Energy Resourses Investigation

Biomass also was only created because the sun has enough energy to feed the plants that start off the chain process.

Food energy is again also created I this way weather animal or vegtable this is because the vegtable matter absorbs the suns energy through photosynthesis animals then absorb this energy from the original plant and then from each other all the way up the food chain .

Wind is so to speak solar powered because it is the, sun which moves the earths weather systems creating the wind so as long as the sun exists the weather systems will keep on moving creating wind.

Waves are powered by the moon however (a lunar energy source). This is because the gravitational force that the moon exerts on the earth pulls the tides in and out as it goes through its cycles. However the moon is kept in orbit around the earth by its gravitational pull and the earth inturn by the sun. Flowing water is affected by the sun because if the sun was not there all the water would just freeze. This is all shown in the diagram below.

3. (A) Fossil fules are coal oil or gas they are the condensed and fossilized remains of prehistoric animals and plants which contain large amounts of energy. This energy is released when burnt.

(B) Coal can be used to create electricity in this way. Firstly hundreds of tons of coal are burnt the heat obtained is then used to boil water. The steam produced from the boiling water is then piped to a propeller which it turns the turbine creating electricity. The steam is then recondensed so that it can be used again.

FURNACE

TURBINE

S

H

A

F

T

GENERATOR

5 SOLAR PANELS use the sun's rays to directly heat water. The water is held in tubes above dish shaped mirrors directing as much heat on to the tubes as possible. The water is then pumped to houses using hot water.

SOLAR CELLS use solar energy directly to make electricity. Materials like silicon in the cell, give off electrons when hit by solar radiation, this produces electricity.

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

OF ENERGY RESOURCES

Energy Resource

Advantages

Disadvantages

Coal

* Coal produces a lot of the energy needed in the UK.

* Coal can be turned in to liquid and gas fuels.

* Energy is wasted in producing the electricity.

* A lot of pollution is given off when burned.

Uranium

* There is a lot of uranium left.

* Very little uranium is needed to produce a lot of power.

* Very dangerous due to it being so radioactive

* Very difficult to dispose of after use because of the long half life.

Wind

* It is a renewable source of energy

* If they are put in large numbers they will be effective.

* You need large areas that are windy to produce enough power.

* Wind farms look ugly and produce a lot of sound

Waves

* It is a renewable source of energy

* We have lots of coast to produce a lot of power

* Expensive power stations

* Waves can damage the machinery to produce electricity when it gets stormy.

Geothermal

* It is a renewable source of energy

* One geothermal well could heat several large blocks of flats.

* Expensive to make the energy

* Very few places you can set up a geothermal power station.

6 With coal, oil, or gas powered stations a lot of heat is lost when the steam has been through the turbine and is left to cool. If this steam was then piped to homes or other buildings, there would be much less energy wasted.

CONCLUSION

In this project we have discovered that all energy resources originate from the sun. At the moment we may have to use polluting, non-renewable energy resources, but in the not so distant future we may have to use the renewable energy resources when we run out of fossil fuels. To lengthen the remaining time we have left using fossil fuels we have to find ways to produce as much energy as possible from our fuels.

David Jamieson 4DGS