Miscellaneous
What is a turbine?
a device that harnesses the kinetic energy of some fluid - such as water, steam, air, or combustion gases - and turns this into the rotational motion of the device itself.
What is a renewable resource?
A natural resource that can be replaced as quickly as people use it.
What is a nonrenewable resource?
A resource that is used much faster than it can be replaced.
What are fossil fuels made of?
Fossil remains of plants and tiny animals.
What is coal?
A solid fossil fuel that is made of partly decayed plant material
What is a reliable energy source
one which can produce energy all the time.
List two examples of renewable energy sources.
Possible answers: wood, sun, water, wind.
List two examples of nonrenewable energy sources.
Possible answers: oil, natural gas, coal, fossil fuels.
What gas do fossil fuels release?
CO2
How does coal form?
When swamp plants die, they sink to the bottom of the swamp. If they do not decay completely, coal can start to form.
What are some advantages of nuclear fuel?
No carbon dioxide produced, reliable.
What is the most reliable renewable energy resource?
Hydroelectric
How do renewable resources become nonrenewable?
If people use them quicker than they can be replaced.
Tiny sea creatures die and then get buried in sediment, which turns into rock.
What is an example of one issue caused by mining coal?
Possible answers: Harmful to plants/animals, disruption of soil, water that flows through coal can pick up poisonous metals.
What are some disadvantages of biofuels?
production of fuel can damage ecosystems and reduce variety of crops grown
What does "conserve" mean?
Sustainable use of resources to protect them and their ability to be renewed.
What will be the solution when nonrenewable resources run out?
Turning to renewable resources
What phenomenon can be caused by gases released in global warming?
Acid rain
What is the hardest type of coal and approximately what percent of it is made of Carbon?
Anthracite, 90%
What energy transfer is happening when water in a reservoir flows through pipes to the other side of the dam?
Gravitational potential energy (GPE) → Kinetic energy (KE)
What is a problem with wind power?
Not completely reliable- dependent on weather conditions
Why are coal, oil, and natural gas considered nonrenewable resources, even though they come from living things that can reproduce?
They take millions of years to form.
What are most natural gases used for?
Heating - homes, ovens (cooking), etc.
List the 4 stages of coal, in order.
Peat, Lignite, Bituminous, Anthracite.