2. OCR Cambridge National in Science (Level 1 / 2) R071 How scientific ideas have an impact on our lives Module 1: Using Energy

3. The world needs electrical power to progress and develop. Over 80% of this power comes from power stations burning fossil fuels or from nuclear power stations that run on radioactive fuel.

4. Burning fossil fuels produces CO 2 which is released into the atmosphere. Could this be contributing to global warming?

5. Do you think that our climate is changing due to global warming?

6. Is global warming causing extreme weather such as: Droughts which cause crops to fail Floods which devastate communities More frequent extreme weather events

7. Should we be looking for different sources of energy?

8. sustainability environmental effects economic costs efficiency ease of use If we do need to find alternative energy resources to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels we need to consider:

9. To make energy choices we need to measure energy transfers and calculate efficiency.

10. What could be the answer? Perhaps… Wind energy Solar energy Hydro-energy Energy from burning carbon-neutral biomass

11. Will nuclear power be part of that answer? The Government believes it will be. The UK has signed-up to reduce the emissions of CO 2 and, by 2050, virtually all of the UK’s electricity will need to come from low-carbon sources and nuclear power may help achieve this target.

12. Nuclear energy does not produce CO 2, but there is the potential for disaster. Think of Chernobyl and Fukushima. Is living with the risk too high a price to pay?

13. Nuclear radiation can be dangerous. Should we be using it to produce electricity? Are there other beneficial uses for nuclear radiation?

14. How do we balance the risk of nuclear radiation against the benefits? Dangerous nuclear and electromagnetic radiations help doctors to see inside our bodies, and to treat cancer. Nuclear radiation is also used in industry in fire alarms and even measuring the thickness of paper.

15. Not in my backyard But what will be the right energy source to use? They all have disadvantages as well as advantages. There are people who say…. We all have a choice but it will only be the right choice if it is a properly informed choice.

16. In this unit you will … Evaluate the risks and benefits of using nuclear radiation Measure energy transfers and calculate efficiency Communicate scientific ideas to the public Make choices about future energy supplies

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