Sources of Energy

Learning Outcomes

Chapter - 6
By the end of this chapter, you will understand
 Introduction  Biogas
 Renewable and Non-Renewable Sources of Energy  Wind Energy
 Thermal Power Plants  Devices That Use Solar Energy
 Hydro power plants  Sources Of Energy From Sea
 Biomass  Geothermal And Nuclear Energy

1. Introduction Characteristics of a Good Source of

We are familiar with the term energy. Everyday, Energy
Good sources of energy exhibit some special
we hear about the scarcity of energy and a
characteristics that are listed below.
looming crisis caused by the rapid depletion of
 It should possess a high calorific value,
energy reserves. Energy can neither be created
i.e., the amount of energy obtained by
nor destroyed; hence, the need to conserve energy. burning one kilogram of the fuel should be
Energy is the ability or the capacity of a high
physical system to do work.  It should not leave residue after burning,
Are there different forms of energy? Can each i.e., it should burn completely
form of energy be changed into another form?  It should burn without producing too many
Yes, energy exists in various forms such as kinetic pollutants
energy, heat energy, chemical energy, etc. We can  It should be easily available and
change energy from one form to another. For accessible
example, when a candle is burned, it produces heat  It should be economical
and light. Here, we can see that the chemical  It should be easy to store and transport
energy in the candle is converted to light and heat Coming back to our earlier discussion,
energy. When we compare coal and candle as sources of
Thus, we can say that a candle is a source of both heat energy, we find that both are easily available,
light and heat. On the other hand, burning of coal economical, and easy to store. However, coal is
more efficient than candle, i.e., coal has a higher
produces heat. Does it also produce light?
calorific value. One kilogram of coal will provide
What makes some forms of energy good more energy as compared to one kilogram of
while others bad? candle-wax. Therefore, we prefer coal to candle
Let us answer the question using light and when we require heat energy.
coal as examples. Which of the two will you Let us further understand some characteristics of
use as a source of heat energy to cook food? a good fuel.
You will use coal as a source of heat energy to In addition to a high calorific value, a good fuel
must also have a fairly low ignition
cook food. But, why coal and not candle? After
temperature. What will happen if the ignition
all, both sources of energy produce heat. temperature of a substance is lower than the
This is because the heat from the candle is not normal room temperature?
sufficient to cook. The fuel will be very difficult to store and transport.
This implies that specific sources of energy are Any thermal contact with the atmosphere will ignite
used for specific purposes, which we refer to the fuel and it may result in an explosion.
as good sources of energy for that particular Calorific value is defined as the amount of heat
energy obtained by burning one gram of a
task.
substance. The unit of calorific value is kJ/g.
128 10th Class Physics
The ignition temperature of a substance is defined as the temperature at which the substance starts
burning. It is measured in °C, °F, or K.
Calorific values and ignition temperatures of some common fuels.
Fuel Ignition temperature (°C) Calorific value (in kJ/g)
Methane 580 55
LPG 400 50
Petrol 280 50
Kerosene 210 48
Biogas 580 35 - 40
Diesel 260 45
Coal 300 25 - 30
Wood 300 17
2. Renewable and Non-Renewable
Formative Worksheet Sources of Energy
1. What is a good source of energy? Based on whether a source of energy can be
2. What is a good fuel? replenished, it can be classified as a
3. If you could use any source of energy for heating  Renewable source of energy
your food, which one would you use and why?  Non-renewable source of energy
4. What is meant by a source of energy? Renewable sources of energy
5. What are the characteristics of a good source of Renewable sources of energy are those that are
energy? replenished at a rate faster than that at which they
are consumed. About 13 percent of the primary
6. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Then
energy comes from renewable resources.
why is there so much fuss about energy crisis?
Renewable resources of energy are known
7. List any four sources of energy which are selected as inexhaustible sources of energy as they can be
for use in the usable form for a given activity. easily regenerated at a constant rate.
Examples:
Conceptive Worksheet Sunlight, wind, tides, and geothermal energy.
Non-Renewable sources of energy
1. Classify the following as renewable and non- Non-renewable sources of energy are those that
renewable sources of energy. are consumed at a rate faster than that at which
Coal, flowing water, geothermal energy, nuclear they are replenished. Non-renewable resources
energy, bio-gas, natural gas, petroleum, ocean of energy are known as exhaustible sources of
waves, wood, flowing wind, cooking gas, bio-mass, energy as they can be easily exhausted.
hydroelectric power. Examples:
2. ‘Replenishment of energy source like wood takes Fossil fuels, which include coal, petroleum, and
a long time but it is considered as renewable source natural gas. These resources are widely used. In
of energy.’ Comment. addition to being an exhaustible source of energy,
fossil fuels also release polluting emissions on
3. When a body falls freely to the ground, its velocity burning.
reduces to zero and the sum total of kinetic energy Fossil Fuels
and potential energy also becomes zero. Does it Fossil fuels are the most commonly used sources
violate the law of conservation of energy? ofenergy.Essentially, fossil fuels are
4. Write two advantages of classifying energy hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the
sources as renewable and non-renewable. Earth’s crust. These include liquid petroleum, coal,
5. Justify in one sentence that hydropower (hydro natural gas, etc. The development of civilization
electricity) is a renewable source of energy. has increased the requirement and demand for
energy.
Sorces of Energy 129

