NIOS Class 12 Environmental Science Chapter 34 Renewable Sources of Energy – I

NIOS Class 12 Environmental Science Chapter 34 Renewable Sources of Energy – I Solutions to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse throughout different chapters NIOS Class 12 Environmental Science Chapter 34 Renewable Sources of Energy – I Notes and select need one. NIOS Class 12 Environmental Science Chapter 34 Renewable Sources of Energy – I Question Answers Download PDF. NIOS Study Material of Class 12 Environmental Science Paper Code 333.

NIOS Class 12 Environmental Science Chapter 34 Renewable Sources of Energy – I

Also, you can read the NIOS book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of NIOS All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NIOS Class 12 Environmental Science Chapter 34 Renewable Sources of Energy – I Solutions, NIOS Senior Secondary Course Environmental Science Solutions for All Chapter, You can practice these here.

Renewable Sources of Energy – I

Chapter: 34

Module 8 B: Energy and Environment

Textual Question Answer

INTEXT QUESTIONS 29.1

1. What do you consider sun the single most important natural energy resource? Why?

Ans: Sun is one of the most important natural energy source. All other energy sources are directly derived from the sun. 

2. Give three examples of conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.

Ans: Nuclear energy is NOT a non-conventional renewable source. It is non-conventional but non-renewable. Better to separate it clearly.

3. Give one point of difference between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.

Ans: Conventional sources: Have been used traditionally for a long time (coal, petroleum, natural gas).

Non-conventional sources: Relatively new, developed recently, and not used traditionally (solar, wind, tidal).

4. Differentiate between non-renewable and renewable energy sources.

Ans: Renewable: Can be replenished in a short period (solar, wind, hydropower, biomass).

Non-renewable: Exist in finite reserves, once exhausted cannot be replaced quickly (coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear).

INTEXT QUESTIONS 29.2 

1. Why solar energy is most important renewable type of energy.

Ans: Solar energy is the most important renewable energy because it is most abundantly present, it is present all the time and is everlasting and available free of cost. 

2. Describe the various uses of solar energy.

Ans: Solar energy is used in a passive manner that is directly in drying food and clothes, to evaporate sea water to get salt. Solar cookers use solar energy for cooking, solar energy used directly for heating and lighting buildings. Solar energy used in active way for producing hot water for domestic use. 

3. What are photovoltaic cell and how they work?

Ans: Photovoltaic cell is a solar cell to produce electricity from solar energy. It is a thin wafer like semi conductor. Sunlight energizes and causes electrons to flow in the semi conductor producing an electrical current. 

INTEXT QUESTIONS 29.3 

1. What is the difference between air and wind?

Ans: Moving air is called wind. Uneven absorption of solar radiation by earth’s surface causes a difference of temperatures, density and pressure which produces air movements or wind. 

2. Why wind energy is called indirect solar energy?

Ans: It is the solar energy of sun which causes the kinetic energy of wind. 

3. What is significance of dams in the production of hydroelectricity?

Ans: Dams are built on rivers to store water at a higher level, which is made to fall to rotate turbines that generate electricity. Generation of electricity by using the force of falling water is called hydro electricity.

TERMINAL EXERCISE

1. List the various uses of solar energy and describe the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. 

Ans: Solar energy can be used directly or indirectly. Direct use of sunlight involves its direct capture and using it for heating, cooking, and generating electricity. 

Sunlight is essential for driving the natural processes like the formation of biomass, driving wind and waves, and for obtaining electricity through hydro power plants. These are also the advantages of solar energy. Solar energy is convenient for use, is a renewable energy source, and has a low maintenance cost. 

The disadvantages of solar energy are the initial cost of the installation of solar panels and dependency of sunlight on the weather. The manufacturing of photovoltaic cells involves hazardous material.

2. Why photovoltaic cells are considered to be an ideal solar energy collection device? What are some of their limitations? 

Ans: Photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electrical energy. These are made of a material like silicon and conduct electricity when the electrons of the semiconductor get excited by gaining energy from sunlight. These are used for the lightning purpose as a streetlight, in villages, in domestic lightning, for railway signals, and also, the salty water is desalinated. The installation cost is high and after that the electricity is free of cost.

3. What are the limitations of tidal power as a source of electricity? 

Ans: A dam is built across the entrance of the estuary or bay by creating a reservoir. The dams are opened only when the tides become high, and water is available sufficient to move the turbine. The water then flows through the dam into the reservoir. It turns the turbine blades and electricity is generated. The dams are built for harnessing the tidal power that harms the wildlife and vegetation. The availability of tidal power is variable. Thus, there are fluctuations in the generation of electricity. The tides for generating the energy from tides should have a range of 5 meter or above to it.

4. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hydropower energy. 

Ans: Advantages of hydropower energy are that it is generated by using the force of the falling water. The water is stored on higher levels by building dams. The falling water from the dam helps in movement of turbines thereby generating electricity. Hydropower energy is a cheap and cleaner fuel than the energy generated by nuclear or thermal plants. 

Disadvantages of hydropower energy are that its installation on rivers results in lost habitat and disturbance to most of the animals. The habitation of humans is also disturbed as people are made homeless for the construction of a dam.

5. Which has greater future potential for energy production wind or water power also discuss which one of these you think has more environmental problem? 

Ans: The wind has a greater potential for energy production for future use than water. It is abundant. The flow of wind is required for the movement of turbines to generate electricity. Water energy or hydropower plants create more problems for the environment than wind energy. The habitats of aquatic life are disturbed. The water quality is depleted. Humans’ habitation is also disturbed by the construction of dams on rivers.

6. Discuss why our country is not utilizing the renewable resources at their fullest potential.

Ans: Our country is unable to utilize renewable energy resources to their full potential because sometimes the renewable resources are available in an area that is away from the consumers. The cost of installation of any renewable energy resources is high. There is a lack of systems that keep the grid stable. There is less number of people who would accept the change to accommodate the environment. Renewable energy is dependent on weather conditions. The resources are thus inconsistent.