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GCSE Questions: Energy Sources

Q1.

(a) Nuclear power can be used to generate electricity through nuclear fission. The diagram shows the process of nuclear fission.

(i) What particle is absorbed by a uranium nucleus during the process of nuclear fission?

a neutron

(ii) What form of electromagnetic radiation is released during the process of fission?

gamma rays

[2 marks]

(b) The UK needs at least 25,000,000 kW of electrical power at any time. A nuclear power station has an electrical power output of 2,400,000 kW.

Calculate how many nuclear power stations are needed to provide 25,000,000 kW of electrical power.

25,000,000/2,400,000 = 10.4

We therefore need 11 power stations

[2 marks]

(c) State two environmental issues caused by generating electricity using nuclear power stations.

the waste is radioactive

the waste has a long half-life

the waste is toxic

the waste is difficult to safely dispose of

there is a risk of catastrophic accidents

nuclear fuel is non-renewable

(Any two of the above )

[2 marks]

(d) The UK currently generates a lot of electricity by burning natural gas. This process releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The graph below shows how the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed over the past 115 years.

The following graph shows how the global temperature has changed over the past 115 years.

Give one similarity and one difference between the data in the two graphs.

similarity: (carbon dioxide concentration and global temperature have) both increased - there is a positive correlation.

difference: the carbon dioxide (concentration) continues to increase whereas temperature (increase) levels off OR carbon dioxide (concentration) increases more quickly than temperature (increase)

[2 marks]

(Total 8 marks)