Intro To Energy Sources and Generating Electricity

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Question 1: Is coal a renewable energy source?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. It is one of the 4 non-renewables: coal, natural gas, oil and uranium.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Is uranium a fossil fuel?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. Although it is one of the 4 non-renewables, it is not one of the 3 non-renewables that are fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil).

Does most transportation (cars, trucks, boats, planes, trains) use products refined from oil?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Gasoline (used in cars, boats), diesel (trucks, ships, trains) and jet-fuel (plane, helicopters) all come from oil.

Is geothermal a renewable energy source?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. It uses heat from the ground to make electricity.

Do solar cells use a renewable energy source?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Sunlight is a renewable energy source.

Does an electric generator have a spinning part?  

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. The magnetic field or the copper coils spin past each other; that makes an electric current in copper wires. 

Is steam production a common step in converting an energy source into electrical energy?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. We use the energy source as fuel (e.g., coal, biomass, nuclear) to heat liquid water into steam, that steam turns turbine blades which spins the electric generator. 

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

Do power plants make electricity from nothing?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. They require an energy source. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5