Sek Men Sains Muzaffar Syah

8.5

Electricity is generated in power stations, transmitted (sent) through long-distance cables,

and then distributed to consumers.

 Renewable energy sources : an energy resource that is continually

List
replaced and will not run out.
sources of
energy  Non-renewable sources: an energy resource that cannot be
used to replaced once it has been used.
generated
electricity
Renewable energy Non-renewable energy

Describe 1. Electricity is produces using generators

the various 2. A generator has a huge magnet that is turned by a turbine.
ways of 3. As the magnet turns inside a coil of wire, electricity is produced by
generating electromagnetic induction.
electricity 4. Many sources of energy are used to turn these turbines.

1. Coal is burned and the heat energy is used to produce high pressure
Coal-fired steam.
power station 2. The steam produced is used to drive the generators to produce
electricity.
3. The energy changes: chemical energy to heat energy to kinetic energy to
electric energy

Gas-fired power 1. The burning of natural gas produces high pressure steam that is used to
station drive turbines.
2. The energy changes: chemical energy to heat energy to kinetic energy to
electric energy

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1. A huge dam is built across rivers to contain water.

2. When the water in the dam is allowed to flow down to a lower level, the
Hydro-electric kinetic energy of the moving water is used to drive water turbines, which
power station in turn drive the generators to produce electricity.
3. The energy changes: potential energy to kinetic energy to electric
energy

1. Energy from nuclear fission (splitting of uranium 235 atoms) is used to

Nuclear power
produce high pressure steam to drive turbines
station 2. The energy changes: nuclear energy to heat energy to kinetic energy to
electric energy

1. Biomass includes rotting plants and agricultural wastes such as oil palm
Biomass kernels and household sewage that are used to produce methane gas
and alcohol.
2. Heat energy from the burning of biomass is used to generate electricity

1. Solar energy originates from the sun

Solar 2. Solar cells use sun energy to generate small electrical energy to power
calculators.
3. Solar panels use sun energy to generate heat energy to heat water at
home.

Wind generator

1. High speed wind can be used to turn the blades of large windmills which
will in turn drive generators to produce electricity.

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 Electrical energy is transmitted from power station to the consumer using

Describe the long transmission cables or power lines.
transmission  Electrical energy is transmitted at a ________ voltage and use
of electricity ______________ current.
 A step-up transformer which __________ the voltage to as high as
110,000 or 132, 000 V.
 Step-down transformers are used to ___________ the voltage before
being delivered to the consumers.
 The long tick cables used as transmission lines are made of copper or
aluminium

 The heating effect due to the ____________ of the cables causes loss of
Describe the electrical energy as heat energy.
energy loss  When a current flows in a cable, the power loss, P through heating is
2
in electricity P = I R where R is the resistance of the cable.
transmission
cables  The power loss can be reduced by
deduce the (a) reducing the resistance of the cables
advantage of (b) reducing the current in the cables
high voltage
transmission  In order to reduce resistance of the cables, a thick cable is used eg
copper or aluminium. But thick cables are very expensive to install and
will be too heavy to be supported securely.

 The loss of power in the transmissions of electricity is reduced by

reducing the current in the cables.
 The power to be transmitted by the cables is
P = VI where I = current in the cables,
V = voltage of the cables.
P
 The current in the cables:
I
V
 This means that the current in the cables is inversely proportional to the
voltage of the cables for a certain value of power transmission.
 When power is transmitted at lower voltage, the current in the cables is
large.
 The greater the current in the cables, the greater the power loss.

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Activity 1: Solve problems involving electricity transmission

1. Find the power loss in a transmission

cable when 20 kW is transmitted
through a cable of 1.5 Ω
(i) at a voltage of 200 V
(ii) at a voltage of 10 kV.

What is the effect of the energy losses

in case (i) and (ii)?

