eResource for Test
Power
Source
Description
and History
Biomass
Cavemen
burned
wood, now
corn and
algae get
converted
to ethanol,
and added
to gasoline
Coal
Crude Oil
Relationship
to Sun or star
Sun shines,
photosynthe
sis happens,
and plants
grow
How it works
Advantages
Plant material is
fermented and
turned into ethanol, a
fuel that burns and
that can be added to
gasoline
Renewable,
has less
pollution
than
gasoline
Disadvantages
Not as
much
power as
gasoline,
takes away
food from
people or
livestock,
sill emits
CO2
Location
Needs
good
growing
conditio
ns, like
sunshin
e and
water
People in
China
burned
coal
several
thousand
years ago,
now its
burned to
generate
electricity,
big time.
Several
hundred
million years
ago, Sun
shined on
plants like
ferns on
land. Those
got covered
and pressed,
and
eventually
turned into
coal
Burning coal heats
water, turns it into
steam, the steam
pressure turns a
turbine with lots of
coils of wires, and as
it turns through a
magnetic field, that
pushes electrons
through wires,
Presto! You have
electricity.
Reliable
24/7, and
there is a lot
of coal,
especially in
the U.S.,
also a
moderate
cost
approarch.
Pollution a
problem,
both smog
and
greenhous
e gases.
Mining of
coal also
causes
problems,
like strip
mining, or
dangerous
undergrou
nd mining.
Near
urban
areas, or
near
places
where
other
forms
are not
practical
.
Both in
Ancient
China and
in Europe,
people
have used
crude oil
for energy,
and to seal
boats
bottoms.
Pretty much
like coal,
except that
the plants
were mostly
algae in
shallow seas,
they got
covered,
baked by
pressure,
and became
crude oil.
Once the crude oil is
extracted (pumped
from the ground), it is
refined into all sorts
of things, like
gasoline, jet fuel,
heating oil, tar, even
plastics.
Has great
energy
“punch”,
can be sent
by pipeline
or tanker
ship.
Pollution
can be a
problem,
we will run
out of it,
extracting
it can
cause spills
and
environme
ntal
disasters
Close to
oil fields
or
refinerie
s, close
to urban
areas
with lots
of cars
needing
gas.
Natural
Gas
In Ancient
Greece, the
temple for
the Oracle
of Delphi
was built
on a source
of natural
gas.
Like both
crude oil and
coal. Where
ever you
have coal or
crude oil,
there will
almost
always be
natural gas.
Piped into homes for
heating is the main
use. Can also be used
to produce electricity.
Great for
heating, a
quick way to
build an
electric
power
plant. Has
less
pollution
than coal or
crude oil.
Still emits
greenhous
e gases,
fracking
causes
environme
ntal
problems,
exploding
houses are
sometimes
an issue.
Near the
source,
in
norther
n areas
where
heating
needs
are high.
Suns rays
are the
driving force
here.
Suns rays strike a
panel and basically
bump some
electrons, which is
the electricity that
flows.
Once
installed,
has zero
pollution or
greenhouse
gas, and has
low
operating
costs.
Costly to
install, not
reliable in
low
sunshine
times or
locations,
takes away
land from
other uses
In areas
where
high
amounts
of
sunshin
e
occure.
Not in
far
north.
Not near
quake
zones,
or
tsunami
areas.
Downwi
nd of
high
populati
on areas
can
make
sense
Near
coast,
but
mostly
those
coasts
with big
tide
Solar
Solar
panels are
recent, like
in the last
150 years.
Nuclear
Thanks to
Marie
Curie,
about 100
years ago,
we know
about
radioactivit
y. Can
produce
heat from
the nucleus
of atoms.
Before our
Sun was
formed, a
distant
supernova
exploded,
made all
sorts of
elements,
sent them
our way,
they’re no in
Earth.
Atom splits, called
fission, generates
heat, that boils water,
and the steam pushes
the blades of a
turbine, coils of wire
then turn through a
magnetic field, that
pushes electrons,
bingo, that’s
electricity.
Once
installed,
reliable and
moderate
cost, and
uranium
lasts a long
time.
Nuclear
waste is a
problem,
occasional
plant
meltdowns
are real
bummers.
High cost
to install.
Tidal
Harnessing
the power
of the tides
has been
used for
over a
thousand
years
Well, not just
the Sun, but
the gravity
from the
Moon is
what drives
the tides.
Tubine blades are
turned by water
flowing in or out as
the tides change, the
blades then move
coils of wire through
a magnetic field, that
moves electrons,
bingo, it’s electricity.
Totally
renewable,
no
greenhouse
gases or
pollution,
low cost
once
installed
Major cost
to install,
could harm
fish or
other sea
creatures,
harms
coastlines.
Wind
Hydro
electric
Geother
mal
Whether
it’s the
Dutch who
used
windmills,
the
Egyptians,
or
Polynesian
sailors, a
long
history
Power of
moving
water has
been used
for
thousands
of years,
100 years
ago, first
time
electricity
was
produced
Uneven
heating of
the Earth by
the Sun
causes
pressure
differences,
thus the
wind
happens.
The wind pushes the
blades of a turbine,
which move coils or
wire through a
magnetic field, which
pushes electrons
through the wires.
That’s electricity.
Low cost,
once
installed, no
pollution or
greenhouse
gas is
emitted
High cost
to install,
not always
reliable,
takes up
space, kills
some
wildlife
Sun powers
the water
cycle, which
makes rain,
which makes
rushing
waters.
Moving water pushes
the blades of a
turbine, which move
coils or wire through
a magnetic field,
which pushes
electrons through the
wires. Presto, like
magic, you get
electricity. Shocking,
isn’t it?
Low cost,
once
installed, no
pollution or
greenhouse
gas is
emitted.
Very
reliable,
unless a
major
drought
happens.
High cost
to install,
can harm
wildlife and
rivers, can
disrupt
flood
patterns
Native
Americans
kept warm
near
geysers.
Now heat
of the
Earth can
heat
homes,
make
electricity
Supernoval
explosion
pre-Sun era,
blasted
radioactive
stuff our
way, keeps
interior of
Earth molten
hot
Pipe carries water
either through Earth
– about 2 meters
deep it’s a constant
temperature – or
close to hot magma.
Where close to hot
magma, water in pipe
becomes steam,
either heats homes or
move turbines, which
generates electricity.
Low cost
once
installed, no
pollution or
greenhouse
gas is
emitted.
Very
reliable,
unless a
volcano
erupts.
High cost
to install,
magma
and
volcanoes
can be
dangerous
and
unpredicta
ble.
2. Be prepared for a critical thinking question, such as an energy plan for a future 100 years.
differen
ces.
In areas
where
there is
steady
and
strong
winds,
not in
the
South
East.
Need
minimu
m
distance
to fall,
so has
to be
close to
hills or
mountai
ns,
rainfall.
Places of
no
rainfall
won’t
work.
Near
geysers
and hot
zones.