...discuss how energy can be converted from one form to another, giving specific examples. The ability to do work is how energy can be defined. “Energy is never created or destroyed. Energy can be converted from one form to another but the total energy remains constant” (Tillery, Enger, & Ross, 2009, p.65). There are various forms of energy and terms are used to distinguish one from the other. There are not different kinds of energy even though there are various forms. These five different forms of energy are categorized as mechanical, chemical, radiant, electrical and nuclear. Mechanical energy is a combination of potential and kinetic energy resulting from the force of gravity or the movement or release of a machine component. An example of mechanical energy would be bowling ball (kinetic energy) striking a pin and displacing it (potential energy). Chemical energy is a form of potential energy that is absorbed or released by chemical reactions. Dried wood stores chemical energy and when burned, releases chemical energy that converts to heat and light. Radiant energy is energy that travels through space. An example of radiant energy would be light. The light from the sun makes it possible for living things to live on earth by providing fuel and warmth. Electrical energy is a form of energy from electromagnetic interactions. Electrical energy is the presence and flow of an electric charge. Lightning or a light bulb would be examples of electrical energy. Nuclear energy is regarded...
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...Can nuclear energy be a main alternative energy socio-economically rather than other alternative energy to decrease global warming? Introduction Nowadays it seems that most people recognize about the severity of global warming. Houghton (1997) believes that increasing alternative energy rather than using fossil fuels is very important to decrease global warming. Therefore, I chose this topic: Can nuclear energy be a main alternative energy socio-economically rather than other alternative energy to decrease global warming? This assignment will identify why serious global warming started and discuss about nuclear energy as an alternative energy. Finally, it will be examined how people think about nuclear energy used to decrease global warming. Global warming by human activity According to Houghton (1997), since Industrial Revolution fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are being burnt worldwide rapidly and a lot of carbon dioxide from burning the fossil fuels is promoting global warming. Giddens (1998) stated that many scientists believe the main cause of global warming is carbon dioxide increased. Carbon dioxide which is one of green house gas such as methane, water vapour and nitrous oxide absorbs heat and then re-emit on the earth. So, with carbon dioxide increase, temperature rises on the earth (Carter, 2010) Wyatt (2008) stated that “Industrial revolution stimulated a major increase in production and mass consumption. The ancient sources of power-human...
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...Alternative Energy English Composition 122 May 30, 2010 The need for alternative and sustainable sources of energy has never been more compelling. The development of clean energy sources is essential if the United States is to reduce greenhouse gases and slow global warming. Today, electrical generation is responsible for 41 percent of the Unites States’ carbon dioxide emissions. The majority of electrical generation comes from conventional, fossil fuel run, power plants, with nuclear power being the leading alternative. But neither source is renewable or sustainable, furthermore, nuclear energy is beset with many problems. Alternative energy refers to energy sources which are not based on the burning of fossil fuels or the splitting of atoms. There are numerous reasons for supporting alternative energy development: lower air and water pollution, reduce land disruption through mining and drilling, reduce solid and hazardous waste production and greenhouse gas emission. Only renewable energy options offer long-term hope for sustainability. Several alternative energy options already exist, such as wind, solar, wave and geothermal. I believe that we have the technology today, to power the world sustainably. Presently, nuclear energy is responsible for approximately 16 percent of the world’s electricity; in the U.S. it is the second leading source of energy next to coal. Nuclear energy is often looked at as a cleaner alternative to burning fossil fuels due...
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...Salako Tejumade Dr. Matthew Lerberg ENGL 1302-019 20 October 2014 Fossil fuel: Are they worth it? A very reasonable percentage of the UTA faction is definitely aware of the fast rising problems fossil fuels are costing our global environments and the controversy with intent of finding alternative energy sources. Nevertheless the public has appreciated most of this interference with no doubt but some others have resulted in some real dissension. One of the most common controversies that can be put before us is reason for the rise in sea level that deviates from anatomic evolution to the management of water resources to the highly debated issue of climate change. One can think that it is developing as a result of natural instability of the climate system or that it is human-induced, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. Moreover, our global environment has many problems, If the extent of carbon radiation increment is one, low level of intellective involvement accompanying some of the extreme concurrent objections are definitely in addition. Furthermore, there is several captivating and scrutinized investigation on selective concurrent complications just as global warming, and yet some of the foundational issues have remained unresolved and unaddressed. In this paper I will review three main positions areas of neglected environmental analyses that demand immediate attention. First, is the widespread problem of not possessing anything like a general normative infrastructure...