Fossil fuels are formed by biogenic processes from Disadvantages of using Fossil fules
the fossils of dead plants and animals in the Earth’s  They are exhaustible sources of energy
crust. These fuels take over millions of years to  They are non-renewable sources of
form. The dead plants on the surface of the Earth energy
were deposited under sediments of sand and clay  They take millions of years to form.
in low lying swamp areas. In the course of time, Hence, their availability is limited
as the thickness of this sediment increased, it
 They release pollutants such as carbon
compressed the dead plants under conditions of
high pressure and temperature. This led to the dioxide, which contributes to global warming
formation of coal.  They release ash and unburned
Petroleum, on the other hand, is formed from dead particles of carbon; they also release
organisms found deep at the bottom of oceans. oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, which
These organisms were covered by a layer of cause acid rain
sediment, which, over the course of time, In spite of all these disadvantages, fossil fuels are
increased in thickness, thereby causing the dead the most commonly used form of energy. As a
organisms to compress. This compression of dead result of their continuous use, there is an increase
organisms under high pressure and temperature, in such phenomena as global warming, air
in the absence of oxygen, converted these ancient pollution, acid rain, and other problems related to
sea organisms into petroleum. the environment.
Consequences of using fossil fuels
3. Thermal Power Plants
Combustion of fossil fuels produces air pollutants
Power plants generate power. You may have seen
such as major greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides,
smoke coming out of the chimneys of power
sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and
stations. These power stations use coal or
heavy metals. Burning of such fuels increases the
petroleum as fuel to produce steam by heating
concentrations of sulphuric, carbonic, and nitric
water. The steam is then used to rotate a turbine,
acids in the atmosphere. This results in acid rain.
which drives a generator. Electric energy thus
Fossil fuels also contain radioactive materials, generated is known as thermal power, and such
mainly uranium and thorium, which are released power stations are known as thermal power
into the atmosphere. plants.
The greenhouse effect and global warming Steam is passed through the turbine and is allowed
Before humans started using fossil fuels, there to condense in a condenser. Since a thermal power
was a uniform recycling of carbon dioxide and plants uses coal or petroleum as fuel, it releases
oxygen in the atmosphere. huge amounts of smoke from its chimneys.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen Make your own power station
during the process of photosynthesis. Animals You can make your own, miniature thermal power
inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, thus plant at home using a bicycle dynamo, pressure
maintaining a balance. cooker, turbine, and bulb as illustrated in the figure.
However, as humans began burning fossil fuels,
more carbon dioxide was emitted into the
atmosphere and the delicate balance between
oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was
destroyed.
Greenhouse effect is caused by the
accumulation of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s Heat is used to make steam from water in the
atmosphere. pressure cooker. Steam spins the turbine, which
A potential danger of global warming is the melting in turn spins the dynamo. The dynamo generates
of the polar ice caps, which is causing the ocean electricity and this lights the bulb.
levels to rise. This may lead to flooding of many
coastal cities.
130 10th Class Physics

Since it is more convenient to transport electricity 5. Biomass

rather than fossil fuels such as coal, many thermal Biomass refers to those living and non living
power plants are set up near coal or oil fields. organic materials that can be used as sources of
energy in the form of fuel. Some examples of
4. Hydro power plants biomass fuels are wood, crops, and organic
Instead of using steam to spin a turbine, hydro garbage. The chemical energy in biomass is
power plants use the potential energy of water released as heat on burning.
accumulated at a height to spin a turbine. Biomass can also be converted to other usable
In India, most of the hydropower plants are forms of energy such as methane gas or
associated with dams. This is because the natural transportation fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.
flow of water in our water bodies is not such that It is a renewable source of energy.
it can spin a turbine. Construction of dams over Wood as biomass
rivers helps to accumulate water and increase its The most common form of biomass is wood. For
force. A quarter of our energy requirement is met thousands of years people have burned wood for
by hydroelectricity. heating and cooking. Until the mid-1800s, wood
Major hydropower plants in India was the main source of energy in the world. It
still continues to be a major source of energy in
Hydro power plant Location most of the developing countries. Many
Bhakra Punjab manufacturing plants in the wood and paper
products industry use wood waste to produce their
Hirakud Orissa own steam and electricity.
Municipal solid waste as biomass
Matatila Uttar Pradesh Garbage is another source of biomass. This is also
Tehri Uttarakhand called municipal solid waste (MSW). MSW
includes food scraps, lawn clippings, leaves, etc.
Salal Jammu & Kashmir These are also called biomass trash.
Sardar Sarovar Gujarat
6. Biogas
Srisailam Andhra Pradesh Gas made from the anaerobic digestion of
Tungabhadra Karnataka agricultural and animal waste is called biogas.
When this biomass (agriculture and animal waste)
Advantagesof hydropower plants is decomposed in the absence of oxygen, it
 Clean and cheap releases biogas.
 Do not produce pollutants In India, biogas is commonly known as “gobar
 No waste by-products are produced gas”. Biogas is a mixture of methane (75%) and
 They do not require transportation of fuels CO2. It is used for cooking, lighting of lamps,
generating electricity, etc. In “landfills”, biomass
 Hydro power is a renewable source of rots and releases methane gas through the process
energy of biodegradation.
Disadvantagesof hydropower plants Biodegradation is the process of biological
 Limited geographic potential degradation of organic matter by bacteria and
 Causes a change in the course of rivers fungi.
 Sediment accumulates in a dam and Biogas production
eventually reduces its water storage Biogas technology provides an alternate source
potential of energy in rural India. It is a more efficient and
developed form of fuel.
 Lot of land is submerged under water
It uses a thick mixture of cattle waste and kitchen
 Fish and wildlife are affected drastically garbage. This is fed into an inlet chamber. The
 Large dams release methane, which is a micro organisms present in the digester tank are
greenhouse gas that contributes to global mainly methanogens.
warming
Sorces of Energy 131

