Energy Solar Energy Energy Resource A natural resource that humans use to generate energy. Can be renewable are nonrenewable. energy sources are replaced by natural processes at least as quickly as they are used energy sources are used up faster than they can be replaced. Describe how it works: The sun makes energy it its core in a process called nuclear fusion. The energy travels to earth in waves. Solar collectors use photovoltaic cells to transfer the energy into electricity. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: Sources of energy in the United States Other 8% Limitless source No pollution Can be used in remote areas Expensive to use on a large scale Can only be used in a sunny place Large areas of land needed Is solar a renewable or non-renewable energy source?
WIND ENERGY Hydroelectric POWER Describe how it works: Wind turbines use blades to capture winds kinetic (moving) energy. As the turbine spins a generator inside sends electricity to a transmission line. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: No pollution Inexpensive to generate (wind is free) Few safety risks Is wind a renewable or non-renewable energy source? Wind farms require lots of land Turbines are loud and injure birds Unreliable because wind is not always blowing Describe how it works: Water in a reservoir, behind a dam, flows through a pipe. The pressure in the pipe is high. This causes a turbine to spin and produce electricity. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: No pollution Energy produced at a constant rate Dams may be used for recreation Disrupts a rivers ecosystem Available only at a water source High cost to build a dam Is hydroelectricity a renewable or non-renewable energy source?
BIOMASS ENERGY GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Describe how it works: Organic matter like wood, crops, garbage, and animal waste can be burned to produce electricity List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: Growing plants remove greenhouse gasses Does not produce much pollution Inexpensive Produces some pollution Takes a lot of space to grow crops Crops must be replanted Is biomass a renewable or non-renewable energy source? Describe how it works: Water is pumped underground in pipes. Heat, from inside the Earth, turns the water into steam that turns a turbine. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: Infinite supply of water Does not pollute Water is free Expensive to build a geothermal plant Only works in areas with volcanic activity Harmful gasses may come up from the ground Is geothermal energy a renewable or non-renewable energy source?
PETROLEUM (OIL) NATURAL GAS Describe how it works: Dead sea pants & animals were covered by layers of sediment. There, they underwent extreme heat & pressure turning into oil. To produce energy oil is burned to make steam that turns a turbine. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: Oil is found in many places Oil is easily transported Relatively cheap to extract Creates pollution when burned Limited supply Environmental damage may be caused by rigs and oil spills Is petroleum a renewable or non-renewable energy source? Describe how it works: Natural gas is created the same way oil is created. It can also be burned to turn a turbine. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: Does not create as much pollution as oil & gas Relatively cheap to extract Found in many places Creates pollution Limited supply Damages ecosystem when extracting Is natural gas a renewable or non-renewable energy source?
COAL NUCLEAR ENERGY Smaller Large (Uranium) Smaller Describe how it works: Coal is made from dead swamp plants that have undergone extreme heat & pressure underneath layers of sediments. To produce electricity, coal is burned to make steam that turns a turbine. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: Relatively cheap Easily transported Can be found in many places Is coal a renewable or non-renewable energy source? Produces pollution Coal mines are dangerous Coal mines destroy the ecosystem & do not look nice Describe how it works: the element uranium is mined. At a nuclear plant the uranium undergoes nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is where a single atom of uranium is split into pieces. Fission creates large amounts of heat that produces team to turn a turbine. List the and disadvantages of this source of energy: Small amounts of uranium create large amounts of energy Uranium is cheap It does not pollute the atmosphere Is nuclear a renewable or non-renewable energy source? Nuclear plants are expensive to run Nuclear waste is radioactive (toxic) Nuclear leaks can have a devastating impact