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National and global energy resources
National and global energy resources connects GCSE Physics to decisions about electricity supply, sustainability, reliability, and environmental impact. Students identify fossil, nuclear and renewable resources, then compare them using evidence rather than slogans. High-quality answers distinguish combustion emissions from radioactive waste, local habitat impacts, visual or noise concerns, intermittency, start-up speed, cost and long-term availability. The topic rewards balanced comparisons because no resource is perfect in every context.
26
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130
Flashcards
130
Questions
90 min
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26 objective pages available
Energy resources14 objectives
- Identify fossil fuels as coal, oil and gas.
- Identify nuclear fuel as a major energy resource.
- Identify bio-fuel, wind, hydroelectricity, geothermal, tidal, solar and wave resources.
- Define a renewable energy resource as one that is being replenished or can be replenished as it is used.
- Distinguish renewable energy resources from non-renewable energy resources.
- Describe how energy resources are used for transport.
- Describe how energy resources are used for electricity generation.
- Describe how energy resources are used for heating.
- Compare how different energy resources are used for transport, electricity generation and heating.
- Explain why some energy resources are more reliable than others.
- Explain why some energy resources are intermittent.
- Interpret data showing the use of different energy resources.
- Explain patterns and trends in energy-resource use from data.
- Recognise that detailed descriptions of how resources generate electricity are not required for this topic.
Environmental issues and energy decisions12 objectives
- Describe environmental impacts that arise from using fossil fuels.
- Describe environmental impacts that arise from using nuclear fuel.
- Describe environmental impacts that arise from using renewable energy resources.
- Compare environmental issues linked to different energy resources.
- Explain how science can identify environmental problems linked to energy-resource use.
- Explain why science may not have the power to solve environmental problems alone.
- Discuss political factors that affect energy-resource decisions.
- Discuss social factors that affect energy-resource decisions.
- Discuss ethical factors that affect energy-resource decisions.
- Discuss economic factors that affect energy-resource decisions.
- Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of different energy resources using given information.
- Use evidence to justify a choice of energy resource for a particular context.
Key terms
Exam tips
- Know Your Fossil Fuels: Memorize the three main fossil fuels: coal, oil, and gas, and understand their uses.
- Understand Nuclear Fuel: Memorize the key characteristics and uses of nuclear fuel as an energy resource.
Common mistakes
- Misidentifying Fossil Fuels: Remember that fossil fuels specifically refer to coal, oil, and gas. Focus on these three when identifying fossil fuels.
- Misidentifying Nuclear Fuel: Remember that nuclear fuel is distinct from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. Focus on the fact that nuclear fuel is derived from elements like uranium and is used in nuclear reactors.
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