Coal,

[?] and natural gas (chemical name:

[?]) are called fossil

fuels because they were formed from the remains of plants or

[?]

long ago.

We

[?] the fuels in power stations, releasing the stored chemical

[?].

The heat turns water into

[?], which drives

[?].

Are fossil fuels renewable? (yes/no)

Do they cause pollution? (yes/no)

[?]

[?]

[?], they drive the

Coal, oil and natural gas (chemical name: methane) are called fossil fuels
because they were formed from the remains of plants or animals long ago.
We burn the fuels in power stations, releasing the stored chemical energy.
The heat turns water into steam, which drives turbines, they drive the
generators.

Are fossil fuels renewable? (yes/no) no

Do they cause pollution? (yes/no) yes

Nuclear Power
Summary
Nuclear power is generated using Uranium, which is a
metal mined in various parts of the world.

The first large-scale nuclear power station opened at Calder Hall in Cumbria, England, in 1956.

Some military ships and submarines have nuclear power plants for engines.

How it Works

Nuclear power stations work in pretty much the same way as fossil fuel-burning stations, except that a
"chain reaction" inside a nuclear reactor makes the heat instead.

The reactor uses Uranium rods as fuel, and the heat is generated by nuclear fission. Neutrons smash
into the nucleus of the uranium atoms, which split roughly in half and release energy in the form of
heat.

Carbon dioxide gas is pumped through the reactor to take the heat away, and the hot gas then heats
water to make steam.

The steam drives turbines which drive generators.

Modern nuclear power stations use the same type of turbines and generators as conventional power
stations.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nuclear power costs about the same as coal, so it's not

expensive to make.

Although not much waste is produced, it is very, very

dangerous.

Does not produce smoke or carbon dioxide, so it does

not contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts

of fuel.

It must be sealed up and buried for many years to allow

the radioactivity to die away.

Nuclear power is reliable, but a lot of money has to be

spent on safety - if it does go wrong, a nuclear accident
can be a major disaster. people are increasingly
concerned about this - in the 1990's nuclear power was
the fastest-growing source of power in much of the
world. Now, in 2005 it's the second slowest-growing.

Produces small amounts of waste.

Nuclear power is reliable.

Use these words to answer the questions: Nuclear

no

reactor

robot

rods

shielding

turbines

uranium

burn chain dangerous

waste water

energy

1. Is nuclear power renewable? [yes/no] .

2. Nuclear power stations use___________ as fuel. They need very little, compared to
a "fossil" power station because there is much more ______________ in nuclear
fuel.

3. The __________ reaction inside the ___________ creates heat, which turns
________ into steam to drive __________, which drive generators to make
electricity.
4. The fuel ______ are safe to handle before they go into the reactor, it's only when
they come out that you need to handle them with ___________ arms and heavy
________.
5. __________ power stations do not create atmospheric pollution, because they do not
______anything. However, the small amount of _________ that they do produce is
very __________.

Fill in the gaps, then press 'Check'. Clues cost you marks. This quiz has a
word list:
burn
chain
dangerous
electricity
energy
no
Nuclear
reactor
robot
rods
shielding
uranium
waste
water
Is nuclear power renewable? (yes/no)
[?]

Nuclear power stations use

[?] as fuel. The need very little fuel

compared to a fossil-fuel power station, because there is much more

[?] in nuclear fuel.

The

[?] reaction inside the

[?] vessel creates heat, which turns

[?] into steam to drive turbines, which drive generators to make

[?].

The fuel

[?] are safe to handle before they go into the reactor, it's

only when they come out that you need

[?] arms and heavy

[?].

[?] power stations do not create atmospheric pollution because they

do not

[?] anything. However the small amount of

produce is very

[?].

Check

Is nuclear power renewable? (yes/no) no

[?] they do

Nuclear power stations use uranium as fuel. The need very little fuel
compared to a fossil-fuel power station, because there is much more
energy in nuclear fuel.

The chain reaction inside the reactor vessel creates heat, which turns
water into steam to drive turbines, which drive generators to make
electricity.

The fuel rods are safe to handle before they go into the reactor, it's only
when they come out that you need robot arms and heavy shielding.

Nuclear power stations do not create atmospheric pollution because they

do not burn anything. However the small amount of waste they do produce
is very dangerous.
Solar power is

[?], and does not produce any

[?] when in

use.

If you install solar power at home, it may be

[?] cells to help your

electricity bill, or solar

PV cells are

[?] heating.

[?] to make compared to the amount of

[?]

they'll produce in their lifetime.

Solar power is renewable, and does not produce any pollution when in
use.

If you install solar power at home, it may be pv cells to help your electricity
bill, or solar water heating.

PV cells are expensive to make compared to the amount of energy they'll

produce in their lifetime.
Wind power is

produce any

[?], does not need any

[?].

[?] and does not

However, you need a lot of

[?] to make a large amount of power,

and you must put them where the winds are

Wind farms can be

are in

[?] and

[?] and

[?].

[?] if you live close. Most wind farms in the UK

[?].

Wind power is renewable, does not need any fuel and does not produce
any pollution.

However, you need a lot of generators to make a large amount of power,

and you must put them where the winds are strong and reliable.

Wind farms can be noisy if you live close. Most wind farms in the UK are in
cornwall and wales.