These methanogens decompose the organic  The shaft goes into a gear box and starts
waste (slurry) anaerobically to produce methane producing electrical energy
and some carbon dioxide. This process is called
 The national grid transmits the power
biodegradation.
around the country
Biofuels
Wind turbines operate at wind speeds of about 10
Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are fuels
miles an hour. They reach a maximum power
that are made from biomass materials. These are
output at about 33 miles per hour. When a number
used in transport vehicles. These fuels are usually
of windmills are erected over a large area, in the
blended with petroleum fuels such as gasoline and
same location, it is known as a wind farm. One
diesel.
such farm in India is near Muppandal, Tamil Nadu.
Biodiesel
Windmills are pollution free. The energy harnessed
Biodiesel is a domestic renewable fuel for diesel
by windmills can be used in pumps to lift water
engines derived from natural oils such as soybean
from wells or for grinding grains. Most of these
oil. It is typically produced by the reaction of a
windmills can be found at high altitudes where
vegetable oil, or animal fat with an alcohol such
there is a continuous wind speed of over 10 mph.
as methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst
The advantages and limitations of wind energy
to yield mono-alkyl esters and glycerine. Glycerine
are listed in the following .
is removed from the biodiesel.
Advantages
Biodiesel fuel can be used in diesel engines without
 Wind is freely available in nature
making any modifications to the engine. It is a
 Air is a renewable and inexhaustible source
safe, renewable, and biodegradable fuel that
of energy
produces fewer polluting emissions.
 It reduces the cost of electricity produced
 Wind energy does not cause any pollution
7. Wind Energy and is eco-friendly
Wind energy is the energy harnessed from wind.
Limitations
The kinetic energy of wind is converted into
mechanical energy. If this energy is used directly  Wind farms can be established only at
by a machine (such as a grinding stone or a water places where there is a continuous wind
pump), it is called a windmill. If the mechanical speed of over 10 mph
energy is first converted into electricity, then the  A wind farm requires a large area (about 2
machine is called a wind turbine. hectares) to facilitate a 1 MW generation
Working of wind energy  Lack of energy storage facilities to provide
 The wind blows on the blades and rotates energy back-up in the absence of wind
them  The initial cost of setting up a farm is quite
 The blades turn a shaft inside high
the nacelle (the box at the top of the  A wind farm requires high quality
turbine) maintenance facilities
132 10th Class Physics

