This GCSE Geography quiz will test you on solar power. The increase in world population, increased wealth and technological advances have created an ever increasing demand for energy. In emerging economies, the cheapest and most effective way to obtain this energy is from the unsustainable burning of fossil fuels. In MEDCs, since the end of the twentieth century, there has been a drive towards increasing the amount of energy generated from cleaner and sustainable sources. One of these is to use the energy arriving at the surface of the Earth from the Sun. This form of renewable energy is not available to all countries, either because of their economic status or they don't have high enough levels of sunlight.
Solar power is also known as solar energy and uses the heat and the light from the Sun. As with most forms of renewable energy, the energy is spread out and so it takes large areas of solar collectors to obtain significant amounts.
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This can have social and economic effects on local populations as farmland is taken over for energy production. On a smaller scale, it is possible to fit solar panels and solar cells to individual dwellings in order to reduce their dependence on energy from other sources.
The simplest way to use solar power is to heat water using solar panels. A domestic solar hot water system comprises a sealed box with a glass front to allow the heat from the Sun to enter. The box contains tubes that are painted black (black absorbs heat the best) through which water is circulated by a pump. The water is warmed by the Sun's heat and can be stored, ready for use, in an insulated tank. It is expensive to install but costs very little to run. It has disadvantages like it doesn't work at night and it is less effective in the winter.
The Sun's heat can also be used to generate electricity, there are several solar power stations around the world. These have different designs but all work by focussing the heat from the Sun using mirrors in order to turn water into steam. The steam can then be used to turn a turbine which turns a generator. These power stations produce less electricity than conventional methods and have similar advantages and disadvantages to using the Sun's heat for heating domestic hot water.
Light from the Sun can be used to generate electricity directly using panels of photovoltaic cells. These can be fitted to individual houses or fixed together in huge arrays. Photovoltaic cells are not very efficient at converting light to electricity, most commercial cells convert only about a quarter of the incoming energy to electricity. They also become covered with dust which means they must be regularly cleaned if they are to work at their maximum efficiency.
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1.
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Which of the following does not contribute to the increasing global energy demands? |
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[ ] |
Advances in technology |
[ ] |
An increase in population |
[ ] |
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
[ ] |
Greater wealth |
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2.
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About 20% of the total energy produced from renewable resources in Spain and Greece is from solar power. In the UK, the equivalent figure is less than 5%. Which of the following is the most likely explanation? |
|
[ ] |
The Spanish and Greek governments like technology more than the British government |
[ ] |
Britain has fewer sunshine hours |
[ ] |
It is difficult to get the other forms of renewable energy in those two countries |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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3.
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Which is NOT an advantage of generating electricity from the Sun's energy? |
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[ ] |
Renewable |
[ ] |
Non-polluting |
[ ] |
Cheap to set up |
[ ] |
Can be placed on single dwellings |
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4.
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Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of solar power |
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[ ] |
Does not work all of the time |
[ ] |
It is an infinite resource |
[ ] |
Supply does not always equal demand |
[ ] |
When using solar cells, it is hard to store the surplus electricity |
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5.
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Why are governments around the world investing money in renewable energy sources? |
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[ ] |
To reduce their country's carbon footprint |
[ ] |
To impress their population |
[ ] |
They do it because it is the law |
[ ] |
Because it is cheaper than non-renewable resources |
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6.
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Which of the following statements best describes a renewable energy resource? |
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[ ] |
An energy resource that is radioactive |
[ ] |
An energy resource that is provided by the local community |
[ ] |
An energy resource that does not need to be imported |
[ ] |
A source of energy that renews itself without any human intervention |
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7.
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Which of the following is not part of a solar powered system for producing hot water? |
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[ ] |
Sealed box with a glass or transparent plastic cover |
[ ] |
White tubes |
[ ] |
A pump |
[ ] |
Insulated storage tank |
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8.
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Why might people in a rural community object to the installation of a photovoltaic solar power station? |
|
[ ] |
They are worried about radioactive leaks |
[ ] |
They don't want to have to pay extra for the electricity it generates |
[ ] |
It will take the sunlight away from their gardens |
[ ] |
It will reduce the amount of farmland and cause the loss of agricultural jobs |
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|
9.
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What is a sustainable resource? |
|
[ ] |
A resource that can be renewed by careful management |
[ ] |
A resource that can be transported from one place to another |
[ ] |
A resource based on oil |
[ ] |
It is the same as a renewable resource |
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10.
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Which of the following is a long term economic benefit of electricity generated from photovoltaic cells? |
|
[ ] |
Government grants are available to cover some of the cost of installation |
[ ] |
If the system generates more electricity than you can use, it can be easily stored to use when you want |
[ ] |
If the system generates more electricity than you use, the rest goes into the National Grid and you get paid for it |
[ ] |
It is the most effective method of insulating your roof |
|
|
1.
|
Which of the following does not contribute to the increasing global energy demands? |
|
[ ] |
Advances in technology |
[ ] |
An increase in population |
[x] |
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
[ ] |
Greater wealth |
|
|
2.
|
About 20% of the total energy produced from renewable resources in Spain and Greece is from solar power. In the UK, the equivalent figure is less than 5%. Which of the following is the most likely explanation? |
|
[ ] |
The Spanish and Greek governments like technology more than the British government |
[x] |
Britain has fewer sunshine hours |
[ ] |
It is difficult to get the other forms of renewable energy in those two countries |
[ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
3.
|
Which is NOT an advantage of generating electricity from the Sun's energy? |
|
[ ] |
Renewable |
[ ] |
Non-polluting |
[x] |
Cheap to set up |
[ ] |
Can be placed on single dwellings |
|
|
4.
|
Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of solar power |
|
[ ] |
Does not work all of the time |
[x] |
It is an infinite resource |
[ ] |
Supply does not always equal demand |
[ ] |
When using solar cells, it is hard to store the surplus electricity |
|
|
5.
|
Why are governments around the world investing money in renewable energy sources? |
|
[x] |
To reduce their country's carbon footprint |
[ ] |
To impress their population |
[ ] |
They do it because it is the law |
[ ] |
Because it is cheaper than non-renewable resources |
|
|
6.
|
Which of the following statements best describes a renewable energy resource? |
|
[ ] |
An energy resource that is radioactive |
[ ] |
An energy resource that is provided by the local community |
[ ] |
An energy resource that does not need to be imported |
[x] |
A source of energy that renews itself without any human intervention |
|
|
7.
|
Which of the following is not part of a solar powered system for producing hot water? |
|
[ ] |
Sealed box with a glass or transparent plastic cover |
[x] |
White tubes |
[ ] |
A pump |
[ ] |
Insulated storage tank |
|
|
8.
|
Why might people in a rural community object to the installation of a photovoltaic solar power station? |
|
[ ] |
They are worried about radioactive leaks |
[ ] |
They don't want to have to pay extra for the electricity it generates |
[ ] |
It will take the sunlight away from their gardens |
[x] |
It will reduce the amount of farmland and cause the loss of agricultural jobs |
|
|
9.
|
What is a sustainable resource? |
|
[x] |
A resource that can be renewed by careful management |
[ ] |
A resource that can be transported from one place to another |
[ ] |
A resource based on oil |
[ ] |
It is the same as a renewable resource |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following is a long term economic benefit of electricity generated from photovoltaic cells? |
|
[ ] |
Government grants are available to cover some of the cost of installation |
[ ] |
If the system generates more electricity than you can use, it can be easily stored to use when you want |
[x] |
If the system generates more electricity than you use, the rest goes into the National Grid and you get paid for it |
[ ] |
It is the most effective method of insulating your roof |
|
|