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PHYSICS · Stage 8 · Chapter 9: Energy Resources

Physics 9.3 Non-renewable resources: fossil fuels and nuclear power

5 min read 6 parts Lesson 3 of 7

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Physics 9.3 Non-renewable resources: fossil fuels and nuclear power — Alhussan International Academy — Physics (Stages 7–9) notes: Describe how fossil fuels formed, how fossil-fuel and nuclear power stations work and their uses, advantages and disadvantages.Fossil fuels = coal, o…

  • Oil and gas
  • Electricity
  • Transportation
  • Energy chain
  • Wasted energy
  • Heat source

Part 1 of 6Formation of fossil fuels

  • Fossil fuels coal, oil and natural gas, formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.
  • CoalTrees die and are buried by mud and sand; over millions of years pressure and thermal energy from beneath the Earth's surface turn them into coal.
  • Oil and gasSea creatures die and are buried by mud and sand; over millions of years pressure and heat turn them into oil and gas.
  • Non-renewableThey take millions of years to form, so they will run out.
  • EstimatesScientists can only estimate how much coal, oil and gas there is and the effects of burning it.

Part 2 of 6Uses of fossil fuels

  • ElectricityAll three are used, but mainly coal and gas.
  • TransportationOil is used to produce petrol and other fuels.
  • HeatingAll three can be burned to heat houses.

Part 3 of 6A fossil-fuel power station

  1. The coal, oil or gas is burned, transferring chemical energy as thermal energy.
  2. The heat turns water into steam at high pressure.
  3. The steam drives a turbine, which is like a giant fan.
  4. The turbine turns a generator to produce a voltage.
  5. The steam is turned back into water in the condenser, cooled by water from a river or reservoir.
  • Energy chain — Chemical energy to thermal energy to kinetic energy of steam and turbine to electrical energy.
  • Wasted energy — Most wasted energy heats the surroundings, so a typical coal station is only about 35 to 40% efficient.

Part 4 of 6Nuclear power

  • Heat sourceIn a nuclear power station the heat comes from nuclear fission of uranium in a reactor instead of from burning.
  • ElectricityThe heat boils water and the steam drives turbines and generators in the same way.
  • AdvantagesA very small mass of fuel gives enormous energy and no carbon dioxide is produced while running.
  • DisadvantagesIt makes radioactive waste that must be stored safely for thousands of years, accidents can have severe consequences and the stations are expensive to build and decommission.

Part 5 of 6Advantages and disadvantages

SourceAdvantagesDisadvantages
Coal, oil, gasElectricity produced constantly, very reliable, fuel readily available, cheap to runProduces carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change, causes pollution, will run out
NuclearSmall amount of fuel, no carbon dioxide while running, reliableRadioactive waste, risk of accidents, expensive to build

Part 6 of 6Environmental effects

  • Carbon dioxideBurning fossil fuels releases it, adding to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
  • Sulphur dioxideIt dissolves in rainwater to form acid rain.
  • Mining and drillingThey damage land and seas.
  • Combined heatSome power stations send hot water to nearby homes and factories to use the waste heat.

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