KS3

Energy Resources

© Boardworks Ltd 2001

The nature of energy
Energy can exist in different forms. Look at the list of energy
forms below and try to find examples of each.
Energy type Examples
Thermal
light
sound
elastic
gravitational
Kinetic
electrical
chemical
nuclear
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Here are some answers:

Energy type Examples

Thermal hot water, a hot radiator
Light light bulbs, Bunsen flame
Sound talking, TV, radio
Elastic a door closer, clockwork toys
Gravitational a book on a high shelf, a flying ball
Kinetic anything that is moving
Electrical anything electrical
Chemical food, batteries, burning things
Nuclear nuclear bombs, and power stations

© Boardworks Ltd 2001

The nature of energy

Energy can be changed from one form to another.

Examples:

Chemical energy in food is converted to thermal energy

and kinetic energy by our bodies.

Gravitational energy in a ball is converted to kinetic energy

when it falls to the ground.

What other energy transfers can you think of?

© Boardworks Ltd 2001

Suggest the energy transfer for the devices below:

A match burning chemical to heat and light

A portable torch chemical to heat and light
A microphone sound to electrical
A radio electrical to sound and heat
A TV electrical to sound and light and heat
A catapult elastic to kinetic and heat
A mobile phone chemical to sound and microwaves
(EM radiation) and heat
A car chemical to kinetic & sound & heat
Click for answers

In all these transfers, energy is conserved -

energy cannot be destroyed or created.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
 Energy Resources

We all use chemical energy (food) to live and function.

However, in a modern society we also use large amounts of
energy from other sources.

Think of some activities requiring energy:

We travel and communicate over long distances

We control our environment - air conditioning / heating

We manufacture and build many kinds of materials and

things – e.g. roads, cars, buildings, prepared food

The pie diagram next shows where the energy comes from
for some of theses activities.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Energy Supplies in Britain

25%

coal
nuclear
35% hydro-electric
oil
30%
natural gas

1% 9%

These energy resources can be divided into two types:

renewable and non-renewable.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Non-renewable Energy sources

Oil Coal Natural gas

Oil, coal and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels.

They were formed from biological deposits over the
course of millions of years.
There is a finite amount of these materials on the Earth
so they will run out eventually.
Once they are used up they cannot be regenerated and
used again.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Renewable Energy sources
These will not run out because they can easily be
regenerated. Examples are wind power, solar power, tidal
power and biomass.

Solar panels Charcoal - a fuel

produced from wood
(biomass)

Only 1% of the UK’s energy comes from these sources.

Can you think of a reason why?

© Boardworks Ltd 2001

Energy

The Sun
The original source of most energy
resources.
Plants store the sun’s energy
through photosynthesis.
Animals then eat the plants.

© Boardworks Ltd 2001

The Sun - the ultimate source of Energy
Natural gas
Oil

The Sun
Coal
The original source
of most energy
resources.

biomass food

waves Wind

© Boardworks Ltd 2001

How coal was formed

About 300 million years ago, plants

photosynthesized and stored the Sun’s
energy.
Coal

Dead plants fell into swampy water and the mud

stopped them from rotting away.
Over the years, the mud piled up and squashed the
plants.
After millions of years under this pressure, the mud
became rock and the plants became coal.
There is a great deal of coal and this resource will last the longest.
However, it also creates the most pollution when burnt.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
 How Oil was formed
Oil is also biological in origin. Millions of years ago tiny animals lived
in the sea. Like now their ecosystem was dependent on heat and light
from the Sun and photosynthesis by plants. When they died they fell
into mud and sand at the bottom of the sea but didn’t rot away.

Over millions of years, they got buried deeper by the mud and sand.
The temperature and pressure (caused by the weight of the
sediments and deep burial) changed the mud and sand into rock and
the dead animals into crude oil and natural gas.

This sample of crude oil was formed in Southern

England. Crude oil formed in other parts of the world
can be very different in appearance and viscosity.

© Boardworks Ltd 2001

 Generating Electricity – different methods
Power Station Disadvantages

Coal/oil/gas Emits SO2 and so causes acid rain.

Emits CO2 so increases greenhouse effect.
Limited fuel available.
Nuclear Nuclear waste has to be disposed of safely.
Risk of big accidents.
Limited fuel available.
Wind Needs many large turbines, over a large area.
Noisy, unsightly; the wind does not blow every
day.
Hydroelectric Impossible in flat regions.
(dam) Floods large areas, environmental problems.
Tidal (barrage) Needs a high tide so only possible at some sites.
Tidal (barrage)
Affects the environment of the area.

© Boardworks Ltd 2001