Formative Worksheet Conceptive Worksheet

8. What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels? 6. Give one reason as why L.P.G.is a better fuel than
9. Why are we looking at alternate sources of energy? kerosene oil.
10. How has the traditional use of wind and water 7. What causes the wind to blow? Explain the
energy been modified for our convenience? principle of working of a windmill. State two
advantages of using wind energy.
11. What are fossil fuels?
8. Explain the basic principle of generation of
12. Explain, why are fossil fuels classified as non- hydroelectricity.
renewable sources of energy? 9. Explain the various uses of water wheels.
13. Why is the use of wood as a fuel not advised 10. What is the important limitation of water and wind
although forests can be replenished? energy?
14. Why should fossil fuel be used with caution? 11. State an important advantage of using wind energy
15. What is bio-mass? Is it the conventional source of or water energy.
energy? 12. Explain how the potential energy of water stored
in a dam can be used to produce electricity?
16. State briefly the hazards of using conventional
13. Compare wind power and power of water flow in
sources of energy.
respect of generating mechanical and electrical
17. What are the two ways in which animal dung can energies.
be utilised as a fuel? Which of the m is better? 14. Why are thermal plants preferably set up near
18. Give the raw materials used for the preparation of coal or oil fields?
bio-gas. 15. Mention any two advantages and disadvantages
19. Name the two types of bio-gas plants generally of producing hydroelectricity by building dams on
used in our country. Which one is better? rivers.
20. Compare bio-mass and bio-gas.
21. The waste materials obtained from market complex 8. Devices That Use Solar
are: paper scrap, polythene bags, thermocol, Energy
vegetable wastes, glass bottles, tin cans and rubber We have studied about photosynthesis, a process
tyres. Which of these materials can be used for in which plants absorb solar energy and convert
producing bio-gas? it into chemical energy. Scientists too have
22. Select the biodegradable items from the list given developed technologies that enable us to trap solar
below: Polythene bags, old clothes, wilted flowers, energy to produce heat energy or electricity.
pencil shavings, glass bangles, bronze statue, Solar Energy
vegetable peels. Let us understand the uses of solar energy through
an animation.
23. Name the domestic fuels which burn without giving
You know, solar electricity is mainly produced
any smoke.
by using photovoltaic cells or solar cells. Such
24. Why is bio-gas considered an ideal fuel for domestic cells are made up of semiconductors that convert
use? solar energy directly into electricity.
25. What is calorific value? The initial temperature of How does a photovoltaic solar cell work?
100 g of water is 25°C. The heat evolved by burning Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special
100 g coal raises the temperature of water to 50°C. materials called semiconductors, such as silicon.
Calculate the calorific value of coal (specific heat When light strikes the solar cell, a certain portion
of water = 4.2 J g–1 °C–1) of it is absorbed by the semiconductor material.
26. Bio-gas contains 70% methane. The calorific value This means that the energy of the absorbed light
of methane is 55 kJ/g. If a family requires 10,000 is transferred to the semiconductor.
kJ of energy per day, how much bio-gas will be This energy loosens the electrons from the atoms
needed per day? in the semiconductor material and allows them to
27. State three uses of bio-gas. flow freely. This produces direct current (DC) or
electricity.
Sorces of Energy 133

The advantages and disadvantages of solar energy are listed in the following table.
Advantages Disadvantages
It is a renewable source of energy. Photovoltaic cells are not cost effective.
A typical cell develops a voltage of 0.5
Solar radiations are abundantly available. to 1 V and can produce about 0.7 W of
electricity when exposed to the sun.
Solar cell panels have no moving parts and Availability of special grade of silicon
hence require little maintenance. used to produce solar cells is limited.
A solar panel can be set up in any place and
–
requires little or no space on the ground.
Present applications of solar energy Working of Tidal energy
Solar energy is currently being used in the following The barrage (dam) allows incoming tidal water
ways: during high tides, but does not allow it to flow out.
 Some water heaters use solar panels. This causes water to accumulate at a higher level
 Calculators and many toys are powered by in the coastal basin. When the tide flows out, the
solar cells. level of water in the sea decreases, and the water
which was blocked using the dam is released. The
 Traffic signals in most cities are powered
head of this water is then used to spin the turbine
by solar energy.
of the electric generator.
 In some remote areas, the electricity The barrage is equipped with sluices and turbines
requirements of households are fulfilled by (similar to hydropower plants). Turbines generate
generating electricity using solar energy. electricity as the water flows out.
The vast potential energy of the seas and oceans
9. Sources Of Energy From Sea can make a significant contribution toward meeting
Sea water is a highly potential resource of energy. the increasing energy needs. Commercially viable
Some forms of energy that can be obtained from technologies to harness tidal power, wave power,
sea water are tidal energy, wave energy, and ocean and ocean thermal energy are therefore being
thermal energy. developed.
Tidal Energy The advantages and disadvantages of tidal energy
Tides are the daily rise and fall of ocean levels are listed below.
relative to coastlines. They are a result of the Advantages
gravitational forces of the moon and the sun on  It does not need any fuel
Earth, and also the revolution of the Earth. A large  Waves are predictable
amount of energy is stored in tides. They can be
 It is available free of cost
used as renewable sources of energy to generate
electricity.  It is relatively cheap and easy to maintain
Tidal electricity generation involves the  It produces no greenhouse gases or other
construction of a barrage across deltas, estuaries, polluting wastes
beaches, or other places that witness increased
tidal action.
134 10th Class Physics
Disadvantages
 We are able to harness only a minuscule
 There are only limited sites that are suitable part of a potentially huge energy resource
for constructing tidal barrages Ocean thermal energy
 Shipping facility is affected due to the Sunlight falls on oceans and seas. This causes the
construction of barrages temperature of water on the surface to rise, while
 Construction of barrages causes changes the temperature at the bottom remains
in the level of tides, thereby resulting in comparatively cooler. Ocean thermal energy
floods conversion plants use the warm surface-water to
 Building a barrage across an estuary is a boil volatile liquids such as ammonia. Ammonia
very expensive affair. It also affects a very gas, thus produced, creates pressure and runs the
wide area. This results in the loss of turbine of the generator. This produces electricity.
biodiversity in the particular area. Many Cold water is pumped up to liquefy the gas. This
birds rely on the uncovering of mud flats creates a cycle for generating electricity.
by tides for feeding Limitations
Wave energy  Power plants can be operated only if there
Ocean waves are caused by winds as they blow is a temperature difference of 20°C
across the sea. Waves are a powerful source of between the surface sea water and the sea
energy. Electricity can also be produced from water at a depth of up to 2 km
wave energy.  Commercial exploitation is difficult

