Topic 3.5 Energy IGCSE Geography

TOPIC 3.5 ENERGY

IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY

Increased energy consumption is due to:

• Food production:
o The higher demand for food leads to more intensive farming, which needs more
energy for machines, light and heat.


• Industrial growth:
o Factories need energy for operations, heating, and lighting.


• Transportation:
o Increased movement relies on petrol, diesel, and electricity.


• Urbanisation:
o Increasing urban population use domestic appliances, heating, and lighting.


• Economic development:
o Rising wealth leads to people buying more appliances and technology that need
energy.



NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY


FOSSIL FUELS

, • Other countries are looking for alternative energy sources such as “fracking”
• A country that produces its own energy is self-sufficient and can control its own energy
policies instead of being controlled by the producers.




NUCLEAR ENERGY
• All thermal power stations produce heat by changing water into steam.
• In nuclear power stations heat is generated by fission (splitting of atom).
• Neutrons released bounce against each other generating heat.
• The fuel used is Uranium
• The waste generated is radioactive and lasts many years.