Physics- Generating electricity

Fuel for electricity

• Electricity generators in power stations are driven by turbines
• Coal, oil and natural gas are turned in fossil-fuel power stations
• Uranium or plutonium is used as the fuel in a nuclear power station
• Biofuels are renewable sources of energy which can generate electricity

Energy from wind and water

• A wind turbine is an electricity generator on top of a tall tower
• Waves generate electricity by turning a floating generator
• Hydroelectricity generators are turned by water running downhill
• A tidal power station traps each high tide and uses it to turn generators

Power from the Sun and the Earth

• Solar cells transfer solar energy into electricity
• Solar heating panels use the Sun's energy to heat water directly
• Geothermal energy comes from inside the Earth

Energy and the environment

• Burning fossil fuels produces greenhouse gases that cause global warming
• Nuclear fuels produce radioactive waste
• Using renewable energy resources can affect plant and animal life

The National Grid

• The National Grid distributes electricity from power stations to our homes
• Step-up and step-down transformers are used in The National Grid
• A high voltage reduces energy wastage and maked the system more effiecient

Big energy issues

• Ga- fired power stations and pumped-storage stations can meet variations in demand
• Nuclear, coals and oil power stations can meet base-load demand
• Nuclear power stations, fossil fuels power stations using carbon capture and renewable energy are all likely to contribute to future enenrgy supplies