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GCSE Questions: Energy Sources

Q7. Nuclear power stations generate electricity through nuclear fission.

Electricity can also be generated by burning shale gas.

Shale gas is natural gas trapped in rocks. Shale gas can be extracted by a process called fracking. There is some evidence that fracking causes minor earthquakes.

Burning shale gas adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

(a) Describe the advantages of nuclear power compared with the use of shale gas to generate electricity.

Any three from:

no carbon dioxide emitted (to produce electricity) - saying 'no greenhouse gases' was insufficient to get the mark

doesn't cause global warming, climate change or the greenhouse effect.

nuclear power doesn't cause earthquakes

more energy released per kg of fuel (compared to shale gas)

[3 marks]

(b) What is the name of one fuel used in nuclear power stations?

uranium or plutonium

[1 mark]

(c) Describe the process of nuclear fission.

A neutron is absorbed by a (large) nucleus ( NOT atom - that will negate the mark - you must say nucleus)

The nucleus ( NOT atom - that will negate the mark - you must say nucleus) splits into two (smaller) nuclei

Releasing energy (and gamma rays) and

Releasing (two / three) neutrons

[4 marks]

(Total 8 marks)