1. EDEXCEL IGCSE PHYSICS 4-4 Energy Resources and Electricity Generation
THIS POWERPOINT IS NOT DUE FOR COMPLETION UNTIL JULY 2012
Edexcel IGCSE Physics pages 150 to 159
December 4th 2010
Content applying to Triple Science only is shown in red type on the next slide and is indicated on subsequent slides by ‘TRIPLE ONLY’

2. Edexcel IGCSE Specification
Section 4: Energy resources and energy transfer
d) Energy resources and electricity generation
understand the energy transfers involved in generating electricity using:
• wind
• water
• geothermal resources
• solar heating systems
• solar cells
• fossil fuels
• nuclear power
describe the advantages and disadvantages of methods of large-scale electricity production from various renewable and non-renewable resources.
Red type: Triple Science Only

3. Thermal power stations
A thermal power station generates electricity by using the heat produced by the burning a fossil fuel such as coal, gas, oil or by the fission of uranium.
Over 90% of our electricity is produced by these type of power stations.

4. Thermal power station block diagram
BOILER
TURBINES
GENERATOR
BOILER
Fuel is burnt to turn water into high pressure steam.
TURBINE
High pressure steam turns a turbine (like a windmill)
GENERATOR
The turbine rotates the coils of a generator to produce electricity.

5. Coal-fired power station

6. A nuclear reactor

7. Comparison of uranium and fossil fuels
coal, gas, oil
Energy released per kg of fuel
kWh
100 kWh
radioactive waste that needs to be stored for many years
non-radioactive waste
Waste
Greenhouse gases
Yes, mostly carbon dioxide
None

8. Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps below:
Most of our electricity is produced by __________ power stations. These use the _______ produced by burning _____ or the fission of __________ to generate electricity.
The heat produced is used to change ________ into high pressure steam. This steam is used to turn a _________ which in turn _________ an electrical generator.
Over _______ of our electricity is generated by using thermal power stations.
thermal
fuels
heat
uranium
water
turbine
rotates
90%
WORD SELECTION:
rotates
fuels
heat
90%
uranium
turbine
water
thermal

9. Simulations Power Station Animation - eChalk Generator - Fendt
Nuclear Fission - Powerpoint presentation by Richard Miller of 5SJW (2005)
Nuclear Fission - Powerpoint presentation that includes a link to the 'mousetrap' demonstration
Nuclear Physics - PhET - Start a chain reaction, or introduce non-radioactive isotopes to prevent one. Watch alpha particles escape from a Polonium nucleus, causing radioactive alpha decay. Control energy production in a nuclear reactor!
Chain reaction demonstration using mousetraps - University of Michigan
BBC Bitesize Revision:
Introduction Page on AQA Generating Electricity
Test Bite on Generating Electricity
Fossil Fuels
Nuclear Fuels
Comparing Sources - includes short and long term costs

10. Renewable energy sources
A renewable energy resource is one that will not run out.
Renewable energy sources do not produce radioactive waste, greenhouse gases or acid rain.
Examples include wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, solar and geothermal.
Fossil fuels such as coal. gas and oil as well as uranium are non-renewable energy sources.

11. Wind power
Wind is used to drive a turbine directly which rotates an electrical generator.
A wind farm

12. Wind power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES
Renewable energy source
No greenhouse gases
No acid rain
No radioactive waste
Inexpensive to build
Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
Unreliable – needs wind!
Best used in places where they will often be regarded as unsightly
Many turbines are needed to produce the same energy of a small thermal power station
Noise
Danger to wildlife

13. Wave power
Waves can be used to drive an electrical generator.

14. Wave power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES
Renewable
No greenhouse gases
No acid rain
No radioactive waste
No land needed
Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
Unreliable
Can only be used in areas with suitable waves
Prone to storm damage
Many needed to produce the same energy of a small thermal power station
Danger to shipping

15. Hydroelectric power
Falling water is used to drive a turbine directly which rotates an electrical generator.
The Hoover Dam near Las Vegas

16. Hydroelectric power station

17. Hydroelectric power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES
Renewable
Can produce as much energy as a thermal power station
No greenhouse gases
No acid rain
No radioactive waste
Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
Can only be used in mountainous areas
A large amount of land needs to be flooded
Expensive to build

18. Tidal power
Moving water caused by the tides is used to drive a turbine directly which rotates an electrical generator.
Tidal power station at La Rance, Brittany
Proposed Severn Estuary Tidal Power Scheme

19. Tidal power station

20. Tidal power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES
Renewable
No greenhouse gases
No acid rain
No radioactive waste
Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
Very limited locations
Wildlife affected
Expensive to build

21. Simulations
Wind Energy
Wave, Tidal & HEP

22. Solar power (cells)
Electricity can be produced directly from the Sun’s radiation using solar cells.

23. Solar power (panels)
Solar panels are used to heat water saving electricity or gas use.

24. Solar power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES
Renewable
No greenhouse gases
No acid rain
No radioactive waste
Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
Unreliable in the UK! – sunshine is needed for solar cells
Can only be used during the day
Only 10% of solar energy is converted into electricity by solar cells
Many cells needed to produce the same energy of a small thermal power station

25. Geothermal energy
In some volcanic areas hot water and steam rise to the surface. The steam can be tapped and used to drive turbines. This is known as geothermal energy.

26. Geothermal versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES
Renewable
No greenhouse gases
No acid rain
No radioactive waste
Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
Very limited locations
Expensive to build

27. Electricity generation pie-chart
Most of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels (74% according to the pie chart opposite)
Nearly 20% is nuclear
Less than 5% is currently generated using renewable sources.

28. Problems with fossil fuels
Burning coal, gas and oil produces carbon dioxide. This is a greenhouse gas which causes global warming.
Fossil fuel burning can also produce sulfur dioxide gas. This can dissolve in water and produce acid rain which causes damage to forests and buildings. Modern power stations remove most sulfur dioxide producing compounds before burning.
Fossil fuels are not renewable. They are running out. Estimates vary between 50 to 200 years to when we will need to find alternative sources of energy.
An effect of acid rain

29. Problems with nuclear power stations
Nuclear fuel (uranium) does not produce greenhouse gases and it generates times more energy per kilogram than fossil fuels.
However:
Nuclear waste is radioactive and may have to be stored safely for thousands of years.
Although safe in normal operation, accidents can release radioactive material over a large area. The area around Chernobyl in Ukraine has been closed off since 1986.
The destroyed Chernobyl nuclear reactor

30. Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps below:
Renewable energy sources will not _____ out and they do not cause __________ gases, acid rain or radioactive waste.
However, most of our ___________ is produced using non-renewable sources such as ______ fuels (coal, gas and oil) and _________. These are highly concentrated and ________ energy sources.
In the near future we hope to use more renewable sources such as wind, wave and _______ power. This will help us to conserve the remaining _______________ energy sources.
run
greenhouse
electricity
fossil
uranium
reliable
tidal
non-renewable
WORD SELECTION:
fossil
non-renewable
electricity
uranium
greenhouse
tidal
reliable
run

31. Answer the questions on page 159.
Energy Resources and Electricity Generation Notes questions from pages 150 to 159
Answer the questions on page 159.
Verify that you can do all of the items listed in the end of chapter checklist on page 159.

32. Online Simulations