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...Energy, Fossil Fuels & Alternative Energy 22 July 2012 In order to understand how energy is converted from one form to another we must first define energy as the ability to do work and “Energy can never be destroyed. Energy can be converted from one form to another but the total energy remains constant (Integrated Science)”. Now that we have defined energy we can go further as there are two types of energy. The first type of energy is Kinetic energy, and is related with motion. Examples of Kinetic energy would be wind, water, machines, and even thermal energy. Our second form of energy is potential energy or energy waiting to be used. To types of potential energy would be fossil fuels or nuclear. Within these two types of energy it can be converted into the same 5 different forms of energy: (1) Mechanical Energy: energy from machines; (2) Chemical Energy: energy produced through a chemical reaction (3) Radiant energy: energy in the form of radiation or in the absence of matter (4) Electrical energy: derived from electromagnetic interactions and (5) Nuclear: energy produced by a nuclear reaction. Energy can go from one type of energy to another through energy transfer and most energy becomes mechanical energy. An example of this would be a power plant. The plant first burns coal (Potential energy converted to kinetic energy) to boil water that in turn spins turbines that produces electricity. All the energy is transferred to the other but only 40% of the...
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...Title: Nuclear Power Advantages General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about the advantages of using nuclear power as an alternative power sources. Thesis Statement: After taking nuclear power advantages into consideration, not many people would feel the need of sticking to conventional fossil fuels, which are causing so much harm to the environment. 1. Introduction A. Attention Getter: When you hear the word of “Nuclear”, what will be in your mine? Nuclear power is being pitched as a suitable replacement for the age-old fossil fuels, and this success of nuclear power can be attributed to various advantages that it has over the other sources of energy. As of today, nuclear power constitutes for about 16 percent of the total power generation in the world. Several countries, such as Japan and France, have acknowledged the prominent advantages of nuclear power and resorted to it. For example, more than 75 percent of power generation in France can be attributed to nuclear energy. Other countries are expected to follow the suit soon, as their evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power plants is in progress. B. Reason To Listen: Owning to its various advantages, nuclear power has gained wide popularity as one of the most efficient alternative energy sources in the world. C. Thesis Statement: After taking nuclear power advantages into consideration, not many people would feel the need of sticking to conventional...
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...insight overview Alternative energy M. S. Dresselhaus* & I. L. Thomas *Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA †Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290, USA Fossil fuels currently supply most of the world’s energy needs, and however unacceptable their long-term consequences, the supplies are likely to remain adequate for the next few generations. Scientists and policy makers must make use of this period of grace to assess alternative sources of energy and determine what is scientifically possible, environmentally acceptable and technologically promising. M odern lifestyles demand a steady, reliable supply of energy: it lies at the heart of our mobility, our prosperity and our daily comfort. But we should not take this energy security for granted. Energy sources can be divided into three broad categories. The first derives from chemical or photophysical energy that relies on oxidizing some reduced substance, usually a hydrocarbon, or absorbing sunlight to generate either heat or electricity. The energy involved is that of a chemical bond or fractions of an electron volt (eV). The second involves nuclear reactions that release energy either by splitting heavy nuclei or by fusing light nuclei. The energy involved in nuclear reactions is in the region of 106 electron volts (MeV) per nuclear reaction. The third is thermomechanical...
