Sources of energy: Advantages and disadvantages

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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.


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