Generally, energy is defined as the ability to perform work. As energy exists in different forms, it is very difficult to come up with a perfect definition. It is a property of a body which can be transmitted from one body to another body or transformed into different forms. However, it is impossible to create or destroy energy. There are a variety of energy sources. Electrical energy, chemical energy, thermal energy, nuclear energy, and mechanical energy are some of the familiar forms of energy.
Every living thing needs energy to live. Extraction of energy from its sources is typically difficult. In order to utilise such resources, raw energy needs to be converted into usable forms. Human beings extract energy from food which possesses energy as chemical energy. The human body absorbs energy from digested food and turns it into fuel as the body continues its metabolism. A petrol lamp has chemical energy stored in the petrol. In order to utilise the energy in petrol, it has to be burned. Here, chemical energy is converted into thermal energy and light. Burning is the process by which chemical energy is transformed into heat/thermal energy and other byproducts like light.
Energy sources can be divided into renewable energy sources and non-renewable energy sources. A renewable energy source is an energy source that inflicts no adverse effects on nature. They are abundant in nature and are extremely sustainable. These sources are replenished naturally and are predominantly eco-friendly.
A non-renewable energy source is an energy source that has an extremely limited supply in nature. It cannot be replenished by natural means at a rate quick enough to balance consumption. Carbon-based fossil fuels are the most common examples of non-renewable energy sources. Organic matter transforms into fuel in the form of oil or gas under prolonged pressure and heat. Coal, natural gas, petroleum, nuclear reactions etc., are all considered non-renewable energy sources.
Currently, the most common energy source utilised by humans is fossil fuels (non-renewable). Since the invention of the internal combustion engine in the nineteenth century, petroleum and natural gas have continued to be the most sought after energy sources. Conventional transport and infrastructure systems predominantly rely on internal combustion engines. However, the modern fossil fuel industry is widely criticised for its non-renewability as well as for being one of the largest contributors to global warming.
The video explains the concept of fossil fuels
Important Non-Renewable Energy Questions with Answers
1) What are the two types of energy consumed by human civilisation?
Energy sources can be divided into renewable energy sources and non-renewable energy sources.
2) What is meant by a renewable energy source?
A renewable energy source is an energy source that inflicts no adverse effects on nature. They are abundant in nature and are extremely sustainable. These sources are replenished naturally and are predominantly eco-friendly.
3) Which are the most commonly used renewable energy sources?
Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, tidal energy, and geothermal energy are some of the important sources of renewable energy.
4) What are the main characteristics of fossil fuels?
Natural sources of energy such as crude oil, coal, natural gas, and coal need millions of years to form naturally. It cannot be replenished as quickly as they are being extracted. So, fossil-based sources will eventually become too expensive to extract and we will need to rely on other energy sources such as wind or solar power.
5) What is the most commonly used energy source?
Currently, the most common energy source utilised by humans is fossil fuels.
6) Explain the formation of fossil fuels.
Non-renewable energy is derived from energy sources that will eventually run out or cannot be replenished even in thousands of years. The most used non-renewable sources of energy are fossil fuels which include petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Carbon is the main constituent of fossil fuels. The time period at which fossil fuels formed is known as the Carboniferous Period (about 300-360 million years ago). All fossil fuels were formed in an identical way. Way before the dinosaur era, the earth had a different terrain. It was extensively covered with swampy forests, and shallow, wide seas. Algae, plankton, and plants grew in those ancient wetlands. They accumulated sunlight and generated energy by photosynthesis. After they died, the organisms slowly got submerged to the bottom of the lakes or seas. Even when they died, there was plenty of energy accumulated in their bodies. With time, the dead plants and other living beings were crushed beneath the seabed. Rocks and other deposits piled on them, generating high pressure and heat underground. In this condition, the animal and plant remains were ultimately converted into fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, and natural gas).
7) Which is the theory associated with non-renewable resources?
The theory connected with non-renewable resources is Hotelling’s theory.
8) What is the best renewable energy source?
Even though most of the varied types of renewable energy can be used for energy needs, the most efficient and reliable types of renewable energy are solar wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydroelectricity. In the United States (one of the largest consumers of the world’s total energy), renewable energy is about a tenth of its total energy consumption. Around half of this is in the form of electricity. The biggest contribution to total energy consumption is biomass, about 50%. Hydroelectricity accounts for about 26%, and wind power is around 18%. Due to the nature of accessibility and efficiency of current renewable energy, statistics show that total renewable energy consumption is still low compared to non-renewable energy sources. As renewable energy becomes more accessible and mainstream, more people will use it.