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...Paper Alternative Energy The continued use of the planet’s fossil fuels will eventually come to an end and will require an ultimatum to be made. Other sources of energy must be found to sustain this dependency that society has created, so it can continue to fuel our everyday needs. Although scarcity is a leading factor in the search for newer resources, the damaged caused by fossil fuels need to be reversed, including pollution and global warming. Every day there are more and more advancements, innovations, or even inventions of new alternative resources that need to be taken advantage of to maintain a stable and reliable source of energy. Alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydrogen energy are more durable and efficient to be used as a substitute for current natural resource uses. Foremost, fossil fuels have been a primary source for energy for years, and had some major consequences alongside them. Pollution is no new name to the harm our environment receives and it comes from the burning of fuel. As well as pollution being created, global warming, which is a huge debate in today’s society, is also caused by burning fossil fuels (Rinkesh “What are fossil fuels”). Not only does it damage our environment, but it causes health problems for its wildlife and our own lives. These hazardous effects will have a long term duration and require a cleaner solution and that is natural resources (Rinkesh “What are fossil fuels”). These alternative energy sources...
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...BIOL 101 Alternative Energy Solar and wind power 10/14/2012 [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] Abstract This paper will review solar and wind energy as the alternative energy sources to replace fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Solar and wind energy has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years due to both technological improvements resulting in cost reductions and government policies supportive of renewable energy development and utilization. Fossils fuels and nuclear energy have been the world’s main source of energy for years but, with global warming and with a recent melt down at a Japanese nuclear plant many are questioning is it time to use other alternatives energy sources. Although both alternative energy sources are safer than fossil fuels and nuclear energy the world has been reluctant to switch power sources. The recent severe energy crisis has forced the world to develop new and alternative methods of power generation, which could not be adopted so far due to various reasons. Solar energy represents our largest source of renewable energy supply. The Sun is naturally Earth’s most abundant energy source and will be around for billions of years. This is a resource that essentially human beings won’t be worried about running out of anytime soon. Wind Energy...
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...Exelon has “certified” the closing of TMI with NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission). They sent a statement saying they were planning to “cease” use of the power plant on or around September 30, 2019 due to “severe economic challenges”. However, I believe that we can stop the closing and keep the cheap and clean power that TMI provides for over eight hundred thousand homes in the central PA area. If we began funding a bailout for TMI, we would be supporting clean energy and supporting alternatives of fossil fuels. In fact, nuclear energy is more efficient than fossil fuels, much more efficient, therefore cheaper. By saying nuclear power is more efficient than fossil fuels, I mean small amounts of nuclear fuel produce much, much more energy than...
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...strengths and weaknesses of the pro-nuclear and the pro-renewable energy lobbies. There are many doubts as to the reliability of fossil fuels and their ability to keep up with the rapid world population growth. This second concern arises as the availability of fossil fuels is declining and many other sources are being suggested as time advances. Moreover, people agree that fossil fuels contribute to global warming as it releases many greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect. Nuclear and renewable energy lobbies are these alternatives, which seem appealing due to their numerous advantages. Nonetheless, there have some weaknesses to consider. Regarding pro-renewable lobbies, environmentally they are the best solution without doubt. Renewable energy is helpful for the environment as it seeks to tackle the enhanced greenhouse effect. As the greenhouse gases released by this form of energy are low, people support these lobbies. Not only do locals support these initiatives, but also tourism would grow, as the ‘clean environment’ would attract foreigners. Furthermore, these lobbies approach the future in a sustainable manor. Sustainability is meeting the today needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Renewables are those capable of natural regeneration over a human timescale, and are infinite in human terms. Nevertheless, there are some weaknesses such as the efficiency of these energy sources, as they depend on climate...
