Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Unit
Energy Resources and Energy Transfers
175 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
161–170 of 175
Question 161
7 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →The government of a country is deciding between building a geothermal power station and a gas-fired power station to supply electricity to a new city. The city is also encouraging the use of solar heating panels for domestic water heating.
(a)[2 marks]Describe the main energy transfers involved in generating electricity using geothermal energy.
(b)[2 marks]Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using a gas-fired power station compared to geothermal power for the city.
(c)[3 marks]Explain how a solar heating panel works to heat water for a house.
Question 162
6 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A large country currently relies mostly on coal-fired and hydroelectric power stations. It is considering increasing its use of wind turbines. The graph below shows a typical day's changes in national electricity demand.
Electricity demand (GW) throughout a day (a)[1 mark]At what time of day is electricity demand at its highest? Give your answer in hours.
(b)[2 marks]Which type of power station (coal-fired, hydroelectric, or wind turbine) is best suited to deal with sudden increases in demand shown on the graph? Explain your answer.
(c)[2 marks]Describe one environmental disadvantage of relying on coal-fired power stations and one disadvantage of relying on wind turbines.
(d)[1 mark]Suggest one reason why hydroelectric or wind power alone cannot always meet all the demand shown in the graph.
Question 163
7 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A village uses two main sources for its electricity supply: a local river is used for hydroelectric power, and a diesel generator provides backup power when needed. Many houses also have solar heating panels for water heating.
(a)[2 marks]Describe the energy transfers that occur when generating electricity using the local hydroelectric power station.
(b)[1 mark]Give one environmental disadvantage of using the diesel generator.
(c)[1 mark]Suggest one reason why the diesel generator is only used as a backup and not as the main supplier.
(d)[3 marks]Explain how the design of a solar heating panel makes it efficient at heating water. Refer to specific features.
Question 164
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A cyclist uses food energy to pedal up a hill. The food energy is measured in joules (J). Assume friction is small.
(a)[1 mark]What unit is used to measure the cyclist's mass?
(b)[1 mark]Name the energy store that increases when the cyclist is at the top of the hill.
(c)[2 marks]Suggest why not all the energy supplied to the cyclist is transferred usefully.
Question 165
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A student pushes a box with a constant force of 30 N so that it moves 4 m across the floor.
(a)[1 mark]Name the unit of work done in this situation.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the work done by the student on the box. Show your working.
(c)[1 mark]State the principle of conservation of energy as it applies to this situation.
Question 166
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Solar heating panels are used to heat water in some homes.
(a)[1 mark]Name the main process by which energy from the Sun reaches the panels.
(b)[2 marks]State what colour and finish (shiny/dull) is best for the surface of the panel for maximum absorption of energy. Give a reason.
(c)[1 mark]Explain how the water inside is heated using energy from the Sun.
Question 167
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A metal kettle is used to boil water for tea in a kitchen. The base of the kettle gets very hot while it is on the stove.
(a)[1 mark]Name the process by which thermal energy is transferred through the metal base of the kettle.
(b)[1 mark]State why the kettle feels hot to the touch after boiling.
(c)[1 mark]Give one way the kettle could be designed to lose less thermal energy to the surroundings.
(d)[1 mark]Which unit would you use to measure the amount of energy transferred by the kettle?
Question 168
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A ball of mass 0.6 kg is lifted from the floor onto a table 0.8 m high. It is then pushed and rolls off the edge, falling to the ground below.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the increase in gravitational potential energy (GPE) of the ball when it is placed on the table. Take gravitational field strength as 10 N/kg.
(b)[1 mark]State what happens to the GPE of the ball as it falls to the ground.
(c)[1 mark]Name one other store of energy that the ball has just before it touches the ground.
Question 169
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A wind turbine is used to generate electricity for a small village.
(a)[1 mark]Is the energy resource used here renewable or non-renewable? State your answer.
(b)[2 marks]Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using wind turbines for electricity production.
(c)[1 mark]Name the main energy transfer that takes place in the wind turbine.
Question 170
5 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A large electric motor is used to lift water from a well and also to pump the water through metal pipes. The table shows some of the energy transfers during one second of operation.
Process Energy transferred (J) Electrical energy supplied 1800 GPE gained by water 900 Heat energy to pipes 200 Sound energy 10 (a)[1 mark]State the physical quantity which is measured in joules (J).
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the efficiency of the motor in transferring electrical energy to useful energy. Give your answer as a percentage.
(c)[2 marks]Describe one way that unwanted energy transfer from the pipes could be reduced.