or are replaced much more slowly than they are used

• Types of nonrenewable resources:

– Fossil fuels

– Electrical energy from fossil fuels

– Nuclear energy

Fossil fuels

• fossil fuels- nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago

• energy stored from the sun

• Examples: coal, petroleum, natural gas

Electrical energy from fossil fuels

• Burning fossil fuels generates electrical energy

• thermal > kinetic > electrical

• Fossil fuels are the main source of electrical energy generated in the United States

• Electric generators convert chemical energy in fossils fuels into electrical energy.

Nuclear Energy

• Generated from radioactive elements, like uranium

• thermal > kinetic > electrical

• nuclear fission- a large unstable nucleus is broken into two unstable nuclei, releases additional neutrons and energy

• nuclear fusion- combination of nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus, releases energy

Renewable Resources

• renewable resources- a natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which it is consumed

• Types of renewable resources:– Solar Energy

– Energy from Water

– Wind Energy

– Geothermal energy

– Biomass

Solar Energy

• Solar panels

• sunlight > electrical energy

Energy from Water

• Hydroelectric dams

• potential > kinetic

• Water is stored in the dam > starts flowing through the dam > falling water turns turbines > power generator

Wind Energy

• Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.

• kinetic > electrical

Geothermal Energy

• geothermal energy is thermal energy caused by the heating of Earth’s crust.

• Geothermal power plants pump water underground, which is heated (by hot rock) to produce steam that turns the turbine of a generator

Biomass

• Plants use and store energy from the sun.

• Organic matter, such as plants, wood and waste, that can be burned to release energy is called biomass.

Energy Resource Renewable? Advantages Disadvantages

Fossil Fuels NO • Provides a large amount of thermal energy per unit of mass

• Easy to get and transport

• Can be used to generate electricity and make products such as plastic

• Nonrenewable• Produces smog• can cause acid

precipitation• risk of oil spills

Nuclear NO • Very concentrated form of energy

• Does not produce air pollution

• Produces radioactive waste

• nonrewable

Solar YES • Is an almost limitless source

• No pollution

• Expensive• Only in sunny areas

Water YES • No pollution • Requires dams,disrupts river’s ecosystem

Wind YES • Inexpensive• no pollution

• Has to be windy

Geothermal YES • Requires little land • Must be hot spot• Produces wastewater

Biomass YES • inexpensive • Requires farmland• Produces smoke

• Powering America: How a Nuclear Power Plant Works

• Hydroelectric Dam

• Wind Power

• Geothermal Power Plant

• What is Biomass?