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GCSE Questions: Energy Sources

Q22. The bar graph shows how much electricity was generated using coal-fired and gas-fired power stations in January for 5 years in the UK - from 2014 - 2018.

(a) Determine the percentage increase in electricity generated using gas-fired power stations from 2014 to 2018.

3,200 MJ in 2014

10,000 MJ in 2018

Increase = 6,800 MJ

6800/3200 = 2.125

Increase as a percentage is 212.5%

 

[2 marks]

(b) Give two environmental advantages of using a gas-fired power station to generate electricity compared with using a coal-fired power station.

Any two from:

no sulfur dioxide released

doesn't cause acid rain

no particulates released

doesn't cause global dimming

less carbon dioxide released (per kg of fuel burned)

less global warming or climate change or greenhouse gases

no solid waste to dispose of

gas mining is less destructive than coal mining (could be debated!)

[2 marks]

(c) The mean surface temperature of the sea changes throughout the year.

A change in the mean surface temperature from year to year indicates climate change.

The graph below shows how the mean surface temperature changed between 1988 and 2016.

Donald does not believe that climate change is occurring.

Explain how the data in the above graph suggests he is wrong.

The mean sea surface temperature shows a steady increase over the time period on the graph (from 16.45 °C to 16.96 °C).

[2 marks]

(d) A thermistor can be used to measure temperature. The graph below shows how the resistance of four different thermistors A, B, C and D, varies with temperature.

Which of the four thermistors would be the most suitable to measure the surface temperature of the sea? Explain your answer.

Thermistor C is the most suitable because its change in resistance is greatest between 0ºC and 25 ºC.

 

[3 marks]

(Total 9 marks)