Chapter 17: Nonrenewable Energy
Nuclear Energy
The energy within an atom that holds the particles in the nucleus together. The particles are protons *+) and neutrons (0) The particles are split apart (fission) and the energy is collected a thermal energy which is used to heat water to produce steam which is used to generate electricity. When the atom nucleus is split two smaller nuclei are produced.
Renewable energy
Nearly always available or replaceable in a relatively short time; includes sunlight, wind, flowing water, and heat from the Earth
You have been elected United States Senator from Alaska. The other senator from Alaska has just proposed a law that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Would you vote in favor of this law? Why or why not?
No, because I don't want the environment to be harmed.
Environmental damage caused by extracting nonrenewable energy sources
Oils spills, Health risks to minors, habitat destruction, erosion, acid drainage, and metal contamination
What effect might an increase in gasoline taxes have on the way people get to work?
People might choose to use public transportation or carpool because it would save money. People might even walk or ride bikes if prices were astronomical!
Nuclear
Potential energy stored by forces that hold atomic nuclei together
Chemical
Potential energy stored in molecular bonds
Oil Shale
Rock filled with a mixture of hydrocarbons. Once mined, oil shale can be burned directly, like coal
What are two major methods of obtaining coal from the ground?
Subsurface and Strip Mining
Most of the fossil fuels in U.S.A
Texas california Alaska Gulf of Mexico
DOE
The United States Department of Energy
Energy
The ability to do work or cause change
Is the energy contained in fossil fuels potential energy or kinetic energy?
The energy in fossil fuels is potential because it is stored energy
Oil Sands
-deposits of moist sand and clay containing bitumen. -Bitumen is a thick, heavy form of petroleum that is rich in carbon. -Oil sands are generally removed by strip mining
Purpose of drilling exploration wells for oil
Exploration wells are drilled to determine the volume & availability of an oil deposit.
Sun energy
fossil fuels
Mechanical energy into electricity
generator
turbine
is a wheel that changes the force of a moving gas or liquid into energy that can do work
Solid Natural gas
methane hydrates
Mechanical
motion and position of an object
What is the best thing about nuclear energy
no air pollution (carbon dioxide)
oil reserves
oil deposits that are discovered and are in commercial production
crude oil or (petroleum)
oil that is pumped from the ground (*black gold)
Strip Mining
removing a strip of the layers of the soil and rock on top of the mineral deposit
1960s
smog global warming
nuclear fusion
the combination of the nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases energy
nuclear fission
the splitting of the nucleus of a large atom into two or more fragments; releases additional neutrons and energy
Alaska Crash
- Created a double haul so that if one breached it wont get into the water
1950 people use more petroleom
-Everyone got a second car -new technology was created -bigger houses -Needed more energy
Energy Reserves
-Global consumption of coal, oil, and natural gas has risen steadily for years, and it continues to rise. -He most accessible reserves of natural gas, oil, and coal have already been used up.
Natural gas
-Has a large amount of energy and is less polluting than other fossil fuels. -Colorless and Odorless -Methane mixed in with small amounts of other gases
Benefits of nuclear energy
-Nuclear power plants generate electricity without producing air pollution -Nuclear power plants are safer for workers than coal-fired plants are -Scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimate that nuclear power reduces carbon emissions worldwide each year by 600 million metric tons (8%
Limitations of nuclear energy (include waste)
-The combustion of fossil fuels releases pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter -Nuclear power plants are very expensive to build and maintain -People fear the possibility of nuclear accidents
How are fossil fuels used to generate electricity
-there is a heat source that heats it up to create a steam in the generator that turns a turbine to create energy
2 reasons why the US uses more energy per person than other countries.
1. 25% of its energy resources are used to transport goods & people. 2. The US enjoys some of the lowest gasoline taxes in the world.
steps involved in using nuclear fission to generate electricity
1. Fuel rods are made of U-235. U-235 releases neutrons as part of their decay. This starts a chain reaction. This fission generates heated -> water. 2. The super-heated water passes through pipes into the steam generator, where it heats water surrounding the pipes to change it to steam. 3 The steam makes the turbine rotate which generates electricity. Note: It is the steam that turns the turbine to generate electricity. The nuclear reaction just heats the water up to steam.
nuclear chain reaction
A nuclear chain reaction starts when neutrons released by nuclear fission go on to split other nuclei releasing more neutrons that split other nuclei. This chain reaction goes on and on.
Methane hydrate
An icelike solid that consists of molecules of methane within a crystal network of water molecules. Methane hydrate can be burned to release energy.