2. Electric power is transmitted from a

power station to a town by a
transmission cables with a total
resistance of 50 Ω. If the power
station generates 8 MW of power,
calculate the power loss in the cables
if power is transmitted
(a) at 80 kV
(b) at 400 kV

Transmission issues

Alternating current, a.c  An alternating current is used in the transmission of electrical

energy at a high voltage because its voltage can be easily
increased or decreased with transformers.
 A transformer cannot function with a direct current.
High voltage or low Electrical power is transmitted at a high voltage so that
voltage?  The current in the cables is smaller
 The loss of power due to heating of the cables is minimized.
Overhead or  High voltage cables are the cheapest way of sending power over
underground? long distances.
 However, to prevent sparking, the only effective way of insulating
the cables is to keep huge air spaces around them
 The cable have to be suspended from pylons.
Cost of cables  Copper cables have low resistance but are of high cost
 Aluminium cables are usually used as they are light, have low
resistance and cost less.
Charge leakage between  To prevent charge leakage, the aluminium cables are supported by
the cables and the earth high metal pylons.
 The metal support of the pylon is earthed so that it is safe to
workers and the public who come into contact with them.
Danger of being struck  The pylons carry lightning conductors that are properly fixed into
by lightning the ground
 The cables are properly fixed with porcelain support so that the
cables do not touch the pylons.
Danger of being struck  Lights and special markers must be attached to the pylons.
by light aircraft
Theft  Stricter laws should be enforced to deter thieves from stealing the
aluminium cables.

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State the importance of the National Grid Network

National Grid Network

The National Grid Network is a network of

transmissions lines which link all the major power
stations in the country with all the major users such
as our homes, offices, cities and factories.
Electrical energy generated in power stations where
its voltage is increased by using a step-up
transformer to reduce energy loss in the cable before
transmission via the national grid.
At a sub-stations, before reaching the various
consumers , the high voltage is reduced by using
step-down transformer.

Advantages of the National Grid Network

1. Easy to manage.
Regional control and switching centres enable power to be sent where and when it is needed.
2. Less interruptions and continuously
Regional control and switching centres allow some stations and lines to be shut down for
maintenance work without cutting off the consumers.
3. Reducing cost of generation
High voltage transmission can reduce the power loss in transmission cables. The cost of
production is reduced.
4. Easy to control and regulate
At peak periods of electricity usage , more generators can be switched on. During periods of
low demand ,some generators can be turned off.

 Non-renewable sources of energy such as crude oil, coal and natural gases
Explain the
are fast depleting. Alternatives must be found to replace such sources to
importance
ensure continuous supply of power in the future.
of
 Renewable energy sources are those which originate from the sun or the
renewable
earth and will last as long as the Solar System itself.
energy
 From the sun: solar panels, solar cells, biomass, wind and wave energy,
hydroelectric power
 From the earth: geothermal energy, energy from the tides.
 Renewable sources of energy do not pollute the environment.
 For renewable sources of energy to be widely used, many hurdles must be
overcomed, especially those related to the economical production and
distribution of power generated from such sources.

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Explain the effects on the environment caused by the use of various sources to generate
electricity.

Energy Advantages Disadvantages

resource
Hydro  Renewable energy  Building of dams can upset the
 Water is freely available in large balance of the ecosystem
quantities  Not suitable in areas where
 Clean and does not pollute the natural disasters such as
environment earthquakes may occur
 Water stored in dams can be used  Not suitable in flat and dry
to irrigate farms regions.
 Dams can be used to control floods
 Dams can be promoted as
recreational centre
Oil and  At present it is still available in large  Non-renewable energy
natural gas quantities  Discharges harmful gases that
 Can be transported to the location can pollute the environment
where it is to be used  High cost

Solar  Renewable energy  Requires very large space to

 Freely available
 Clean and no pollution
Coal  Plenty of resources available for up
to 200 years
 Can be transported to the location
where it is to be used
Nuclear  A small amount uranium can
release a large quantity of energy
 Minimum discharge of carbon
dioxide
 Reactor in nuclear power stations
can be used to produce useful
radioisotopes to be used in
industry, medicine and agriculture
Biomass  Renewable energy
 Reduces problem of disposal of
organic waste
Wind  Renewable energy
 Clean and does not pollute
environment
collect sufficient energy
 Lower efficiency in the generation
of electricity
 Intensity of sunlight is dependent
of seasonal changes, climate and
latitude of the region.
 High cost
 Non-renewable energy
 Discharges harmful gases that
can pollute the environment
 High cost of building
 Waste in the form of used fuel
rods which are very hot and
highly radioactive
 Hot water discharged causes
thermal pollution to the
environment
 Risk of accidents which may lead
to the leakage of large amounts of
radioactive substances to the
environment.
 Requires large storage space far
from human population if the
biomass is animal dung or
sewage.
 Requires many windmills which
cover a larger area
 Generates high level of noise

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TUTORIAL 8.5 C The voltage of alternating current

can be changed by alternating
1. The diagram shows how electricity from current
power stations reaches our homes.
5. Diagram below shows a model of the
transmission of electrical energy and
includes three identical bulbs, P, Q and
R.

