Energy Sources

Question:

can you give me plzzz information about this listing 1-nuclear energy 2-light energy 3-geothermal energy 4-tidal energy 5-wind energy 6-solar energy 7-wave energy

Answer:

I assume from your list that you want a few words about these items with regard to conversion to usable energy in the form of electricity.

1-nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is stored in the nuclei of atoms in the form of mass. When heavy nuclei break into smaller pieces(fission) or light nuclei combine into heavier ones(fusion), you end up with less mass than there was at the beginning. The difference shows up as energy. In the case of fission we know how to control the reaction so as to capture the energy to boil water, making steam to drive turbine generators. In the case of fusion all we know how to do is release the energy all at once in a nuclear detonation. Not a convenient way to generate usable electricity.

2-light energy
Light, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation, arrives at a surface in the the form of photons, each of which has an amount of energy proportional to the frequency of the radiation. If the surface on which the light falls is a material called photo-voltaic, the energy of the photons is converted to electric energy which may be used to run small appliances.

3-geothermal energy
When the Earth was formed it was very hot. As the surface cooled and solidified it became a thermal insulator which prevented the release of the energy from the material nearer the core. Also natural radioactivity contributes to maintaining the temperature of the Earth's core. By drilling into rock near this molten material some of that heat may be used to generate steam to drive turbine generators.

4-tidal energy
One effect of the gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth and between the Sun and the Earth is a squeezing of the Earth on the sides 90 degrees from the line to the Moon or the Sun. This squeezing depresses the surface of the Earth's oceans in the regions 90 degrees away from the line to the Moon, for example, and produces bulges in the Earth's oceans on the sides facing toward and away from the Moon. As the earth rotates under these bulges and depressed areas, the water level rises and falls. In certain parts of the world where this effect is most prounounced, the rising and falling water may be used to turn a water wheel, driving an electric generator.

5-wind energy
In places where there is a strong steady wind, windmills are a possible means of generating electricity. The blades of the windmill rotate and drive an electric generator. Because there are not many places where the wind is strong and steady enough windmills spend a lot of time not generating power making wind energy is still too expensive to compete with other forms.

6-solar energy
There is a lot of radiation coming from the Sun. This radiation carries energy (See light energy above.). Relatively small amounts of this energy may be captured with photo-voltaic cells and directly converted to electricity. Larger amounts may be captured by an array of mirrors, focusing the energy on a boiler to generate steam to drive a turbine generator.

7-wave energy
The wind passing over large bodies of water cause waves on the water surface. The energy of this rising and falling water may be captured to generate electricity. One scheme for doing this is to use the moving water to force air through a windmill to drive an electric generator.

This information is brought to you by M. Casco Associates, a company dedicated to helping humankind reach the stars through understanding how the universe works. My name is James D. Jones. If I can be of more help, please let me know. JDJ