Sources of energy: Advantages and disadvantages
Fossil fuels are a concentrated form of the sun's energy
1. Plants stored energy from the sun by photosynthesis 2. Animals used and stored this energy by eating plants or by eating animals that ate plants. 3. Because of this, fossil fuels are concentrated forms of the sun's energy.
Fossil Fuels
Advantages: 1. Provides a large amount of energy 2. It is easy to get and to transport 3. It can be used to generate electrical energy and to make products like plastics.
Solar Energy
Advantages: 1. almost limitless source of energy 2. does not produce pollution
Geothermal Energy
Advantages: 1. almost limitless source of energy 2. power plants require little land
Biomass Energy
Advantages: 1. cleaner burning fuel for cars
Hydroelectric Energy
Advantages: 1. does not produce air pollution
Wind Energy
Advantages: 1. relatively inexpensive to generate 2. does not produce air pollution
Nuclear Energy
Advantages: 1. very concentrated form of energy 2. power plants do not produce smog
Fossil Fuels
Disadvantages: 1. burning produces smog 2. burning coal releases substances that can causes acid rain 3. risk of oil spills
Hydroelectric Energy
Disadvantages: 1. dams disrupt a river's ecosystem 2. available only in areas that have rivers
Geothermal Energy
Disadvantages: 1. only practical in locations near hot spots 2. waste water can damage soil
Wind Energy
Disadvantages: 1. only practical in windy areas
Nuclear Energy
Disadvantages: 1. produces radioactive waste 2. radioactive elements are nonrenewable
Biomass Energy
Disadvantages: 1. requires large areas of farmland 2. produces smoke
Solar Energy
Disadvantages: 1.expensive to use for large-scale energy production 2. only practical in sunny areas
Coal, Oil and Natural Gas
The three main fossil fuels.