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...Switch to Nuclear Energy from Fossil Fuels America currently mainly uses fossil fuels as its main source of energy. America should switch to nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuel energy. The most common fossil fuels used today are oil, coal, and natural gas. These sources of energy are being depleted and America will soon have to find a new source of energy. The future is facing towards nuclear power. Nuclear energy is more efficient, it is a cleaner burning fuel, it is more economically sound and is a safe source of energy despite what pop culture says. According to the U.S Department of Energy, most of the fossil fuels we use today were formed millions of years prior to the first dinosaur. This means that the world’s main source of energy was created hundreds of millions ago; this source of energy in not renewable quick enough to be in demand for the world increasing population. “Sixteen of the world’s twenty largest oil fields have already reached their peak level of …whilst the golden age of oil field discovery was nearly 50 years ago.”(Ecotricity, 2013) The life span of fossil fuels and The Earth’s population are not proportional; the earth will run out usable fossil fuel sooner than later. The use for nuclear energy is relatively new compared to the use of fossil fuels; the Chinese first used coal as an energy source around 2000 B.C (Heinberg, 2003), and the first controlled nuclear reaction wasn’t until 1942. (Williams, 2006) As the demand for energy increases...
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...Energy Sources Connie Collins Strayer University Prof. Alisha Etheredge SCI110 July 18, 2012 There are many ways energy can be converted from one form of energy into another form of energy. Three of the ways are through action of forces, which is where gravity accelerates a falling object that converts potential energy to kinetic energy. Gravitational forces, electric and magnetic force fields, and frictional forces are some examples. A pendulum is a great example of potential and kinetic energy working at the same time. When the pendulum swings upward all the energy is considered potential energy, when it begins its downward swing it gains kinetic energy and loses potential energy (The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2008). Another way would be atoms being absorbed or emit photons of light. Examples of this are photothermal, photoelectric, and photochemical. The last way is Nuclear reaction with examples of fission and fusion (Debian Gnu/Linux, 1999-2011). Technology devices are considered energy converters. They convert electrical or chemical energy into radiant or mechanical energy. For example a light bulb uses electrical energy and converts it into light while the rest is converted into heat. Light and heat are forms of radiant energy. Washing machines convert mechanical energy and ovens convert thermal energy. Our bodies also convert energy into our muscles by converting chemical energy into glucose which in turn converts into mechanical energy to make muscle movements...
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...Alternative energy – Why is it a game changer? * Compare the difference between old days and now. * How alternative energy influence nowadays life? Introduction (background) http://renewable-solarenergy.com/non-renewable-energy-sources.html What was used before to generate energy? * Fossil fuels(The term ‘fossil fuel’ refers to fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. ) * Where do it come from? How can it be used? It can be used to produce electricity, heating, cooking, transportation and manufacturing. 85% of the energy used in the industrial processes is form the non-renewable type of energy. * Transportation?... http://renewablegreen.net/?p=124 What limitations or disadvantages does non-renewable energy have? * However, after never-ending mining and ‘drill baby drill,’ we realized that there is was limitation to how much we can use them. Because one day, the mines will be empty and drilling pipes would dry out. Over the years, their demand has been far outstripping their availability. * Pollution created (air, water) => Global warming and greenhouse effect * Increasing oil price (because of limited resources) And with demand overpowering supply, prices will continue to rise dramatically. Combustion of fossil fuels emits harmful gases like sulfur dioxide (causing acid rain) and carbon monoxide (contributing to greenhouse effect). Due to the adverse affects, the globe is heating up and the polar ice caps are melting faster. A need...
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...renewed interest in nuclear power as a means of providing for the world’s energy needs. Discuss the implications for Australia’s mining industry? Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter and has the second largest deposit of coal in the world. Although the world is currently in the throes of a global financial crisis, Australia’s economy one of the few in the developed world to stay afloat has been buoyed considerably by its exports industry, particularly that of coal. Despite Australia’s promise to reduce carbon emissions by 5% in accordance with its commitment to the Kyoto protocol, the coal industry has been lucky enough to avoid almost all penalties that other industries are set to receive under the proposed carbon emission trading scheme . This combined with Australia continuing to stall further international discussions on combating climate change has earned Australia the reputation of “A nation of climate sinners” . It is obvious that despite a lot of rhetoric on the importance of addressing climate change, the Australian government is not willing to commit to solving the global challenge of climate change to an appreciable degree while such a large part of the Australian economy is at stake. For the Australian government to fully commit to its promises on combating climate change, a way to free the Australian economy of its coal dependence needs to be found. The world is in a new era of energy production where it is no longer a question of which energy technology will...
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