10. Geothermal And Nuclear

Energy
Geothermal energy is the heat energy in the
Earth’s interiors. The temperature at the centre
of the Earth is about 6000°C. In some areas,
molten rock (magma) is found very close to the
surface of the Earth. This hot rock meets
underground water and heats it up. This produces
steam. Such a place is known as a hot spot.
Production of electricity from wave energy Sometimes, this heated underground water finds
At a wave power station, waves cause the water an outlet through which it comes out on the surface
in the chamber to rise and fall, which means that of the Earth. Such outlets are known as hot
air is forced in and out of the hole located at the springs.
top of the chamber. A turbine placed in this hole Holes are drilled down to the regions through
is turned by the movement of air rushing in and which steam comes up. This flow of steam is used
out. The turbine turns a generator to produce to drive the turbines of generators to produce
electricity. electricity. One important use of geothermal
Advantages energy is to heat buildings.
 The energy is free - no fuel is needed, no The advantages and disadvantages of geothermal
energy are listed below.
waste is produced
Advantages
 It is not expensive to operate and maintain
 No fuel is needed
 A wave power station can produce a lot of
 Once a geothermal power station is built,
energy
the energy is almost free
Disadvantages
 It does not produce any polluting emissions
 It needs a suitable site where waves are
and does not contribute to the greenhouse
consistently strong
effect
 It is less viable for commercial exploitation
 Since geothermal power stations are not
in comparison to other traditional forms of
very large, they have a minimal impact on
energy
the environment
Sorces of Energy 135
Disadvantages  Nuclear energy can be used for negative
 Geothermal energy is not commercially purposes. Therefore, there is always a fear
viable of misuse
 Sometimes, a geothermal site may undergo  There is always a danger of leakage of
depletion and may lose its heat. These radioactive material and radiations from
geothermal sites then have to be left alone nuclear power plants
to help them recover their lost heat Did you know that during World War II
 Hot spots or regions that can generate this nuclear bombs were dropped on the twin
energy are limited cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan
by America?
 Hazardous gases and minerals may
emerge, which may be difficult to dispose
off
Formative Worksheet
Nuclear energy 28. What kind of mirror “ concave, convex or plain “
In order to understand nuclear energy we should would be best suited for use in a solar cooker?
first understand nuclear fission reaction. Why?
What is nuclear fission? 29. What are the limitations of the energy that can be
Do you know that the difference in mass (Äm) obtained from the oceans?
between the original nucleus and the product 30. What is geothermal energy?
nuclei is converted into energy, E? The amount 31. What are the advantages of nuclear energy?
of energy produced is governed by Einstein’s 32. What is solar constant? Explain.
equation, 33. If the solar constant is 1.4 kJ/m2, what is the
E =  mc2 amount of energy actually received by 2m2 of
Where ‘c’ is the speed of light earth’s surface in one second.
34. Explain why the efficiency of solar heating devices
is much lower than that of similar devices operated
on electricity.
35. Out of two solar cookers, one was covered by a
plane glass slab and the other was left open. Which
of the two solar cookers will be more efficient
and why?
36. A student constructed a box type solar cooker.
He found that it did not work efficiently. What
could this be due to? Give any four possible
How is electricity produced in nuclear power mistakes in the construction and operation of the
plants? solar cooker. What maximum temperature can
Nuclear power plants consist of nuclear reactors. ordinarily be reached inside a solar cooker?
These reactors use uranium rods as fuel and heat 37. List any four areas where solar cells are being
is generated by the process of nuclear fission. used as a source of energy?
Neutrons smash into the nucleus of the uranium 38. Name two methods by which solar energy can be
atoms, which roughly split into half and release converted into electricity.
energy in the form of heat. 39. How much solar energy will be received by 5 m2
Carbon dioxide gas is pumped through the reactor in 20 minutes? The solar constant is 1.4 kW per
to take the heat away. The hot gas then heats square metre.
water to form steam. This steam drives the 40. The solar constant is 1.4 kW per square metre. If
turbines of generators to produce electricity. all the heat is to be absorbed by a bucket containing
Disadvantages of nuclear energy 100 kg of water, calculate the rise in the
 Construction of nuclear power plants temperature of water in ½ hour. Specific heat
needs huge investments capacity of water is 4.2 kJ/kg°C.
41. Why is tidal energy not likely to be a potential source
 Radioactive wastes such as used uranium
of energy?
are a dangerous hazard to the environment
42. Sun is the ultimate source of all forms of energy.
Comment on the statement.
136 10th Class Physics
3. A renewable source of energy is used in the
Conceptive Worksheet functioning of which of the following devices?
(A) Diesel engine (B) Solar cooker
16. “Electricity generated by the water stored in a
(C) Oil lamp (D) LPG stove
