NON CONVENTIONAL SOURCES OF ENERGY
I. Choose the correct option:
(b) inexhaustible
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
(d) river valleys
(d) All of the above
(a) It has low emission of greenhouse gases.
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
(a) nuclear fission
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) CBG
(b) Solar
(d) All of them
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
II. Answer the following questions:
Q. 1
(a) What are non-conventional sources of energy? Non-conventional sources
of energy are those developed recently as alternatives to conventional sources.
They include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, nuclear, and biogas energy. Most
are renewable, inexhaustible, non-polluting, and cost-effective.
(b) State two differences between conventional and non-conventional
sources of energy.
Conventional
sources (e.g., coal, petroleum) are exhaustible, while non-conventional sources
(e.g., solar, wind) are mostly inexhaustible.
Conventional
sources cause pollution, while non-conventional sources are generally
eco-friendly.
(c) Give a reason for each of the following:
(i)
Conventional sources of energy are called the resources of the past because
they are depleting and polluting.
(ii)
India is in an advantageous position in terms of solar energy due to its
location on the Tropic of Cancer, receiving abundant sunlight (300 sunny
days/year).
(iii)
Harvesting solar energy does not require much maintenance because solar panels
have no moving parts and are durable.
(d) How is India in an advantageous position to harness solar energy? India receives high solar
energy (5,000 trillion kWh/year) due to its geographical location, with most
regions experiencing 300 sunny days annually.
Q. 2
(a) State briefly how the sun's energy can be used to generate power. Solar energy is harnessed
using:
Solar cells (photovoltaic cells): Convert sunlight into electricity.
Solar cookers: Use mirrors to reflect sunlight for cooking.
Solar water heaters: Use sunlight to heat water for domestic/industrial use.
(b) How can wind energy generate additional income for land owners? Landowners can install
wind turbines on their land (e.g., farms) to generate electricity for personal
use and sell surplus power to the grid, earning extra income.
(c) State any three advantages of using solar energy.
Renewable
and inexhaustible.
Low
maintenance and long lifespan (20-25 years).
Reduces
dependence on fossil fuels and lowers electricity bills.
(d) How is wind energy utilized to produce electricity? Windmills convert wind's
kinetic energy into mechanical energy, which drives turbines to generate
electricity. Wind farms (clusters of windmills) are set up in coastal, hilly,
or open grassland areas.
Q. 3
(a) What is tidal energy? Give an advantage of using tidal energy. Tidal energy is generated
from the rise and fall of ocean tides. Advantage: It is predictable,
inexhaustible, and produces no carbon emissions.
(b) Give two advantages of using wind energy.
Clean
and renewable.
Reduces
fossil fuel dependence and provides income for landowners.
(c) What are wind farms? Where are they usually located? Wind farms are clusters of
windmills installed in coastal regions, open grasslands, or hilly areas to
generate electricity.
(d) (i) What is geothermal energy? Geothermal energy is heat energy from the
Earth's crust, accessed by drilling wells to tap steam/hot water.
(ii) How is geothermal energy used to produce electricity? Hot water/steam from
underground reservoirs spins turbines connected to generators, producing
electricity.
Q. 4
(a) Name one area each where solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal energy
is generated in India.
Solar: Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan.
Wind:
Nagarcoil to Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Tidal: Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat.
Geothermal: Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh.
(b) State any two advantages of using geothermal energy.
Environment-friendly
(low greenhouse gas emissions).
Independent
of weather and seasons.
(c) Name the process involved in the generation of nuclear energy. State
any three advantages of using nuclear power.
Process: Nuclear fission (splitting atoms of uranium/thorium).
Advantages:
Reduces
fossil fuel dependence.
High
energy output from small fuel quantities.
Reliable
and operates 24/7.
(d) How is biogas beneficial for farmers and householders?
Provides
clean cooking fuel (methane).
Produces
nutrient-rich slurry for use as fertilizer.
Reduces
waste and improves sanitation.
Q. 5
(a) What is nuclear power? Nuclear power is energy generated by splitting
atoms (nuclear fission) of radioactive elements like uranium or thorium.
(b) Name two minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy. Name
two nuclear power plants in India.
Minerals: Uranium, Thorium.
Power Plants: Tarapur (Maharashtra), Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu).
(c) Why do countries prefer nuclear energy despite its non-renewable
fuel?
Nuclear energy is highly efficient, produces massive energy from small fuel
quantities, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.
(d) How can nuclear energy be a boon for India? It can provide a reliable,
large-scale energy supply, reduce fossil fuel imports, and support sustainable
development with lower emissions.
Q. 6
(a) Briefly explain how biogas is generated. Biogas is produced by
anaerobic digestion of organic waste (e.g., cattle dung) in a digester tank,
where bacteria break down the waste to release methane and carbon dioxide.
(b) Name the main constituents of biogas. Methane (CH₄), Carbon
Dioxide (CO₂), Hydrogen (H₂), and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S).
(c) List three advantages of biogas.
Clean and
non-polluting.
Direct
supply (no storage issues).
Sludge
acts as organic fertilizer.
(d) Write a short note on Compressed Biogas (CBG). CBG is purified biogas
(90% methane) compressed for use as a green automotive fuel. India plans to
blend CBG with CNG/PNG to reduce natural gas imports.
Q. 7
(a) Identify the type of energy generated in Figure 2 and state its
advantages.
Energy: Geothermal energy.
Advantages: Eco-friendly, reliable, and independent of weather.
(b) Which two areas can be well suited for its generation?
Himalayan
geothermal province (e.g., Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh).
Cambay
Graben, Gujarat.
(c) Describe the method of generating electricity using geothermal
energy.
Hot water/steam from underground reservoirs is used to spin turbines connected
to generators, producing electricity.
(d) Name three geothermal provinces in India.
Himalayan
geothermal province.
Naga-Lushai
geothermal province.
Cambay
Graben geothermal province.
IV. Thinking Skills
Q. 1
Which non-conventional source of energy would you prefer for
streetlights, water pumps, and heating?
Streetlights: Solar energy (scalable, low maintenance).
Water pumps: Solar or wind energy (reliable, off-grid solutions).
Heating: Solar water heaters or geothermal energy (efficient and eco-friendly).
Q. 2
Should LPG be replaced by biogas in rural areas? Yes, biogas is a
sustainable alternative to LPG because:
It
is cheaper and locally producible from agricultural waste.
Reduces
indoor air pollution and dependence on imported fuels.
Provides
organic fertilizer as a byproduct.
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