Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 8K views

    5 Sources of Electricity

    Uploaded by

    alimoya13
    Solar energy comes from the sun but is costly and dependent on clear skies. Fossil fuels like coal and oil are currently widely available but cause pollution and environmental damage. Hydroelectric power harnesses the energy of falling water through dams but displaces communities and harms fish migration. Nuclear power generates large amounts of energy but produces hazardous radioactive waste. Wind power has low pollution but requires high wind speeds and its turbines may impact landscapes and generate noise.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    5 Sources of Electricity

    Uploaded by

    alimoya13
    8K views2 pages
    Solar energy comes from the sun but is costly and dependent on clear skies. Fossil fuels like coal and oil are currently widely available but cause pollution and environmental damage. Hydroelectric power harnesses the energy of falling water through dams but displaces communities and harms fish migration. Nuclear power generates large amounts of energy but produces hazardous radioactive waste. Wind power has low pollution but requires high wind speeds and its turbines may impact landscapes and generate noise.

    Original Description:

    5 Sources of Electricity

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Solar energy comes from the sun but is costly and dependent on clear skies. Fossil fuels like coal and oil are currently widely available but cause pollution and environmental damage. Hydroelectric power harnesses the energy of falling water through dams but displaces communities and harms fish migration. Nuclear power generates large amounts of energy but produces hazardous radioactive waste. Wind power has low pollution but requires high wind speeds and its turbines may impact landscapes and generate noise.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    8K views2 pages

    5 Sources of Electricity

    Uploaded by

    alimoya13
    Solar energy comes from the sun but is costly and dependent on clear skies. Fossil fuels like coal and oil are currently widely available but cause pollution and environmental damage. Hydroelectric power harnesses the energy of falling water through dams but displaces communities and harms fish migration. Nuclear power generates large amounts of energy but produces hazardous radioactive waste. Wind power has low pollution but requires high wind speeds and its turbines may impact landscapes and generate noise.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    5 SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY

    Solar energy
    Solar energy is the energy that comes from the sun. We capture solar energy through
    solar panels. This energy produces no pollution; also it doesnt taint anything. About the
    equivalent of 22 million barrels of oil of solar energy hits the United States alone per
    day. This might sound like the perfect energy but it is costly and besides, you cant be
    sure that the sun will shine brightly without cloud cover everywhere in the country
    every day.
    Fossil fuels
    Fossil fuel is a material that can be burned and that comes from the fossil remains of
    animals and plants, such as long-dead dinosaurs. Some examples of fossil fuels are coal,
    natural gas and petroleum. This source is currently available and it is not dependent
    upon the weather. Some of the problems of fossil fuel use are that it causes pollution, it
    is a non-renewable resource and it needs to be mined from the earth. In addition, it
    causes acid precipitation which destroys life in lakes.
    Hydroelectric power
    Hydroelectric energy is produced when water falls from a high place to a low place. A
    hydroelectric power station contains a turbine driven by falling water from a dam. The
    turbine drives the generator. This form of energy produces little pollution; in addition, it
    does not ruin the water. The water still can be used for other purposes. Hydroelectric
    power does not cost any more than fossil fuels. Another advantage is that there are a lot
    of lakes or rivers where a dam can be built to produce energy. One disadvantage is that
    fish, such as salmon, can not climb over the dam, so the dam changes the environment.
    Another disadvantage is that when a dam is built, a huge area is flooded to make a lake,
    so the water displaces the people and animals living there.
    Nuclear power
    This energy is made by fusion or fission (if you don't know the terms go to the "about
    electricity" page.) It is produced in the reactor of a nuclear power station. The energy
    turns water into steam, which drives a turbine that powers a generator. Nuclear power
    produces lots of energy and can be made to power major cities. This energy, unlike
    other sources, produces lots of radioactive waste. If that waste gets released, it could
    cause devastation to a large area. In addition, it warms its waste water, so fish in the
    nearby lake might lay their eggs at any time of year in the warmed spot. Some fish,
    such as trout, cannot live in warm water.
    Wind power
    Wind power is produced by the wind turning a turbine. Wind power, through using
    windmills, has been known for many centuries. This source of energy produces almost
    no pollution, and it is easy to capture in many parts of the United States. Some people
    think that the fields of windmills ruin the beauty of the land, and some other people are

    bothered by the noise generated by the windmills. Also, in order to be effective, the
    wind speed at a power site has to be over 12 kilometers per hour. Finally, this source of
    power is costly and requires special equipment.

    You might also like