Energy Generation And Storage
Overview
A bus shelter on a road outside a town has an electronic sign telling waiting passengers when the next bus is due. Nobody laid a cable to it. On its roof is a solar panel about the size of a laptop, and inside the upright is a sealed battery. The whole design of that sign, its brightness, its refresh rate, whether it sleeps at night and how big the shelter roof had to be, was settled by one decision taken before anything was drawn: where the power was coming from.
This lesson gives you the physics you need and, more importantly, the argument you need. You will learn how power is generated from coal, gas and oil, how nuclear power is generated, and how power is generated from wind, solar, tidal, hydro-electrical and biomass sources. For each group you will learn the arguments for and against their selection, which is what the specification actually asks for. Then you will meet energy storage systems, including kinetic and pumped storage systems and alkaline and re-chargeable batteries, and you will size a battery pack for a real product. This is core technical principles content, examined in Section A of Paper 1, and it supplied question 1 of the specimen paper.
Objectives
- Fossil fuels
- How power is generated from:
- coal
- gas
- oil.
- Arguments for and against the selection of fossil fuels.
- Nuclear power
- How nuclear power is generated. Arguments for and against the selection of nuclear power.
- Renewable energy
- How power is generated from:
- wind
- solar
- tidal
- hydro-electrical
- biomass.
- Arguments for and against the selection of renewable energy.
- Energy storage systems including batteries
- Kinetic and pumped storage systems. Alkaline and re-chargeable batteries.
Mind map
This topic is mapped out so you can see how the ideas connect.
Open the mind map in the app
Lesson Note
Complete Note Available on the Green Bridge App
Get the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer for the complete IGCSE library: past papers, mark schemes, mind maps, flashcards and audio lessons.
Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Energy Generation And Storage. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which one of the following is a renewable source of energy? A. Biomass B. Coal C. Natural gas D. Uranium Answer: A
- In a nuclear power station, the heat used to raise steam comes from A. burning uranium in air. B. the fission of uranium-235 nuclei. C. friction in the turbine bearings. D. the combustion of heavy fuel oil. Answer: B
- Four 1.5 volt cells are connected in series. What is the voltage of the pack? A. 1.5 volts B. 3.0 volts C. 6.0 volts D. 12.0 volts Answer: C
- Which one of the following is the main advantage of tidal power over wind power? A. It is cheaper to build B. Its output can be predicted years in advance C. It produces no carbon dioxide while generating D. It can be installed anywhere in the country Answer: B
- A pumped storage scheme is used to A. generate electricity from a new source of energy. B. store surplus electricity by raising water to a higher reservoir. C. remove carbon dioxide from power station exhaust. D. increase the efficiency of a coal fired boiler. Answer: B
Work through these questions in the app
Work through these questions in the app
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
Want to practice mock questions on Energy Generation And Storage? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