The electric current used in X and Y ……

A must be d.c.
B must be a.c.
C can be either a.c. or d.c.
D must be d.c. at X and a.c. at Y

2. The diagram shows a model of Which comparison of the brightness of

transmission of electricity . the bulbs is correct? (2007)

P Q R
A Brightest Brighter Bright
B Bright Brighter Brightest
C Brighter Brightest Bright
D Brightest Bright Brighter
What is the type of transformer at P and
Q?
P Q 6. Diagram 26 shows a system for the
A Step-up Step-up transmission of electricity.
transformer transformer
B Step-down Step-up
transformer transformer
C Step-up Step-down
transformer transformer
D Step-down Step-down
transformer transformer

3. The function of a transformer in an

electrical energy transmission system is Which arrangement of transformers is
to … (2006) correct? (2008)
A increase the power
B reduce the resistance Transformer Transformer Transformer
C change the potential difference X Y Z
D speed up the time of transmission A Step down Step up Step down
B Step up Step down Step up
4. Which of the following is the reason why C Step up Step down Step down
is the alternating current is used to D Step down Step up Step up
transmits the electricity power from a
station?
A The electrical power only can be
generated in form of alternating
current
B All electrical appliances in the
house use alternating current.

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7. The diagram shows part of a
hydroelectric power station.
8. The figure shows the stages by which
the heat is transferred into electrical
energy.
(a) Complete the diagram by filling in the
missing word.

(b) A fuel burning power station uses

(a) State the changes in energy that 2000 J of fuel energy to generate
occur during the generation of 600 J of electrical energy. The rest
electricity power in the hydroelectric is wasted as heat. Calculate the
power station. efficiency of the power station.

_______________________________

_______________________________
(c) List A gives three energy resources
3 -1
(b) Given that 0.5 m s of water flows used to generate electricity.
List B gives environmental problems
down the pipe.
-3
[ Density of water = 1 000 kgm ] that may caused by using different
Determine the power delivered to energy resources.
the water-turbine, assuming that no Draw a straight line from each
energy is lost in the pipe. energy resource in List A to the
environmental problem it may cause
in List B. Draw three lines only.
(c) State two advantages of using
hydroelectric power compared the List A List B
fuel power. Energy Environmental
resource problem that
may be caused
_______________________________

_______________________________ Wind Destroy flora

and fauna
_______________________________
Oil Produces
a lot of
noise
Hydropower Produces
radioactive
radiation

Acid rain

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9. SPM 2005 Section C

(a) Most of our electrical energy comes Number Type of Material of
from hydroelectric power stations and
of turns transformer transmission
thermal power stations. These power
stations are connected by cables to of the coil Core line
transmit electricity to users in
industries, offices, schools and houses. 1 200 Solid Constantan
This system is called the national grid 1 000 cuprum core
network. 500 Copper
400 Laminated
(i) State the transformations of energy 160 cuprum core Aluminium
in a hydroelectric power station. 120
Solid soft Nichrome
(ii) Explain briefly the importance of the
iron core
national grid network system in
distributing electrical energy to the
users. Laminated
Soft iron
core
(b) The Figure shows how a model of an
electric transmission system can be set Using the information in the Figure and
up in a laboratory. The model consists of Table above determine:
a power station that generates 12 V of (i) the number of turns in the
alternating current (a.c) that transmits primary coil and the secondary
the electrical energy to the users using coil of transformers P,Q and R
transmission wires and transformers P,Q and show your working.
and R. (ii) the type of core you will use in
all the transformers and justify
your choice.
(iii) the material you will use for the
transmission wire and justify
your choice.

(c) If the resistance of the transmission

wires between transformers P and Q
in the model at Diagram above is 30
Ω, calculate:
(i) the current that flows in
the transmission wire.
You are required to set up a model as in (ii) The power loss due to the
the Figure above, using the information heating effect of the
in the following table. current in the
transmission wire.

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