Sources of Energy Class 10 Notes

Energy

Sunlight is Earth’s primary source of energy. Energy is required for various tasks, including cooking, lighting, transportation, powering machinery, and more.

A reliable energy supply needs to be both inexpensive and readily available.

• Affordable and easily accessible
• Easy to store and transport
• No danger of injury during its use
• Do not cause any environmental pollution

These sources of energy class 10 notes will discuss different polluting and non-polluting sources of energy.

Energy

Sunlight is Earth’s primary source of energy. Energy is required for various tasks, including cooking, lighting, transportation, powering machinery, and more.A reliable energy supply needs to be both inexpensive and readily available.

• Affordable and easily accessible
• Easy to store and transport
• No danger of injury during its use
• Do not cause any environmental pollution

These sources of energy class 10 notes will discuss different polluting and non-polluting sources of energy.

Fuel

When burned, any substance that may generate heat and energy is referred to as fuel. Things like wood, coal, etc., are fuels.

Characteristics of a Good Fuel:

• High calorific value
• When burned, it must not emit any smoke
• Low-priced and conveniently accessible
• Simple to manage and secure to transport
• It should be easy to store

Energy Supply Options

Conventional and alternative energy sources are available. Fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum are examples of conventional energy sources. A solar cooker, solar cell panels, and other non-polluting energy sources are non-conventional.

The Use Of Traditional/Conventional Energy Sources

Fossil Fuels

By the decomposition of animal and plant in the Earth’s crust,  fossils get created, and these fuels are obtained. There is a restricted supply of them, and they are not sustainable because they can’t be reused.

These fuels cause pollution. The many oxides produce acid rain, destroying crops, wildlife, buildings, and more. The release of too much carbon dioxide also contributes to the warming of the planet.

It is possible to reduce the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels by improving the efficiency of the combustion process and coming up with different ways to vent the toxic gases produced during combustion.

Thermal Power Plant

The heat from a power plant is converted into electricity at a thermal power plant. The combustion of fossil fuels creates the steam that drives the turbines. The approach aids in the reliable transfer of electricity.

Hydro Power Plants

Dams capture the water from rivers at a high elevation. There is a great deal of latent energy in the stored water.

Electricity is generated when water is allowed to fall from a height, converting potential energy into kinetic energy and spinning turbines.

Advantages:

• Lack of pollution to the natural world
• Electricity generated by moving water is sustainable and renewable.
• Dams stop rivers from flooding and supply irrigation water.

Disadvantages:

• Large swaths of farmland, countless species of wildlife, and entire human communities all drown in the reservoir created by the dam.
• Many ecosystems have been wiped out.
• When plant matter decomposes in the absence of oxygen, as it does in water, a significant amount of the potent greenhouse gas methane is produced.
• The successful reintegration of the displaced becomes an issue.
• Constructing a dam is a very pricey endeavour.
• It’s only possible to dam all rivers.

Biomass

Biomass refers to all of the organic material that has been consumed by plants and trees, as well as the waste products of animals.

1. Wood: It is both a form of biomass and a traditional fuel source.

Disadvantages:

• Creates a great deal of smoke when burned
• Does not generate a lot of heat

Therefore, the efficiency of conventional energy sources can be enhanced by technological means.

2. Charcoal: Charcoal, created from wood, is an excellent alternative fuel. It is created when the wood is burned with limited air, removing water and other volatile substances.

• Due to its increased calorific content, charcoal makes for a more efficient fuel source than wood.
• If you burn it, you won’t have to worry about any smoke.
• Since it is so small, this fuel is quite practical.

3. Bovine excreta:  Cowdung is a source of biomass, but it shouldn’t be burned directly as fuel due to the large amounts of smoke it produces.

• Wastes a lot of energy trying to burn it, and you’re left with a lot of ash
• Provides little calories and is low in fat
• By fermenting cow manure into biogas (also known as gobar gas), we have a clean-burning alternative to charcoal

4. Biogas: It’s the gaseous byproduct of decomposing biomass when oxygen isn’t present.

• Biogas largely consists of methane. Methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulphide make up 75% of biogas.
• Animal manure, sewage, agricultural leftovers, vegetable wastes, chicken droppings, and other organic materials are processed in a biogas plant to create biogas.

Building and Operating a Biogas Plant

The plant’s structure is a brick dome. The mixing tank is used to combine the cow manure and water before being pumped into the digester. There is no air in the digester because it is a closed system. Cow slurry is broken down by anaerobic microbes, which don’t need oxygen, into simpler compounds and gases like methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulphide.

The Benefits of Using Biogas:

• Having a methane content of up to 75%, it makes for a great fuel source (CH4)
• Zero smoke is produced during combustion
• No ash is produced, unlike when burning wood or coal
• The capacity to heat is very high
• Also, it can be used as a source of illumination
• The leftover slurry is high in nitrogen and phosphate and makes for great manure
• Effective and secure garbage disposal options

Wind Energy

• The wind is created when sun rays heat the land and the ocean at different rates.
• The kinetic energy of the wind can be harnessed in a number of ways: as a means of generating electricity (by rotating a turbine’s rotor), pumping water or flour, or doing both.
• However, a single windmill’s production is rather low; thus, many windmills are typically installed across a vast region to create what is known as a wind energy farm.
• There needs to be at least 15 to 20 kilometres per hour of wind for a windmill to be effective as a power generator.

Advantages:

• Eco-friendly
• Renewable energy that can be used effectively
• There are no ongoing costs associated with generating electricity.

Disadvantages”

• Large tracts of land are required for wind farms to be effective.
• Struggle to maintain a consistent wind speed of 15-20 kilometres per hour.
• The initial investment in a wind farm is substantial.
• The windmill’s blades require extensive upkeep.

Using Alternative/Non-Conventional  Energy Methods

Solar power: 

It is the best kind of renewable energy available. Solar energy can be used to power a variety of appliances and tools.

Both the waves on the ocean’s surface and the motion of the water in the tides provide a source of energy for human use. Renewable energy from ocean water is abundant.

A solar cooker is a device that uses sunshine to heat water, food or other liquids with minimal fuel use.

A solar cell is a type of semiconductor device that can convert radiant energy from sunlight into usable electrical current. It is mathematically and scientifically founded.

Geothermal Energy: 

Thermal energy generated from the heat of the Earth’s interior rocks is known as geothermal energy. It’s cost-effective and environmentally friendly. However, it has the drawback of not being widely accessible.

Nuclear Energy: 

Nuclear fission and nuclear fission reactions generate nuclear power. The heavy nucleus of a radioactive atom is split in two during the fission process. Large amounts of energy are released during nuclear fusion, which occurs when two or more heavy nuclei collide.

Repercussions on the Environment

Unfortunately, there is no clean energy option. It’s possible that they contribute to pollution rather than alleviate it. Although solar cells do not pollute, the systems that house them often do.

Conclusion

In these sources of energy class 10 notes, we discussed different polluting and non-polluting sources of energy. All the topics mentioned above will be handy for you in the exams.