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Crude oil is pumped out of the ground, refined, and turned into gasoline, fuel oil, and other oil products.

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What are the major nonrenewable sources of energy?

Nonrenewable energy resources exist in limited quantities and, once used, cannot be replaced except over the course of millions of years.

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Nonrenewable energy resources include oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium.

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Oil, natural gas, and coal are known as fossil fuels.

    • They were formed underground from the remains of once-living organisms.
    • Fossil fuels account for the great majority of the world’s energy use.
    • These fuels are not distributed evenly throughout the world.

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

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What are the major renewable sources of energy?

Renewable energy resources are resources that can be replaced in a relatively short period of time.

Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable energy resources include hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and, possibly in the future, nuclear fusion.

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Most renewable energy resources originate either directly or indirectly from the sun.

    • The sun and Earth are constantly releasing large amounts of energy.
    • This energy could be used for generating electric power, heating buildings, or other purposes.

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Hydroelectric Energy

Energy obtained from flowing water is known as hydroelectric energy.

    • As water flows downhill, its gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
    • This kinetic energy turns turbines connected to electric generators.

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Most modern hydroelectric plants rely on dams built across rivers. The major advantages of hydroelectric energy include its low cost to produce and lack of pollution.

Dams, however, cause a variety of environmental problems.

Renewable Energy Resources

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Hoover Dam was built across the Colorado River on the Arizona-Nevada border.

This 221-meter-tall structure can generate over 2 million kilowatts of power.

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Solar Energy

  • Sunlight converted into usable energy is called solar energy.
  • In passive solar designs, sunlight heats a building without using machinery.
  • In active solar energy systems, sunlight heats flat collection plates through which water flows.

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  • Sunlight can also be converted directly into electrical energy by means of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells.
  • A few large solar electric plants use mirrors that concentrate sunlight to produce electricity.
  • The benefits of solar energy depend on the climate.

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Geothermal Energy

  • Geothermal energy is thermal energy beneath Earth’s surface.
  • In some regions, especially near volcanoes, geothermal energy is used to generate electricity.
  • Geothermal energy is nonpolluting but is not widely available.

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  1. A solar electric plant uses solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity.
  2. A geothermal plant in California uses Earth’s thermal energy to generate electricity.

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Other Renewable Resources

The chemical energy stored in living things is called biomass energy. Biomass can be converted directly into thermal energy or converted into a high-energy alcohol fuel.

A hydrogen fuel cell generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen. Hydrogen fuel cells can be used to convert energy from renewable resources.

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A form of hydrogen is also the most likely raw material for another future source of energy, nuclear fusion.

The process of fusion will probably produce little pollution or radioactive waste. Scientists have been working on sustained fusion for years, but many challenges remain.

Renewable Energy Resources

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Which energy resources are most commonly used around the world? How is energy use changing over time? The table shows total world energy use in 1991 and 2000. Energy use is measured in British thermal units, or Btu (1 Btu = 1055 J). Note that petroleum includes oil and related fuels.

World Energy Use

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  1. Using Tables What was the world’s largest source of energy in 1991? In 2000? ���������Answer:

World Energy Use

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  1. Using Tables What was the world’s largest source of energy in 1991? In 2000? ���������Answer: Petroleum in both years.

World Energy Use

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  1. Analyzing Data In general, how did usage change from 1991 to 2000? ��������Answer:

World Energy Use

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  1. Analyzing Data In general, how did usage change from 1991 to 2000? ��������Answer: Each type of energy use increased between 1991 and 2000.

World Energy Use

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  1. Graphing Make a circle graph of world energy use by source for the year 2000. �������

World Energy Use

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  1. Graphing Make a circle graph of world energy use by source for the year 2000. ��Answer:

World Energy Use

Other 1%

Nuclear fission 6%

Hydroelectric power 7%

Natural gas 23%

Coal 24%

Petroleum �39%

Petroleum

Coal

Natural gas

Hydroelectric power

Nuclear fission

Other

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  1. Analyzing Data What percentage of world energy use in 2000 was accounted for by fossil fuels? ��������Answer:

World Energy Use

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  1. Analyzing Data What percentage of world energy use in 2000 was accounted for by fossil fuels? ��������Answer: Approximately 86%.

World Energy Use

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  1. Predicting How might total world energy use be different in 2020? Explain. ��Answer:

World Energy Use

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  1. Predicting How might total world energy use be different in 2020? Explain. ��Answer: Based on the trend between 1991 and 2000, the total world energy use will likely be significantly higher in 2020 than it was in 2000. The percentage of energy resources in the “other” category will increase by 2020.

World Energy Use

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How can energy resources be conserved?

Conserving Energy Resources

Energy resources can be conserved by reducing energy needs and by increasing the efficiency of energy use.

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Finding ways to use less energy or to use energy more efficiently is known as energy conservation.

    • Making appliances, cars, and even light bulbs more energy efficient is a way of reducing energy use.
    • Energy-efficient purchases often cost more initially, but can save money in fuel costs over time.

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Mass transportation systems include buses, trains, and streetcars.

Using mass transit can reduce energy use.

Conserving Energy Resources

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  1. Which of the following is a nonrenewable energy resource?
    1. geothermal energy
    2. hydroelectric energy
    3. hydrogen fuel cells
    4. natural gas��

Assessment Questions

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  1. Which of the following is a nonrenewable energy resource?
    1. geothermal energy
    2. hydroelectric energy
    3. hydrogen fuel cells
    4. natural gas��ANS: D

Assessment Questions

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  1. What is one of the advantages of hydroelectric power?
    1. can be used everywhere
    2. does not cause any environmental problems
    3. uses energy produced by Earth
    4. inexpensive compared to other energy sources��

Assessment Questions

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  1. What is one of the advantages of hydroelectric power?
    1. can be used everywhere
    2. does not cause any environmental problems
    3. uses energy produced by Earth
    4. inexpensive compared to other energy sources��ANS: D

Assessment Questions

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  1. Which of these actions is not a way to conserve energy resources?
    1. turn off lights when they are not needed
    2. increase usage of mass transit
    3. reduce the cost of energy production
    4. increase efficiency of appliances��

Assessment Questions

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  1. Which of these actions is not a way to conserve energy resources?
    1. turn off lights when they are not needed
    2. increase usage of mass transit
    3. reduce the cost of energy production
    4. increase efficiency of appliances��ANS: C

Assessment Questions

15.3 Energy Resources