ANWR
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -people want to drill in it so we care
How do fossil fuels affect water?
As carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it reacts with sea water to form carbonic acid.
Why is electricity considered a secondary source of energy?
Because it's produced using a primary energy resource found in nature
Why is the disposal of nuclear waste a greater problem than the disposal of the trash that you and your family need to get rid of?
Because the waste is radioactive
Why is the supply of fossil fuels dwindling?
Because they take millions of years to form and we are using all of them up too quickly to replenish.
How are rocks that contain oil similar to a sponge?
Both a sponge and oil-containing rocks are porous—a liquid fills the pores, and pressure needs to be applied (squeezed) to get the liquid out of the pores
Nonrenewable energy
Cannot be replaced in a reasonable time; includes fossil fuels and nuclear energy
Coal (all about) *Origins, varieties
Coal is a solid fuel formed in several stages from remains of buried plants and animals Consists mostly of carbon and trace amounts of sulfur, mercury & radioactive materials. 91% of coal in U.S. is used for power production.
Combustion equation
Fuel + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy
Products of nuclear fission
Heat is produced as well as two new nuclei and radiation is also produced. Uranium-235 is broken into krypton and barium.
Which do you think has more advantages: electricity generated by nuclear power or electricity generated by coal?
I think nuclear power because it seems as if it would last longer.
Four uses of energy *according to DOE
Industrial, transportation, residential, commercial
Describe how oil in runoff from a city street might eventually reach the ocean.
It could be carried away by rainwater.
Why is it so difficult to find a place that can be used to store nuclear waste safety?
It is difficult to find a place to store nuclear waste b/c the storage site must be located in an area that will be geologically stable for tens of thousands of years.
the effects of acid drainage.
It removes metals from the rocks that enter groundwater and water bodies making it contaminated and toxic
Where is Prudhoe Bay and why is it significant?
It's in Alaska and oil fields were built which affect the caribou because roads and houses were billet in its habitat.
What is one advantage that natural gas has over coal and oil?
It's less polluting
Kinetic and Potential energy analysis
Kinetic energy is being used like a volleyball being passed in the air and Potential energy is stored up like a basketball player getting ready to shoot a basket.
Thermal
Kinetic energy of atoms and molecules— the faster atoms and molecules move in an object, the warmer it becomes (heat)
Electromagnetic
Kinetic energy that travels as waves
Forms of energy
Mechanical Electrical Thermal Electromagnetic Chemical Nuclear
U.S. government regulations require companies to restore land after strip mining. In spite of these regulations, why does strip mining still have a severe impact on the environment?
The land would never be the same.
Why can it be a disadvantage for a nation to depend on foreign oil?
The nations that supply the oil can increase prices.
The function of the pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor
The pressure vessel is used to contain the fission products in case of an accident.
Nuclear fusion
The process that occurs in stars. Rather than splitting the nucleus (fission) two nuclei are slammed together. This is a much greater reaction, but it has to happen at high temperatures and pressures (like inside a star!) The energy produced would be used to heat water and produce electricity just like in all the other reactions. We can't do this yet. It would be great because it does not create much radioactive waste, or air pollution.
Compare and contrast nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. How are they similar? How are they different?
They are not split like fission, two are slammed together making it a fusion, but they both produce energy.
Where did the energy in fossil fuels originally come from? What type of energy is stored in fossil fuels?
They came from plants and animals. (Potential Energy)
Nations who are the main producers of coal
U.S. has 1/4th of the world proven reserves. (16% Russia, 12% China) U.S. and China are 2 largest users. U.S. is able to export about 4% a year. (3/4)
The cost of researching technology to extract alternative fossil fuels, such as oil sands and oil shale, is high. Do you think this is a wise investment?
Yes, because it could help us in the future.
Carbohydrate molecules are found in foods. These carbohydrate molecules provide your body with energy. How does this happen?
You consume the carbohydrates which is chemical energy stored in bonds that hold the atoms together in molecules that release energy when broken.
electric generator
a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
Petroleum
a liquid fossil fuel made up mostly of hydrocarbons; the primary source of gasoline
petroleum
a liquid mixture of complex hydrocarbon compounds; used widely as a fuel source
fossil fuel
a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago; examples include oil, coal, and natural gas
Best kind of coal
anthracite
petroleum product
anything that is made from crude oil, such as fuels, chemicals, and plastics
Subsurface
digging shafts deep into the ground to find and remove minerals
Electrical
electric charges
