Physics P1 - Generating Electricity

Fuel for Electricity
1. Fossil fuel burnt to turn wter to steam
2. Steam turn turbine and generator, generating electricty
3. Biofuel, obtained from living organisms, could be burnt instead
4. Uranium can undergo fission to heat water
Energy from Wind and Water
1. Wind
  1. Turns turbines directly
2. Water
  1. Hydroelectric
    1. Water flowing downhill to turn turbine
  2. Wave
    1. Uses movement of waves to drive floating turbine
  3. Tidal
    1. Barrage traps water at high tide to fall down, turning the turbine
Power from the Sun and the Earth
1. Solar
  1. Solar cells convert sunlight to electrical energy
  2. Solar heating heats water directly
2. Geothermal
  1. Cold water pumped on to hot rocks, generating steam, which turns the turbine
Energy and the Environment
The National Grid
1. Distributes electricity to homes
2. Step-up and step-down transformers used to reduce current in wires, reducing heat loss
3. 230V
Big Energy Issues
1. Base Load- Average demand of electricty
  1. Covered by coal, oil and nuclear
2. Variable demand met by gas power stations, as they have shortest start up time

	Created by Phoebe Drew almost 10 years ago

	Copied by Rick Wear over 7 years ago

	Copied by Rick Wear over 7 years ago

	Copied by Rick Wear over 7 years ago

Resource summary