unit 5 study guid

What are the disadvantages of hydrogen?

Hydrogen Energy is Expensive. Electrolysis and steam reforming, the two main processes of hydrogen extraction, are extremely expensive. ... Storage Complications. ... It's Not the Safest Source of Energy. ... Tricky to Move Around. ... It is Dependent on Fossil fuels. ... Hydrogen Energy Cannot Sustain the Population.

What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric energy?

Hydropower has the ability to generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gasses. However, it can also cause environmental and social threats, such as damaged wildlife habitat, harmed water quality, obstructed fish migration, and diminished recreational benefits of rivers.Sep 18, 2018

What are the three types of fossil fuels?

coal, oil, or natural gas. Fossil fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals.

What are the disadvantages of biofuel energy?

High Cost of Production. Even with all the benefits associated with biofuels, they are quite expensive to produce in the current market. ... Monoculture. ... Use of Fertilizers. ... Shortage of Food. ... Industrial Pollution. ... Water Use. ... Future Rise in Price. ... Changes in Land Use.

What are the advantages of using fossil fuels?

A Cheap Source of Energy. Fossil fuels are relatively cheap. ... Reliability. Fossil fuels are dependable - at the moment. ... Abundance. ... Useful By-Products. ... Fossil Fuels are Non-Renewable. ... Dangerous to Produce. ... Exploding refineries and oil rigs. ... Water Pollution & Oil spills.

How does geothermal energy work?

At a geothermal power plant, wells are drilled 1 or 2 miles deep into the Earth to pump steam or hot water to the surface. ... When the water reaches the surface, the pressure is dropped, which causes the water to turn into steam. The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces electricity.

How is electricity formed?

Coal and gas are burned to heat water and turn it into steam. The steam, at a very high pressure, is then used to spin a turbine. ... The moving magnets cause electrons in the wires to move from one place to another, creating an electrical current and producing electricity

How are fossil fuels like coal formed?

Coal is called a fossil fuel because it was made from plants that were once alive! Since coal comes from plants, and plants get their energy from the sun, the energy in coal also came from the sun. ... Over millions of years, the plants were buried under water and dirt. Heat and pressure turned the dead plants into coal.

What are the disadvantages of solar energy?

Cost. The initial cost of purchasing a solar system is fairly high. ... Weather-Dependent. Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system drops. ... Solar Energy Storage Is Expensive. ... Uses a Lot of Space. ... Associated with Pollution.

What are different ways to conserve energy with your car & driving?

Don't Drive with a Lead Foot. ... Stop Idling and Warming Up Your Car. ... Reduce Weight. ... Install Low Rolling Resistance Tires. ... Use the Right Gasoline. ... Reduce Air Conditioning and Close Windows. Jan 26, 2018

What are some examples of biofuel?

Examples of biofuels include ethanol (often made from corn in the United States and sugarcane in Brazil), biodiesel (sourced from vegetable oils and liquid animal fats), green diesel (derived from algae and other plant sources), and biogas (methane derived from animal manure and other digested organic material).

What are the disadvantages of geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy has high initial capital costs. ... May release harmful gases. ... Suited to a particular region. ... Geothermal heat pumps have to be powered. ... Geothermal sites may experience a dry spell. ... Sustainability issues. ... Can cause surface instability. ... Extremely high temperatures required.

What are the advantages of hydrogen?

It's a Renewable Energy Source and Bountiful in Supply. ... Numerous Sources to Produce Hydrogen Locally. ... It is Practically a Clean Energy Source. ... Hydrogen Energy is Non-toxic. ... The Use of Hydrogen Greatly Reduces Pollution. ... It's Far More Efficient Than Other Sources of energy.

What is the US main source of electricity?

Natural gas was the largest source—about 38%—of U.S. electricity generation in 2019. Natural gas is used in steam turbines and gas turbines to generate electricity. Coal was the second-largest energy source for U.S. electricity generation in 2019—about 23%.

What are the advantages of solar energy?

Renewable Energy Source. Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. ... Reduces Electricity Bills. ... Diverse Applications. ... Low Maintenance Costs. ... Technology Development. ... Cost. ... Weather-Dependent. ... Solar Energy Storage Is Expensive.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy that has been derived from earth's natural resources that are not finite or exhaustible, such as wind and sunlight. Renewable energy is an alternative to the traditional energy that relies on fossil fuels, and it tends to be much less harmful to the environment.

What are different ways to conserve energy at home?

Utilize Natural Light. Turn Off Lights and Electronics When You Aren't Using Them. Replace Traditional Light Bulbs with LEDs. Get a Smart Thermostat. Ensure Your Home is Properly Insulated. Put Decorative Lights on a Timer. Identify and Unplug Energy Vampires. Reduce Appliance Use.

What is the main use of fossil fuels?

The United States gets 81% of its total energy from oil, coal, and natural gas, all of which are fossil fuels. We depend on those fuels to heat our homes, run our vehicles, power industry and manufacturing, and provide us with electricity.

What are the advantages of wind energy?

The advantages of wind energy are more apparent than the disadvantages. The main advantages include an unlimited, free, renewable resource (the wind itself), economic value, maintenance cost, and placement of wind harvesting facilities. First and foremost, wind is an unlimited, free, renewable resource.Dec 11, 2014

What are the advantages of hydroelectric energy?

The main advantages of hydroelectric power are that it is 100% renewable, it can generate electricity at any time day or night, and its operation is generally safe. However, it is challenging to build hydropower plants because you need to completely dam up a river.Nov 29, 2020

What are the disadvantages of wind energy?

The wind is inconsistent. ... Wind turbines involve high upfront capital investment. ... Wind turbines have a visual impact. ... May reduce the local bird population. ... Wind turbines are prone to noise disturbances. ... Installation can take up a significant portion of land. ... Wind turbines can be a safety hazard.

What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?

What are the disadvantages of using fossil fuels as an energy source? Fossil fuels require the environment to be disfigured to be sourced and then cause climate change with the harmful gases that are emitted when they're used. As if that's not bad enough, they will run out within the next century or so.Jun 30, 2020

fossil fuels

fossil fuels are made from decomposing plants and animals. These fuels are found in the Earth's crust and contain carbon and hydrogen, which can be burned for energy. Coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels

Nonrenewable Resource

A nonrenewable resource is a natural substance that is not replenished with the speed at which it is consumed. It is a finite resource. Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal are examples of nonrenewable resources

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is using technology that requires less energy to perform the same function. Using a light-emitting diode (LED) light bulb or a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb that requires less energy than an incandescent light bulb to produce the same amount of light is an example of energy efficiency.

What are the advantages of geothermal energy?

Geothermal Energy Sourcing Is Good for the Environment. ... Geothermal Is a Reliable Source of Renewable Energy. ... High Efficiency of Geothermal Systems. ... Little to No Geothermal System Maintenance. ... Environmental Concerns about Greenhouse Emissions.

What are the advantages of biofuel energy?

Less carbon emissions. When burned, they release as much carbon as they absorbed during growth, although some carbon dioxide will be released during production, eg by the tractor.