Renewable and non-renewable energy sources
Energy sources
Substances that are stores = Fuel
When burnt = releases energy
form is often heat and light
Fossil Fuels
= Coal, oil, gas
it is made when plants and animals have died many millions of years ago
can be found deep under earth or below the sea
Ways to obtain
dig up coal
to obtain natural gasses and oil we drill down through rock for example - oil rigs
Using Fuels
In SA we burn coal to make electricity
use oil to make paraffin, petrol and diesel
In SA Sasol makes oil from coal
Fuel to Electricity
Coal is transported to power stations
ground down into fine powder
Fine powder is burnt
the heat boils water
makes steam to turn turbines
Turbines turn generators which uses coil to make energy
Electric currents is carried by electrical transmission lines to sub stations and then our homes
Wood as an energy source
World fossil fuel is diminishing
People being forced to find alternatives
In Africa 70% of peoples energy needs comes from wood
Soon there will be a shortage of trees which will have an ill effect on many economies
Non Renewable Energy Sources
When fossil fuel is used = laid down very long ago
can not be replaced in a short period of time
Renewable Energy Sources
Energy sources such as wind, sunlight, moving water will never run out.
Examples: Solar, Wind, Ocean, Hydropower, Biomass, Geothermal
Biomass = energy from plant and other organic materials
Geothermal = energy from steam underneath the surface of the earth
Greenhouse effect
When the solar radiation hits earth and bounces off earth
it hits the ozone layer and more heat bounces back to earth like a ping pong ball