Types of energy Cambridge IGCSE Geography (9–1) revision

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In plain words

Every source of energy is one of two kinds: something that will run out, or something that will not. The world still runs mostly on the first kind.

7 things to know

  1. Non-renewable energy comes from sources that are finite and will run out: the fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas, and nuclear power, which uses uranium.
  2. Renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replaced and will not run out.
  3. Solar power uses energy from the sun. Wind power uses turbines turned by the wind. Hydroelectric power (HEP) uses water flowing from a reservoir through turbines.
  4. Tidal power uses the rise and fall of the tide. Wave power uses the movement of waves. Geothermal power uses heat from inside the Earth.
  5. Biomass is energy from plant and animal material, such as wood, crop waste and dung.
  6. Fuelwood can be either. If trees are replanted as fast as they are cut, it is renewable. If not, it is non-renewable.
  7. Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide when burned. Nuclear power and most renewables release very little in use.

Worked example

Explain why fuelwood can be described as both renewable and non-renewable.

  1. Trees can grow again, so wood can be replaced.
  2. If new trees are planted and allowed to grow at the same rate as trees are cut, the supply goes on for ever: renewable.
  3. If trees are cut faster than they regrow, the forest disappears and the supply runs out: non-renewable.

Tips and tricks

  • Nuclear power is non-renewable, because uranium is finite, even though it is low in carbon. Do not put it with the renewables.
  • "Renewable" means it will not run out. "Sustainable" is wider: it also means not harming the environment or future generations.
5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Types of energy: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

  1. Which is a non-renewable source of energy?
    • wind
    • solar
    • coal (the answer)
    • tidal

    It took millions of years to form and will run out.

  2. Which is a renewable source of energy?
    • natural gas
    • oil
    • nuclear
    • geothermal (the answer)

    Heat from inside the Earth is continually available.

  3. Why is nuclear power non-renewable?
    • It produces carbon dioxide.
    • It uses uranium, which is finite. (the answer)
    • It depends on the weather.
    • It uses coal.

    The fuel will eventually run out.

  4. What does biomass energy come from?
    • the tide
    • uranium
    • plant and animal material (the answer)
    • the wind

    Wood, crop waste and dung.

  5. When is fuelwood a renewable resource?
    • always
    • never
    • when trees are replanted as fast as they are cut (the answer)
    • when it is burned slowly

    Otherwise the forest is used up.

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