Physics 1b summary questions

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What is meant by a non-renewable energy source?
an energy source that is going to run out one day
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Name four different non-renewable energy sources?
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear
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Explain how electricity is generated in a gas fired power station?
Gas is burnt to release heat energy (chemical--> heat) which is used to heat water to create steam. The steam drives a turbine which releases kinetic energy and the turbine is connected to a generator which converts the energy into electrical energy
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Describe how the wind is used to generate electricity
The wind causes wind turbines to turn and the turbines are connected to a generator inside them which changes kinetic into electrical energy. They spoil the view but theres minimal running costs
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Describe how solar energy is used to generate electricity
Solar cells absorb sunlight falling on them and they generate the energy into electrical energy. They are unreliable but theres no pollution
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Describe how the tide is used to generate electricity
Tidal barrages are built which let water out at a controlled rate. When the tide is high, the water is released through turbines which drives them and energy is generated. They're a hazard to boats but are reliable
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Describe how waves are used to generate electricity
As waves come into shore they provide an up and down motion which drives turbines which are connected to generators. Can be unreliable but minimal running costs
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Describe how geothermal energy is used to generate electricity
Hot rocks underground which release heat cause water to turn to steam and the steam to rise to the surface. This is used to drive a turbine and a generator. It is free energy but there aren't many suitable locations
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Why are hydroelectric power stations often located in remote valleys?
Because if they flood it reduces the impacts on humans
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What is the purpose of pumped storage?
To use spare night time electricity pump water up to a higher reservoir so that it can be releases quickly during peak times.
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Why is wave power only realistic on small islands?
Because it doesn't generate enough energy to be used on a big scale
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What is the source of energy for tidal barrages?
gravity of the sun and the moon
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Apart from generating electricity, how else can geothermal energy be used?
It can be used to directly heat buildings
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How are biofuels produced? give 2 examples
Crops like sugar cane can be fermented to make ethanol or plant oils can be modified to make biodiesel
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Name two places where CO2 can be stored after carbon capture?
empty gas or oil fields e.g. under the sea
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Name six factors that should be considered when a new power station is being planned
1. set up/decommissioning costs. 2. set up/decommissioning time. 3. location. 4.running costs. 5. reliability issues. 6. environmental issues
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Which 3 energy sources are linked most strongly to habitat disruption
Hydroelectric, Tidal and biofuels
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Explain why a very high electrical voltage is used to transmit electricity along the national grid
Boost the voltage up to keep current as low as possible to minimise heat loss through wires
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Why does light bend as it moves between air and water?
the changes in density in the two different substances causes the waves to travel at different speeds and the change in speed causes it to bend
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What size gap will you get the most diffraction at?
a gap that is the same size as the wavelength
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Name the Em spectrum
Radio, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-ray, Gamma
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What type of wave do television remotes usually use?
infrared
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Which two types of EM waves are commonly used to send signals along optical fibres?
Visible light and infrared
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Why can't sound waves travel through space?
Because they can't travel through a vacuum
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Are high frequency sound waves high or low pitched?
High pitched
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If a wave source is moving towards you, will the observed frequency of its waves be higher or lower than their actual frequency?
Higher and wavelength shorter
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What do red-shift observations tell us about the universe?
That the universe is expanding
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Describe the Big Bang theory
all the matter and universe must have been compressed into a tiny space and from that it exploded and started expanding, which it is still doing
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What evidence is there for the Big Bang theory
Cosmic Micro-wave Background Radiation- just after the Big Bang while the universe was extremely hot, high frequency radiation was emitted. Since then the universe has cooled and so the radiation has dropped in frequency to microwave
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Name four different non-renewable energy sources?

Back

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear

Card 3

Front

Explain how electricity is generated in a gas fired power station?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Describe how the wind is used to generate electricity

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Describe how solar energy is used to generate electricity

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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