Physics P1.4

P1 4.1

In most ways of creating energy, steam is used to turn a turbine which turns the generator and creates electricity. The only thing that differs is how the water is heated.

Most of the electricity we use is made from using “fossil fuels” to heat the water into steam. However, fossil fuels aren’t very effective and we need to find new ways of creating electricity because we are running out of fossil fuels. They also pollute the planet and release greenhouse gases.

A biofuel is a fuel received from recently living organisms. These fuels can be used in small-scale power stations and they provide a renewable source of electricity.

Uranium is used in “nuclear power stations”. This happens because it undergoes “nuclear fission” which is when it decays radioactively and releases lots of energy. This heat is used to heat water, which creates steam.

P1 4.2

Energy from wind, waves and tides are known as “renewable sources of energy”.

Wind and water can be used to move turbines directly as it doesn’t require heating water and they only use their own force to turn the turbines.

The force from waves, tides or falling water can turn the turbines too: in hydroelectric power stations, water is collected the kinetic energy of it falling turns the turbines; in wave power, the waves in the sea turn floating turbines; in …