PHYSICS

For Cambridge IGCSE

Chapter 7

2024-2025
MS.TRIFA

Please remember that these notes are intended to complement your coursebook, not replace it. They serve as a
helpful guide for your revision by spotlighting important themes and ideas from the content.
7.1 Energy we use:

Note :
What are the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy?
Advantages of renewable energy:
• Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydro, are naturally replenishing,
meaning they will not run out as long as the sun shines, the wind blows, or water flows.
Also they produce low pollution.
Disadvantages of renewable energy:
• You cannot generate electricity at night using a solar panel. Also, solar panels don't
generate as much power as non-renewable sources.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of non-renewable energy?

Advantages of non-renewable energy:
• They produce large amounts of energy, are reliable, and operate 24/7—whether it's day
or night, raining or not, snowing or not—as long as they are supplied with fuel.
Disadvantages of non-renewable energy:
• They almost always result in pollution. Also they are limited and will run out eventually;
once used, they can't be replaced.

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➢ Different types of power stations(how they roughly work):
1- A chemical power station:
burns fuel to convert chemical energy into heat energy. This heat heats water, turning it
into steam. The steam then drives a turbine, which is essentially a large fan. As the turbine
spins, it drives a generator—a coil placed between the poles of a magnet, cutting through
the magnetic field to generate electricity. The turbine’s kinetic energy .is thus converted
into electrical energy. Afterward, the steam condenses, and the process continues.

2- Nuclear power stations:

operate in a similar way, with the main difference being that they use a nuclear reactor where
nuclear fission takes place. This process generates heat, which is used to boil water. The water
turns to steam, which drives a turbine. As the turbine spins, it also spins a generator, producing
electricity. So, in a nuclear power station, nuclear energy is converted to heat, then to kinetic
energy in the turbine, and finally to electrical energy.

3- Geothermal power stations:

We drop cold water into the hot rocks underground, so we target places that are naturally
volcanic. These areas have very hot rocks underground (not lava), but they are hot enough to
heat a lot of cold water. The water boils, turns into steam, and the steam rises. It then turns a
turbine, which powers a generator.

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4- Solar, Wind and Wave:

➢ Wave power or wave turbines:

• Wave power uses underwater turbines

• The waves move the water which causes the turbines to turn

➢ Tidal power:

• Tidal power uses tidal barrages to store water at a height as the tide comes in and goes out

• When the barrage is opened, water flows through a channel over a turbine

➢ Advantages of wave and tidal power

• Wave and tide power produce no pollution or greenhouse gases as no fuel is needed
• No fuel costs
• Tides are regular, so tide power is reliable and predictable
• Large amounts of electricity can be produced at regular intervals
• Wave and tidal power stations are responsive; they can be turned off and on quickly to meet
demand
• Wave and tidal power are renewable energy resources
• Smaller power stations are useful for small islands
• Wave and tidal power stations are inexpensive to build and cheap to run
• Wave and tidal power stations are very efficient (around 80%)

➢ Disadvantages of wave and tidal power

• Tidal barrages are built in estuaries so there are not many suitable locations
• The underwater turbines and tidal barrages can interfere with shipping routes and cause
damage to habitats
• The technology for wave and tidal power is not currently advanced enough for large-scale
electricity generation
• Wave and tidal power stations have a long construction time compared to some other power
station types
• Waves power is unreliable as the waves are not always large enough to turn the turbines

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Hydroelectric dams

• When water is stored above ground level, it has energy in its gravitational potential
store
• This energy can be transferred to kinetic energy if the water is allowed to flow down
the slope
• Flowing water turns the turbine to generate electricity

➢ Advantages of hydroelectric power

• Hydroelectric dams are reliable and well established in most countries

• Hydroelectric power stations are responsive because they can be turned on and off
easily to meet changing demand
• Hydroelectric power stations are cheap to run
• Hydroelectric power stations can produce large amounts of electricity
• Water is a renewable energy resource

➢ Disadvantages of hydroelectric power

• Valleys are flooded to create the reservoir used to store the water, which destroys
habitats, towns and villages
• Pumping systems are sometimes used to return the water to the reservoir
• Hydroelectric power stations are expensive to build because the land and properties
need to be acquired in order to build the reservoir
• High-voltage power lines are required to transmit electricity to the National Grid
• Drought can affect the supply of water

Q/what is advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power station?

Advantages of nuclear power

• No pollution released into atmosphere

• Nuclear power stations are extremely reliable and well established in some countries
• Nuclear power stations are responsive as the output is easily controlled

Disadvantages of nuclear power

• Nuclear power is a non-renewable resource

• Nuclear fuels produce radioactive waste(Radioactive waste is packaged and buried
underground to be stored for thousands of years)
• Nuclear power stations are extremely expensive to build and to decommission (close
down)
• Nuclear power stations are expensive to run and maintain because rigorous safety
protocols must be in place
• Nuclear power stations are potentially dangerous in the event of an accident

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Q/what is advantages and disadvantages of geothermal power station?

Advantages of geothermal energy

• Geothermal energy is renewable

• Geothermal power stations are reliable because the rocks remain hot for thousands of
years so they can consistently produce electricity

Disadvantages of geothermal energy

• Geothermal energy depends on tectonic activity, so there are few suitable locations
on Earth
• Geothermal power stations are expensive to build
• Geothermal power stations are small so they are not suitable for large-scale electricity
production
• Geothermal power stations are not very efficient (around 12%)

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7.2 The sun
• The Sun transfers energy to Earth by electromagnetic radiation
• Most of our energy resources on Earth come indirectly from the Sun:
o The Sun heats up the atmosphere, creating wind and producing waves
o Water evaporated by the Sun falls as rain, filling up reservoirs
o Plants grown using sunlight form the basis for fuels – both biofuels and fossil fuels
• Some energy resources, however, do not come from the Sun
• These include:
o Geothermal – this comes from heat produced in the Earth’s core
o Nuclear – this comes from elements which make up a small proportion of the Earth’s
crust
o Tidal – this comes (mainly) from the gravitational attraction of the Moon

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