dam can be considered to be another form of solar
4. Which of the following devices is a part of
energy”. Explain, describing the series of energy
the most recent technique for the generation of
transformations in sequence taking place during
electricity?
the process.
(A) Nuclear reactor (B) Solar cell
17. “Electricity generated by a windmill can be
(C) Wind mill (D) Electric turbine
considered to be another form of solar energy”.
5. Which renewable source of energy is most widely
Explain this by describing the series of steps in
used for the generation of electricity?
generation of electricity by a windmill.
(A) Tidal energy (B) Wind energy
18. Give advantages and disadvantages of harnessing
(C) Biomass energy (D) Geothermal energy
nuclear energy.
6. A hotel needs to supply hot water to its guests. It
19. How does a fusion reaction differ from a fission
wants to use a renewable source of energy for
reaction?
this purpose.
20. Products of nuclear fission reaction create more
Which device can be used by the hotel for heating
pollution problems as compared to products from
water?
nuclear fusion reaction. Justify your answer.
(A) Gas boiler (B) Solar heater
(or)
(C) Electric heater (D) Heat exchanger
“Obtaining of energy from nuclear fusion reaction
7. Which of the following devices directly converts
is preferred to obtaining of energy from nuclear
Sun’s energy into electrical energy?
fission reactions.” Give two reasons to justify this
(A) Battery (B) Windmill
statement.
(C) Solar cell (D) Solar cooker
21. Give any two differences between a nuclear
8. The natural resource that can be replenished at
fission and a nuclear fusion. Give one example of
the same rate at which it is used is known as a
each.
renewable resource. Renewable resources can be
22. Why is large amount of energy released during
recycled easily and profitably. Use of renewable
fission of U-235?
resources reduces the use of other natural
23. Give two applications of nuclear fission reactions.
resources that are present in a limited amount on
(or)
Earth.
Give one example each of controlled and
uncontrolled nuclear fission reactions. Which of the following sources of energy is
24. Cadmium rods play an important role in a nuclear renewable?
reactor. What happens (A) Oil (B) Coal
i) When they are completely inserted in nuclear (C) Water (D) Petroleum
fuel, 9. The natural resources that cannot be replenished
ii) When they are slowly withdrawn from the at a rate faster than they are used are known as
nuclear fuel. non-renewable resources. These resources cannot
25. Name the atomic power stations in India. be recycled or reused. Hence, their use imposes
serious impact on the atmosphere and on the
Summative Worksheet surface of Earth.
1. Which of the following sources of energy is non- Which of the following sources of energy is non-
renewable? renewable?
(A) Sun (B) Tides (A) Gasoline (B) Water
(C) Winds (D) Uranium (C) Wind (D) Sun
2. Which of the following sources of energy is non-
10. Energy from Sun is not
renewable?
(A) Wind (B) Ocean (A) renewable
(C) Gasoline (D) Biofuel (B) exhaustible
(C) utilized in geothermal power plants
(D) used by plants to produce their food
Sorces of Energy 137
11. Coal and petroleum are non-renewable sources 16. In which row is a source of energy not matched
of energy whereas wind, water, and solar energy with its type?
are renewable sources of energy.
Source Type
Coal and petroleum are referred to as non- (A)
renewable sources of energy because they Sun Renewable
(A) are very costly
(B) cause pollution Source Type
(C) are limited in their supply (B)
(D) can be used again and again Wind Renewable
12. The difference between renewable and non-
renewable sources of energy is that the former Source Type
(C)
(A) take a very long period of time to replenish Biogas Non-renewable
(B) can be replenished within a short span of time
(C) cannot be replenished once they get exhausted Source Type
(D)
(D) are replenished only by very drastic conditions Petroleum Non-renewable
13. Which of the following fuels is a renewable source
of energy? 17. Fossil fuels are examples of
(A) renewable resources
(A) Coal (B) Petrol (B) man-made resources
(C) Wood (D) Diesel (C) alternative resources
14. i s a renewable source of energy as it gets (D) non-renewable resources
replenished in a short interval of time, whereas 18. Electricity can be produced by using the heat
ii is a non-renewable source of energy as it energy present inside Earth. This energy is known
takes a very long time to get replenished. as
Which row completes the given statement? (A) solar energy (B) geothermal energy
(A) Natural gas, solar radiation (C) hydrothermal energy (D)hydroelectric energy
19. Which energy is responsible for making the water
(B) Coal, water hot in a spring?
(C) Wind , petroleum (A) Solar energy
(D) Petroleum, biomass (B) Earth’s magnetic energy
15. Three sources of energy. (C) Geothermal energy
(D) Hydel energy
I: Coal II: Wind III: Tides
20. Geothermal energy comes from the
Which row classifies the sources of energy (A) insulating effect of snow and ice
according to their nature? (B) magma within the Earth’s crust
(C) warm water from the <Gulf Stream>
Renewable Non-renewable
(A) (D) friction caused by the continental drift
I II and III 21. Bhakra Nangal Dam of Himachal Pradesh
produces 1000 MW of electricity most of which is
Renewable Non-renewable consumed the capital city of Delhi. In this power
(B) plant, electricity is produced by the rotation of
