| Sources of Energy | | | | they are going to run out fairly soon, and |
| Introduction | | | | secondly, they cause pollution. Therefore, we |
| We need energy to do a lot of things. Without it | | | | need another source of energy. |
| the world would be very different. There would | | | | Nearly Renewable Energy |
| be no cars, no computers, no tv, no mobile | | | | I call these sources nearly renewable as they do |
| phones, in fact you wouldn't recongnise the world | | | | run out, but they can be replaced within a lifetime. |
| at all. | | | | The sources in this section are wood/plants and |
| Energy cannot be created, all the energy in the | | | | nuclear power. |
| universe is already in existence in one form or | | | | Wood can be burned much the same as coal, gas, |
| another. We turn this potential energy into | | | | and oil. When you have burned it it is gone, |
| another form which we can use to power | | | | however, you can re-plant more trees which will |
| different things like our tv or car. | | | | grow and can be used for energy. Alcohol can be |
| Types of Energy | | | | produced from wood and plants by fermentation, |
| The way that energy is stored or released can | | | | (same process as for making beer), which can be |
| be divided into different types. Each type of | | | | used topower vehicles. It still however has the |
| energy can be converted into another type in | | | | environmental problems associated with burning |
| some way. The different types are: | | | | fuels. |
| Chemical Energy - Energy which is stored inside a | | | | Nuclear power uses the energy released from |
| fuel, e.g. Petroleum, Food. The Petroleum is burned | | | | atomic decay, when an element changes from |
| to fuel a car or a power station, food is used in | | | | one isotope to another, or even another element. |
| the body to power the different biological | | | | The energy from this is great and lasts for years. |
| processes. | | | | The fuel can be reprocessed and more energy |
| Potential Energy - Energy which is due to the | | | | retrieved. However, there is the problem of |
| existence of a possible change to lower energy | | | | nuclear waste and fallout. The waste produced |
| state. This is more easily described by examples, | | | | from energy production of this typeis dangerous. |
| water in a high-reservoir or a person about to | | | | It causes cancer and other illnesses. Also, if there |
| jump out of a plane. The system has the | | | | is a problem at a power station, there can be |
| potential to produce energy, i.e the water can | | | | serious consequences, as at Chernobyl, in the |
| flow down from the reservoir and the person can | | | | USSR, in 1986, when a power station had a |
| jump from the plane (with a parachute, of | | | | meltdown. The fallout from this can affect the |
| course!) without the need of any energy input.. | | | | surrounding area for a great distance. |
| Kinetic Energy - Energy of movement, e.g a | | | | Renewable Energy |
| person running or car driving. | | | | These are the way of the future if we wish to |
| Sound Energy - Energy due to the compression | | | | continue with our electric powered lives. They |
| and rarefaction (uncompression) of air or other | | | | don't run out and they don't pollute the |
| medium that sound travels through. If you speak | | | | enironment. The main types of renewable energy |
| into a microphone the sound energy is converted | | | | are: |
| into movement of the microphone components | | | | Wind Power - Wind turns a turbine attached to a |
| (kinetic energy). | | | | dynamo which produces electrical energy. |
| Electrical Energy - Energy due to the movement | | | | Solar Power - Light from the sun excites |
| of electrons from a point of high potential to that | | | | chemicals in a panel which produces the electrical |
| of low potential, e.g. a battery. | | | | energy. |
| Heat Energy - Energy due to the movement of | | | | Solar Heat Energy - Heat from the sun can be |
| particles in a medium, e.g. water molecules moving | | | | used to heat water in a tank on your roof, to |
| around in boiling water. | | | | provide hot water for your house. |
| Sources of Energy | | | | Water Power - Turbines in damns or rivers get |
| These different types of energy can be found in | | | | turned by the force of the water, powering a |
| various sources. These sources can be divided | | | | dynamo which produces electrical energy. |
| into two-types: Renewable and Non-Renewable. | | | | Tidal Power - The power of the waves can be |
| Non-renewable Sources | | | | harnessed to produce electricity. |
| Non-renewable energy sources get used up as | | | | Geothermal Power - The heat from deep inside |
| they get converted into usuable energy in power | | | | the earth, can be used the same way fossil fuels |
| stations. They are not completely non-renewable, | | | | are used to heat water in a regular power station. |
| as if you could manage to wait a few million | | | | Hydrogen Fuel - We can burn hydrogen gas, |
| years then eventually they could be replenished. | | | | (easily produced as found in water), which burns |
| The prime examples of this type of source are: | | | | cleanly to give just water as a by-product. Car |
| Coal, Oil and Gas, also called fossil fuels (they | | | | engines are being designed with hydrogen as a |
| were produced from the decaying matter of past | | | | fuel. |
| creatures). These fuels, possessing "chemical | | | | Wind-up/Kinetic Energy - Wind-up clock radios and |
| energy", are burned in power stations. The "heat | | | | torches are already available. You can even get |
| energy" produced is used to heat large tanks of | | | | torches you shake to charge up the batteries. |
| water, which then produce steam. The steam | | | | All these renewable sources help to produce |
| turns a turbine, "kinetic energy", which has a set | | | | power cleanly and efficiently. This helps the |
| of large magnets attached to it. The rotating | | | | enviroment and can also help you to save money |
| magnets generate "electrical energy" in a coil | | | | if you pay the electricity bill. You can have your |
| which can then be used for all your electric needs. | | | | own personal wind/solar power generator on the |
| These fuels are also used to produce heat in your | | | | roof of your house, which can run the electrical |
| home, in fires, boilers and for cooking food in your | | | | items in your house. If you drive you can now |
| kitchen. They are used in vehicles in the form of | | | | get hybrid cars which run off petrol and |
| petroleum, diesel, or LPG. All these processes | | | | electricity, as the car moves the battery is |
| involve converting the "chemical energy" into a | | | | charged up for use on short journeys and petrol |
| usable form. | | | | is used for longer distance driving. |
| However, these sources have problems: Firstly, | | | | |