Chapter 15: Energy

1
Chapter 15 Energy

• Section 15.3
• Energy Resources

2
Nonrenewable Energy Resources

• These types of resources exist in limited
  amounts.
• Cannot be replaced in a reasonable amount of time
• Examples
• Oil (fossil fuel)
• Natural Gas (fossil fuel)
• Coal (fossil fuel)
• Uranium

3
Renewable Energy Resource

• Resources that can be replaced in a reasonable
  amount of time
• Examples
• Hydroelectric energy
• Solar energy
• Geothermal energy
• Wind
• Biomass
• Nuclear fusion (in the future)

4
Hydroelectric Energy

• Energy obtained from flowing water
• Potential energy from downward flowing water
  changes to kinetic energy.
• Kinetic energy can be connected to electric
  generators
• Advantages
• Low cost to produce
• Causes no pollution
• Disadvantages
• Dams cause environmental concerns.
• Many of the best places for dams in the U.S. are
  already being used.

5
Solar Energy

• Sunlight converted into usable energy
• Benefits depend on climate
• Does not cause pollution
• If the climate lends itself to cloudier weather,
  then solar energy is not as practical.

6
Geothermal Energy

• Thermal energy beneath Earths surface
• Found in some regions especially ones close to
  volcanoes
• Advantage does not cause pollution
• Biggest disadvantage not widely available

7
Other Renewable Resources

• Biomass energy chemical energy stored in living
  things
• Can be converted into thermal energy
• Examples
• burning wood
• using corn stalks to produce fuel for cars
• Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by
  reacting hydrogen with oxygen (produces water)
• Fusion likely to produce little pollution or
  radioactive waste

8
Conserving Energy Resources

• Energy can be conserved by
• reducing energy needs
• increasing the efficiency of energy use
• Finding ways to do these two things is energy
  conservation.
• Making products more energy efficient can be
  expensive at first (a problem for manufacturers)
  but saves money and energy over time.