Using renewable energy resources | Exit Quiz | Oak National Academy

Match the following terms to the correct definitions.

• Pollution

• Resource that is not used up or can easily be replaced in our lifetime

• Non-renewable energy resource

• A chemical reaction; a substance reacts with oxygen to release energy.

• Burning

• Substances that harm living things are released into the environment.

• Renewable energy resource

• Resource that is used up and cannot be easily replaced .

Answer explanation

Renewable energy resources include wind, solar and tidal power. Combustion (or burning) of fuels can release pollutants such as sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Burning also produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Which of the following are examples of renewable energy resources?

• Natural gas

• Nuclear

• Geothermal

• Biomass

Answer explanation

Renewable energy resources are not used up or they can be replaced in our lifetime. We can grow more crops to provide biomass.

Which of the following are disadvantages of solar power?

• They only generate electricity if there is enough sunlight.

• They do not cause pollution.

• They use fields that could be used for animals or crops.

• They can be placed on the roofs of buildings.

Answer explanation

Solar panel farms are often placed in fields that could be used for crops or animals, an alternative would be to place them onto roofs. Solar panels rely on sunlight, this means that electricity is not generated at night.

Which of the following are advantages of wind power?

• They are expensive to manufacture and install.

• They are cheap to run.

• They do not directly cause pollution.

• They can disturb wildlife.

Answer explanation

Wind turbines only generate electricity when there is wind and the wind is not too strong. The turbines do not cause pollution when generating electricity and are cheap to run, although they are expensive to manufacture and install.

___ power uses turbines that turn when sea water flows through them.

Answer explanation

As the Moon moves around Earth its gravity pulls the sea towards it. This generates the tides. Tidal power makes use of this movement of the sea.

True or false? Geothermal energy uses hot water and steam from deep underground to turn turbines.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

Hot water or steam from underground is used to turn turbines to generate electricity. This can be naturally occurring water and steam, or water can be pumped down which returns to the surface through fractures in the rock.