Energy Essay Essay Example for Free

Energy Essay Essay However out of this whole trouble taken from these processes only 30%-35% of the potential energy stored is actually transformed to electricity. And if we sum up the advantages and disadvantages, we see the following: Advantage: Disadvantage: Produces a lot of energy Expensive to build Does not pollute the environment Expensive to maintain 2. Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuels are a type of power that has also caused a lot of controversy, because of the negative effects they have on the environment (e. g. global warming and green-house effect). Fossil fuel actually comes from the remains of Dead Sea animals that died millions of years ago. And actually what happened to them, is that their bones were crushed with each other and pressured by several of the earth piling on top of them until they finally formed fossil fuel but also the heat of the earths core, played a vital factor. The basic energy transformation that takes place in fossil fuel is that the potential energy stored, breaks down through to give heat energy, and that heat energy is transferred to kinetic energy, which drives a steam turbine that will generate electricity. The two very known fossil fuels are coal and oil. However out of this energy transformation process, only 40-45% of the potential energy stored is actually transferred to electricity. And if sum up the advantages and disadvantages, we see the following: Advantage: Disadvantage: Cheap to produce Not good for environment Is not hazardous to peoples health We are running out of them After discussing the non-renewable sources, I am now going to talk about the renewable sources, and to be exact I am going to talk about the following 3 sources: 1. Hydroelectric power: The main energy transformation that takes place in hydroelectric power is that the kinetic energy of the waves, forces generators, which function like a pendulum, swing to vibrate and once they vibrate, they generate electric energy. Out of this small process, the efficiency is only 35% out of the whole energy conversion. But this also however will depend on the wave velocity, because if it is greater, then more kinetic energy will be supplied, if we sum up the advantages and disadvantages, we see the following: Advantage: Disadvantage: Cheap to maintain Expensive to build Delivers a lot of energy. Changes the ecology of the area 2. Solar Power: We can use the power of sun in 2 ways. The first way is by using the sunlight itself into making electrical energy; this is done by the help of photovoltaic cells. And basically what happens is that the sunlight hits the cells which convert these light signals into electrical signals. The second type is done by using the heat of the sun to heat the water which can be used to heat up houses directly or to drive steam turbines which will generate electricity. Also one thing that must be taken into account, in this whole solar power issue. And that thing is the solar constant. The solar constant is the power collected at the top of the atmosphere by a unit area. But basically this can be summed up by saying that it describes the solar radiation, that falls on an area above the atmosphere at a certain angle. This constant, isnt much of a constant because it actually varies on earth with the time of day and year, as well as with the latitude and weather. The maximum values vary between 0. 8 and 1. 0 KW/m2. As for the efficiency of solar power, well it is disappointing to know that it is only 30% of the suns energy is actually transferred to electricity. And if we sum up the advantages and disadvantages, we see the following: Advantage: Disadvantage: Renewable The photovoltaic cells are very fragile Can supply the whole world on its own Useless if used in a place where there is no sun 3. Wind power: A wind generator works by having the blades rotated by the wind, which causes a dynamo (which is like a generator) to spin and then electric energy is produced. The power delivered by a wind generator, varies on the area with the rotor length being the diameter. This is given by the following formula: P=Ek/t And the efficiency of this wind generator is only 25% which is quiet poor really. And of we sum up the advantages and disadvantages, we see the following: Advantage: Disadvantage: Provides all the energy the world needs Expensive to maintain Renewable Rotor blades are extremely fragile After summarising, both renewable and non-renewable sources, it is time for me to chose the best type of energy resources to use for our homes. The energy resources I suggest are more than 1. First of all the energy resources should be renewable, so that we dont have to worry about the environment and peoples health (unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power). The second thing is that this renewable source, should not affect our environment or ecology (which means hydropower is dropped out! ). Also the energy resource should be efficient, so that we can meet our basic demands for energy, (which means that wind energy also drops out! ). After mentioning these three requirements (which seem essential in my own personal view), it is quiet obvious that the only energy source that I am talking about is Solar!. But however to improve this even more, would be if we insulate our homes well and do not waste our energy for no apparent reason(e. g.like leaving the lights of a room turned on, when no one is in the room. And also buying energy saving equipment). Because like I said at the beginning of this essay, without light we will become extinct. And we all know that we dont want to become extinct, so lets do something about it and try and save our planet. 1 U= Uranium N=Neutron X+Y= Elements Z= Number of Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our  GCSE Electricity and Magnetism  section. Download this essay Print Save Not the one?