III I and II blades of a turbine.
Bhakra Nangal Dam produces electricity by using
Renewable Non-renewable the energy from
(C) (A) oil (B) coal
I and II III (C) wind (D) water
22. The natural resource that cannot be used for
Renewable Non-renewable generating electricity in thermal power plants is
(D) (A) Oil (B) Coal
II and III I
(C) natural gas (D) ocean wave
138 10th Class Physics
23. The natural resource that can be used for 28. In which row is a resource type correctly matched
generating electricity in thermal power plants is with its example?
(A) Oil (B) Wind
Resource type Example
(C) flowing water (D) solar radiation (A)
24. Prakash learns in school that almost most of the Non-renewable Water
electricity produced in India comes by burning coal.
Coal is used for producing electricity in Resource type Example
(B)
(A) solar power plants (B) hydel power plants Renewable Wind
(C) nuclear power plants (D) thermal power
plants Resource type Example
(C)
25. Manu observes that some of the houses in his
Renewable Petrol
locality have a particular type of panel on their
roofs, as shown in the given figure. He is told by Resource type Example
his brother that these panels are used for producing (D)
electricity. Non-renewable Oxygen
The panels shown in the figure produce electricity 29. Which natural resource is paired correctly with its
by using respective type?
(A) solar energy (B) wind energy Natural resource Resource type
(C) hydel energy (D) nuclear energy (A)
26. There are many windmills in Tamil Nadu. Wind Coal Renewable
energy is used by these windmills for their Natural resource Resource type
functioning. (B)
In a windmill, wind energy is used to produce Water Renewable
(A) garments (B) electricity
Natural resource Resource type
(C) natural gas (D) paper rolls (C)
27. Which tables correctly matches the resources with Wind Non-renewable
their respective types?
Natural resource Resource type
Resource Type (D)
Biomass Non-renewable
Oxygen Renewable
(A) 30. Four natural resources found on Earth are shown
Water Renewable in the given figure.
Diesel Renewable Which of the following resources is non-
renewable?
Resource Type (A) Biomass (B) Water
(C) Tree (D) Coal
Wind Renewable
(B)
Petrol Non-renewable HOTS Worksheet
Coal Non-renewable 1. i is a renewable resource, whereas ii is a
non-renewable resource. Which row correctly
Resource Type completes the given statement?
Timber Renewable I II I II
(C) (A) (B)
Gasoline Renewable Coal diesel Water diesel
Biomass Non-renewable
I II I II
Resource Type (C) (D)
Water wind Gasoline oxygen
Biogas Non-renewable
(D)
Natural Gas Non-renewable 2. Four natural resources:
I. Wind II. Coal
Solar Energy Non-renewable III. Biomass IV. Crude oil
Sorces of Energy 139
Which table correctly describes the given natural
Renewable Non-renewable
resources?
Fresh water Gasoline
Renewable Non-renewable (B)
(A) Timber Coal
Wind and crude oil Coal and biomass
Natural gas Tides
Renewable Non-renewable
(B) Renewable Non-renewable
Wind and coal Crude oil and biomass
Fresh water Gasoline
Renewable Non-renewable (C)
(C) Timber Coal
Biomass and crude oil Coal and wind
Tides Natural gas
Renewable Non-renewable
(D) Renewable Non-renewable
Wind and biomass Coal and crude oil
Gasoline Fresh water
3. Which row correctly describes water and gasoline? (D)
Water Gasoline Timber Coal
(A)
Renewable Renewable Tides Natural gas
8. Fossil fuels cannot be used to
Water Gasoline (A) run turbines
(B)
Non-renewable Non-renewable (B) produce electricity
(C) fuel motor vehicles
Water Gasoline (D) minimize greenhouse effect
(C) 9. Hydroelectric energy is generated by
Renewable Non-renewable
(A) moving water that is used to turn an electric
Water Gasoline turbine
(D) (B) moving air that is used to turn an electric
Non-renewable Renewable turbine
4. Which of the following resources is non- (C) the heat energy present below Earth’s surface
renewable? (D) the fusion of hydrogen molecules
(A) Water (B) Oxygen 10. A windmill produces electrical energy by
(C) Natural Gas (D) Solar Energy harnessing energy from
5. Which of the following resources is renewable? (A) gasoline (B) biomass
(A) Natural gas (B) Crude oil (C) moving air (D) moving water
(C) Wind (D) Coal 11. The source of energy produced by decomposing
6. Which natural resource is used in a geothermal dead organic matter, such as wood and plants, is
plant to carry geothermal energy to Earth’s termed as
surface? (A) biogas (B) gasohol
(A) Sun (B) Wind (C) Water (D) Gasoline (C) geothermal energy (D)hydroelectric power
7. Natural resources are classified as renewable and 12. The energy derived from water is
non-renewable resources. Renewable energy (A) solar (B) nuclear
sources can be replenished at a rate faster than (C) geothermal (D) hydroelectric
they are consumed. Non-renewable resources take 13. Which of the following energy sources is
a very long time to get replenished. renewable?
The table that correctly lists renewable and non- (A) Sun (B) Coal
renewable resources is shown in alternative (C) Diesel (D) Gasoline
Renewable Non-renewable 14. Which of the following sources of energy is non-
renewable?
Fresh water Gasoline (A) Sun (B) Wind
(A)
Coal Timber (C) Petroleum (D) Hydroelectric
Tides Natural gas
140 10th Class Physics
15. Which table correctly represents renewable and non-renewable sources of energy?
Renewable Non-renewable Renewable Non-renewable
Coal Biomass Biomass Coal
(A) (B)
Petroleum Wind Wind Petroleum
Natural gas Hydropower Hydropower Natural gas

