Practise National and global energy resources. 14 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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Energy resources can be renewable or non-renewable. What is meant by a renewable energy resource?
A resource that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.
Solar cells generate no electricity at night. Give one other reason why the output of solar cells varies.
Cloud cover (or shorter days / lower Sun in winter).
Some cars use bio-ethanol as a fuel. Bio-ethanol is made from sugar cane. Explain why bio-ethanol is a renewable energy resource.
More sugar cane can be grown to replace what is used, so it is replenished as it is used.
Is wave power a renewable or a non-renewable energy resource?
Renewable
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
Energy resources can be renewable or non-renewable.
(a) What is meant by a renewable energy resource?[1]
(b) Which two energy resources are renewable? Tick (✓) two boxes.[2]
coal
geothermal
natural gas
nuclear fuel
tides
(c) Name one energy resource that is used for transport.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: A resource that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.
(a resource that) is (being) replenished as it is used / will not run out
(b)Answer: geothermal; tides
(c)Answer: Oil (petrol or diesel), or a biofuel.
oil / petrol / diesel / biofuel / (natural) gas
Question 2Medium6 marks
Electricity can be generated using wind turbines, solar cells and gas-fired power stations.
(a) Explain why wind turbines are not a reliable way of generating electricity.[2]
(b) Solar cells generate no electricity at night. Give one other reason why the output of solar cells varies.[1]
(c) Gas-fired power stations are often used to meet sudden increases in the demand for electricity. Suggest why.[2]
(d) Give one environmental problem caused by burning natural gas.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The wind does not always blow (its speed varies), so the power output varies and cannot be increased to match demand.
the wind does not always blow / the wind speed varies
so the power output varies / cannot be matched to demand
(b)Answer: Cloud cover (or shorter days / lower Sun in winter).
cloud cover / weather / season / shorter days in winter / angle of the Sun
(c)Answer: They have a short start-up time, and their output can be controlled by changing the rate at which fuel is burned.
(gas-fired power stations) have a short start-up time / can be started quickly
the output can be controlled / increased when needed (by burning more fuel)
(d)Answer: It releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming (climate change).
releases carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming / climate change / releases nitrogen oxides which contribute to acid rain
Question 3Hard4 marks
A coastal town is considering building a wave farm offshore to generate electricity. Scientists can measure the wave energy available and predict how much electricity could be generated and how the wave farm would affect the local marine environment.
Explain why the decision on whether to build the wave farm cannot be based on scientific evidence alone.[4]
Show the answer and mark scheme
Answer: Science can provide data and predictions, but the decision also depends on social, economic, environmental and political factors, and on value judgements about whether the benefits outweigh the costs, which science cannot make.
science can only provide data and predictions, e.g. how much electricity would be generated or the likely effects on the environment (and these predictions have uncertainties)
social factors must be considered, e.g. local residents' views or the effect on the view from the coast
economic factors must be considered, e.g. the cost of building and maintaining the wave farm, and jobs created or lost in fishing or tourism
environmental factors must be weighed up, e.g. the effect on marine habitats and wildlife against the benefit of generating electricity without carbon dioxide emissions
ethical / political factors, e.g. whether benefits to the wider population outweigh the effects on local people
deciding whether the benefits outweigh the costs is a value judgement (depends on people's opinions), which science alone cannot answer
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