In physics, energy is defined as the ability to do work. When most people think
ID: 289837 • Letter: I
Question
In physics, energy is defined as the ability to do work. When most people think of energy, they think of electricity. The energy that is used to produce electricity is derived from a number of resources. Much of the energy used today is obtained from fossil fuels. However, these resources are limited. As a result, alternative and renewable resources are being explored for production of electricity. Using the readings for this module, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following: Discuss the scientific and technical concepts related to the uses of fossil fuels and renewable energy resources. Consider how fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are utilized for production of electricity. Consider how alternative and renewable resources such as wind turbines, hydroelectric power, wave power, and geothermal energy are utilized to either produce electrical energy or provide an alternative to electricity consumption. Explain the advantages and disadvantages related to both fossil fuels and renewable energy resources such as wind power, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, and biomass. Consider issues such as availability of the resource, sustainability of the technology, and environmental impact. Provide 2–3 examples of the uses of both types of energy resources that are utilized in your community.
Explanation / Answer
The production of electricity can take place form non renewable resources such as coal, petroleum, natural gas etc. to from renewable resources like wind turbine, hydroelectricity, solar panels etc. Basically in order to produce electricity we need some form of energy. In coal petroleum etc we have chemical energy while in the air we have potential energy in hydroelectric power generation we use potential energy of water in solar panels we use sun’s heat energy to convert in into electricity by using some sort of converter. Normally we use dynamo to convert the mechanical energy that is present in all moving water wind to convert into electricity. While in the case of nuclear, coal, gas powered plant we heat water or some other liquid and then the produced vapour is used to move the dynamos. Dynamo is also known as turbines in normal terminology. In the case of geothermal power plant the difference in the temperature is used to heat water and due to this convection currents develops in water which drives the turbines to produce energy.
The advantages of fossil fuels are their easy availability, their cheapness and their ease of usage while the production of green house gases and other pollutants are their disadvantages, apart from this they are in present in limited quantities and hence they won’t last forever.
In casebook of no renewable resources the pros are their environmental friendliness, no production of green house gases while the cons are their initial cost of investment, cost of power generation and complexity associated with them.
In our community we use the mix of renewable and no renewable resources to produce electricity. We use natural gas runned electricity power plant and with various wind turbines and solar panels.