9) How does renewable energy contribute to the environment?
The answer is very simple: when compared with fossil fuels such as petrol and natural gas, renewable energy generates zero emissions of greenhouse gases. Such energy types do not generate any pollutants or toxic byproducts that may harm the environment. Apart from this, a renewable energy source can easily be replenished. For example, solar power can be sustainably produced using the sunlight coming from the sun. Normally, wind, tidal power and sunlight will never get exhausted.
10) What are the main disadvantages of renewable energy?
Even though renewable energy is very eco-friendly, there are some glaring drawbacks to some renewable energy sources. Solar power and wind power need huge land masses to install solar panels or wind turbines, respectively. Farmlands can be used for this purpose, but there is no clarity on the sustainability of this method. According to a research from Oregon State University, it is estimated that deploying photovoltaic panels on 1% of the world’s total crop lands could generate all the required electricity for the entire world.
11) What are the main disadvantages of non-renewable energy?
Non-renewable energy sources cannot be replenished once they are extracted. Usually, non-renewable energy produces byproducts that are harmful to the environment. It is also driving the production of greenhouse gases. Mining, extraction, and transportation of fossil fuels are difficult processes. Any accidents can cause oil spills, pipeline leaks and explosions, which can directly affect the biodiversity around such energy production stations.
12) What are nuclear fuels?
Nuclear energy technology relies on fission reactions of naturally existing radioactive materials. Uranium is commonly used as a fission fuel. It is a rare element and is only mined in nineteen countries. Another familiar example of nuclear fuel is plutonium.
13) What are the main nuclear power stations in India?
There are seven major nuclear power stations in India: Kudankulam, Kalpakkam, Kakrapar, Narora, Tarapur, Rawatbhata, and Kaiga.
14) What is the contribution of nuclear power to the world’s energy production?
Nuclear power accounts for 13–14% of global electricity production and 6% of global energy production.
15) What is the contribution of nuclear power to the world’s energy production?
Nuclear power accounts for 13–14% of global electricity production and 6% of global energy production.
16) What is a thermal power plant?
Thermal power plants are basically power stations that convert thermal energy to usable electrical energy. Huge quantities of fossil fuels are burned in power plants to heat up gigantic bodies of water to generate steam. This sizzling steam drives the turbine to produce electricity. Electricity transmission is much more efficient than transporting petroleum or coal over identical distances. So, thermal power stations are built near oil or coal fields.
17) What is a hydropower plant?
Even in ancient times, the kinetic energy of flowing water was used to generate power to run primitive machines. Now modern humans utilise this form of energy to run hydropower plants. Hydropower plants transform the potential energy of waterfalls and dams into electrical energy. As there are only a few usable waterfalls, hydropower stations predominantly are built on dams. The 20th century saw a large-scale rise in the number of dams across the world, predominantly built for producing hydroelectric power.
18) What is the contribution of hydropower plants to the total energy requirement of India?
Hydropower plants fulfil about 25% of the total energy requirement of India.
19) Is natural gas a non-renewable energy?
Yes, natural gas is a naturally available non-renewable energy source. This organic energy source exists deep beneath the rocks that are found under the surface of the earth. Some natural gas hotspots also exist in coal beds.
20) How long will an energy source last?
We cannot rely on fossil fuels forever. It has a limited supply and practically zero replenishing rate. Such sources will be depleted eventually, depending on the rate of consumption. On the other hand, energy sources like sunlight, winds, and tides are inexhaustible sources. So they can last forever until a major planetary event disrupts the entire equilibrium of our planet. Renewable energy is the future of the world.
21) Which is the first oil reservoir drilled in Asia?
The first oil reservoir drilled in Asia was in the region of Assam, India. Oil deposits were detected in the Assam-Arakan Basin (Digboi) in 1889. This oil refinery is the oldest oil well in operation.
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Practice Questions
1) What are the most common sources of energy?
2) Which is the largest dam in the world?
3) What is tidal energy?
4) What is geothermal energy?
5) What is meant by hydroelectric power?
6) What are the main ways to produce electricity?
7) What is a nuclear power plant?
8) What is the main difference between tidal energy and hydropower energy?
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