Renewable Non-renewable Renewable Non-renewable

Coal Biomass Biomass Coal
(C) (D)
Wind Petroleum Wind Petroleum
Hydropower Natural gas Natural gas Hydropower

16. A solar panel is a device that collects and converts solar energy into electric or heat energy. The use of solar
panels helps in reducing
(A) snowfall (B) pollution (C) erosion (D) tide
17. The use of biogas leads to a reduction in
(A) air pollution (B) soil erosion (C) snowfall (D) tide
18.
The various sources of energy are classified as renewable and non-renewable in the given table.
Tides Renewable
Geothermal Renewable
Petroleum Non-renewable
Coal Non-renewable
Nucleus Renewable
Biomass Non-renewable

Which two sources of energy are incorrectly classified in the given table?
(A) Geothermal and nucleus (B) Petroleum and nucleus
(C) Nucleus and biomass (D) Tides and biomass
19. Which table correctly classifies the given sources as renewable and non-renewable?
Wind Renewable Wind Non-renewable
Sun Non-Renewable Sun Renewable
(A) (B)
Nucleus Non-renewable Nucleus Renewable
Fossil fuels Renewable Fossil fuels Non-renewable

Winds Renewable Wind Renewable

Sun Renewable Sun Non-renewable
(C) (D)
Nucleus Non-renewable Nucleus Renewable
Fossil fuels Non-renewable Fossil fuels Non-renewable
Sorces of Energy 141
20. The given table lists the differences between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.
The given table lists the differences between renewable and non-renewable sources
of energy.
Rows Renewable resources Non-renewable resources

I. They are present in large They are present in limited quantities.

quantities.
II. They do not pollute the They pollute the environment.
environment.
III. They are freely They are found only in specific regions of Earth.
available.
IV. They cannot be They can be replenished but take a very long
replenished if exhausted. time for the same.
V. They do not contribute They contribute to global warming.
to global warming.
In which row is a difference listed incorrectly?
(A) V (B) IV (C) II (D) I
21. Four statements about renewable sources of 24. Which source of energy is renewable but is not a
energy: clean fuel?
I. They are present in abundant amounts in nature.
(A) Coal (B) Wood
II. They are clean fuels and do not cause
(C) Nuclear (D) Geothermal
environmental pollution.
III. They are the main source of energy for the 25. Which of the following statements regarding
people living on Earth. renewable and non-renewable resources of energy
IV. They can be replenished in a short span of is true?
time. (A) Renewable resources of energy cannot be
Which statement is incorrect? replenished.
(A) IV (B) III (C) II (D) I (B) The reserves of renewable resources of
22. Four statements about non-renewable resources: energy are limited.
I. Their reserves are limited. (C) Non-renewable resources of energy can be
II. They are responsible for environmental pollution easily replenished.
and global warming.
(D) The reserves of non-renewable resources of
III. They are the chief source of energy for the
energy are limited.
people living on Earth.
IV. They can be replenished in a short span of 26. The resources that i replenish themselves in a
time. short duration of time are known as ii resources
Which statement is incorrect? of energy. These resources are present in huge
(A) I (B) II quantities and do not pollute the environment.
(C) III (D) IV Which row correctly completes the given
23. Which of the following statements regarding statement?
renewable and non-renewable sources of energy (A) can, renewable
is true? (B) can, non-renewable
(A) The technology that makes use of non-
renewable sources is very expensive. (C) cannot, renewable
(B) The technology that makes use of renewable (D) cannot, non-renewable
sources is cheaper.
(C) Non-renewable sources of energy are clean
fuels.
(D) Renewable sources of energy are clean fuels.
142 10th Class Physics
27. In which table is each object correctly paired with 29. Electricity can be generated by rotating the blades
the energy possessed by it? of a windmill, as shown in the given figure.
Object Energy
Burning coal Wind
(A)
Moving air Thermal
Gasoline Chemical

Object Energy
Which form of energy is used to produce electricity
Burning coal Thermal in a windmill?
(B)
Moving air Wind (A) Light (B) Sound
(C) Chemical (D) Mechanical
Gasoline Chemical 30. The given figure shows a boat moving in a river
under the effect of blowing air.
Object Energy
Burning coal Chemical
(C)
Moving air Wind
Gasoline Thermal

Object Energy
Burning coal Wind
(D)
Moving air Chemical
Gasoline Thermal Which of the following forms of energy is being
used by the boat to move?
28. The energy of water at a height in a dam is used (A) Heat (B) Wind
to generate electricity in hydroelectric power (C) Light (D) Sound
stations. Which form of energy is converted into
electricity in a hydroelectric power station?
(A) Solar (B) Sound
(C) Chemical (D) Mechanical