ENERGY RESOURCE NOTES

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ENERGY RESOURCE NOTES


TYPES OF RESOURCES

1.

Renewable Resource
: a resource that can be replaced in nature at a rate




Examples
:



air






trees




2.

Nonrenewable Resource
:




Examples
:



fossil

fuels



gold



iron



limestone


LIFE CYCLE OF COAL



peat
: mainly decaying


lignite
: soft, brown coal


bituminous
: soft coal (good energy source, pollutes the air)


anthracite
: hard coal;






PETROLEUM (Latin: rock oil)


2 Primary uses
–




Building

–

produces plastics, fabrics, synthetic vitamins, shampoos, makeup, and
much more.


Burning

–



See Life Cycle of Liquid Petroleum Chart


Environmental Impact of processing of petroleum:





Possible transportation accidents




Offshore drilling rig accidents





Energy used in pumping and refining causes pollution




Final burning releases CO and CO2 into air



Global warming?



Air pollution




Availability of Fossil Fuels...



In many cases, the countries that consume large amounts of fossil fuels have
very limited re
serves of their own.



Alternative Sources of Energy
(see also alternative energy chart)




Hydroelectric Power



Solar Energy











Hydroelectric Power




definition
-





pressure from water turns a turbine and powers




Provides a steady source of energy








Most widely used renewable energy source used today


Ex.





Solar Energy




Definition

–





Solar Cells

-

a.k.a.
photovoltaic cells
,



Types of Solar Heating Systems



Passive System

-

converts sunlight into thermal energy





Active System

-

captures the sun’s energy, then uses



Did you know?

In one day, Earth receives enough solar energy to meet the energy needs of the
entire world for



Wind Power


•


definition
: wind is used to turn a


•


“Wind farms” generate large amounts of electricity


•


Currently less than 1% of the world’s electricity comes



Geothermal Energy


•


definition
:





Can be in the form of



Biomass Fuels




definition
:




Examples: corn (ethanol), sugar cane





Nuclear
Energy


Nuclear Fission




definition

-

splitting of an atom’s nucleus into




U
-
235




nuclear reaction heats water; creates steam which turns a turbine







Nuclear Fusion




definition

-

combining of two nuclei to produce a





Currently scientists cannot
control it


