Energy: Future Challenges
an Internet Treasure Hunt on sources of energy

created by UniServe Science

Introduction | The Questions | Internet Resources | The Next Step

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Introduction

What am I? See if you can find the answers from the web sites listed below.

Questions

  1. I am a non-renewable energy source. I am a fossil fuel. I was formed from the remains of plants, which lived on the earth millions of years ago. I am used to generate most of the electricity in NSW. I cause pollution and scientists believe I am causing the earth to get warmer.

  2. I am a renewable energy source. I am available everywhere but not all the time. I can be used to provide hot water. Special cells can use me to make electricity. I can be used to provide electricity in remote areas where there are no power lines.

  3. I am a renewable energy source. I am made when running water is used to turn the turbines to generate electricity. I am a good source of energy because water can be stored in dams until the energy is needed. Building dams to store the water can be expensive and harmful to the environment.

  4. I am a renewable energy source. I am used to make electricity when water is pumped below the surface of the earth into cracks in hot rocks. The water is heated by the hot rocks and returned to the surface to turn turbines.

  5. I am a renewable energy source. I am made from rubbish, remains of plants and animals that are being thrown away. I can also be made from crushed sugar cane, sea weed or corn stalks. Sometimes it is difficult to get enough rubbish to make the electricity.

  6. I am a renewable energy source. I have been used for centuries to grind flour. I am now used in many countries, including Australia, to make electricity. I am not always available so I am not very reliable. Some people think I am not very good for the local environment and its inhabitants.

  7. I am a non-renewable energy source. I form when atoms break up. I am used in some countries to generate electricity. When I am used to generate electricity, I produce waste which can be very harmful and lasts for a very long time.

  8. I am a non-renewable energy source. I am a fossil fuel. I was formed from the remains of plants and animals, which lived on the earth millions of years ago. I am often used to heat water and for cooking. I can also be used to generate electricity. I am less polluting than other fossil fuels.

  9. I am a non-renewable energy source. I am a fossil fuel. I was formed from the remains of plants and animals which lived on the earth millions of years ago. In some countries, I am used to generate electricity. I am the main energy used by transport. I am used to make lots of other things like plastic.

The Internet Resources

Next Step

You are going to select one of the energy sources from the list above and find out as much as you can about it. The Information Report should be under the following headings:
  • Name and meaning, is it renewable or non-renewable, is it a fossil fuel
  • Description of that energy source
  • Advantages of the energy source
  • Disadvantages of the energy source
  • Suitability for Australia
  • Reasons why we should or should not consider using this energy source
  • List of web sites and other material used to prepare your report
[HIT COUNTER]

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