IGCSEPhysicsCambridge (CIE)Exam Questions1. Motion, Forces & EnergyEnergy Sources

Energy Sources (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics)

Exam Questions

2 hours30 questions

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Energy Sources

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Energy Sources

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11 mark

Extended tier only

Which energy resource does not use the Sun as the source of its energy?

  • Hydroelectric

  • Wind

  • Nuclear

  • Coal

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21 mark

Which energy resource involves splitting heavy nuclei?

  • Nuclear fission

  • Geothermal

  • Biomass

  • Nuclear fusion

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31 mark

Which energy resource does not release greenhouse gases?

  • Oil

  • Hydro-electric power

  • Biofuel

  • Coal

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41 mark

Which disadvantage does not apply to geothermal energy?

  • Expensive to build

  • Few suitable locations

  • Can result in the release of greenhouse gases

  • Not reliable

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51 mark

Extended tier only

Which energy source relies on radiation from the Sun? 

  • Fossil fuels

  • Nuclear fission

  • Tidal power

  • Geothermal energy

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11 mark

Listed below are some energy resources.

W   wind powering a turbine

X   water falling through a hydroelectric turbine

Y   alcohol made from crops which have been grown for burning in a biomass generator

Z   uranium for nuclear fission reactors

Which of the resources are renewable?

  • W, X and Z

  • W and X

  • W, X and Y

  • W, X, Y and Z

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21 mark

Which statement best describes nuclear fuel as an energy source?

  • Reliable & renewable

  • Reliable, non-renewable and available for large scale production

  • Unreliable, non-renewable and available for large scale production

  • Unreliable, renewable & not available for large scale production

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31 mark

Which statement best describes the differences between solar cells and solar panels?

  • Solar cells use energy from the sun to heat water and solar panels use energy from the sun to generate electricity

  • Solar panels use energy from the sun to heat water and solar cells use energy from the sun to generate electricity

  • Solar cells use the kinetic energy of wind to produce electrical power and solar panels use energy from the sun to heat water

  • Solar panels use energy from the sun to produce electrical power and solar cells store the excess energy

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41 mark

What feature do geothermal, hydroelectric and nuclear energy sources share?

  • Renewable

  • Can generate large-scale energy

  • Cause rotation in a generator

  • Use steam to turn a turbine

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51 mark

Which statement about nuclear fuel is correct?

  • Nuclear waste must be stored for decades

  • Nuclear fusion uses steam to turn a turbine which rotates a generator on a large scale

  • Nuclear fission provides approximately 70% of the UK's energy

  • Nuclear waste must be stored for thousands of years

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11 mark

When plants are grown they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, but when biofuel is burned it releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. 

A company manufacturing biofuels claim that they are carbon neutral. 

Why is this claim considered to be controversial?

  • Because if the land used to grow the crops had been used to grow food produce instead, the same amount of carbon dioxide would have been removed from the atmosphere but none would have been emitted back into the atmosphere

  • Because fertilisers and pesticides are used to grow the crops which are harmful to the environment

  • Because the farming of biofuel crops is labour intensive so they cost a lot to produce

  • Because farming biofuel crops year on year on the same land depletes the land of soil nutrients 

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21 mark

Which of the following energy sources produce no atmospheric pollution?

  • Fossil fuels, bio fuels & nuclear fuel

  • Bio fuel, nuclear fuel and wave power

  • Nuclear fuel, wave power and solar cells

  • Wave power, solar cells & geothermal power

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31 mark

Which of the following energy sources cause damage to natural habitats?

  • Fossil fuels, wave power & hydroelectric dams

  • Solar power, geothermal energy & nuclear power

  • Hydroelectric dams, wave power and solar panels

  • Fossil fuels, solar cells and wind power

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41 mark

It is possible to reduce the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels on the environment without reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned. 

Which of the following suggestions would not reduce the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels?

  • Planting more trees

  • Investing in carbon capture and sulphur removal technologies

  • Increasing the efficiency of power stations

  • Increasing the number of hydroelectric dams

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51 mark

The diagram below shows how a solar cell produces electricity using energy from the sun.

Energy is transferred by radiation to the silicon layer of the solar cell causing charges to move. This movement of charges produces a current. 

1-8-mcq-h5

The efficiency of a solar cell is far below 100%. 

Which of the following statements does not account for wasted energy?

  • Reflection from the external connections and plastic cover

  • Absorption by the the external connections, plastic cover & back plate

  • Absorption by the charges

  • Transmission through the back plate

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