NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Sources of Energy [Old Book]

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 10th

aglase .co

Class : 10th
Subject : Science
Chapter : 14
Chapter Name : Sources of Energy

Q1 What is a good source of energy?

Answer. A good source of energy ful�ls the following criteria:
(I) It produces a lot of heat per unit mass.
(II) It does a huge amount of work per unit mass.
(III) It is easily accessible.
(IV) It is easy to store and transport.
(V) It is economical.
(VI) It produces less amount of smoke.

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Q2 What is a good fuel?

Answer. A good fuel produces a huge amount of heat on burning, does not produce a lot
of smoke, and is easily available.

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Q3 If you could use any source of energy for heating your food, which one would you use
and why?

Answer. Natural gas can be used for heating and cooking food because it is a clean source
of energy. It does not produce huge amount of smoke on burning. Although it is highly
in�ammable, it is easy to use, transport, and it produces a huge amount of heat on
burning.

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Q1 What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?

Answer. The disadvantages of fossil fuels are as follows:
(a) Burning of coal and petroleum produces a lot of pollutants causing air pollution.
(b) Fossil fuels release oxides of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, etc. that cause acid rain,

which affects the soil fertility and potable water.
(c) Burning of fossil fuels produce gases such as carbon dioxide that causes global
warming.

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Q2 Why are we looking at alternate sources of energy?

Answer. Fossil fuels, which have been traditionally used by human beings as an energy
sources, are non- renewable sources of energy. These sources of energy are limited and
cannot replenish on their own. They are being consumed at a large rate. If this rate of
consumption continues, then the fossil fuels would be exhausted from the Earth.
Therefore, we have to conserve the energy sources. Hence, we should look for alternate
sources of energy.

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Q3 How has the traditional use of wind and water energy been modi�ed for our
convenience?

Answer. Traditionally, waterfalls were used as a source of potential energy which was
converted to electricity with the help of turbines. Since waterfalls are few in number,
water dams have been constructed in large numbers. Nowadays, hydro-dams are used in
order to harness potential energy of stored water. In water dams, water falls from a
height on the turbine, which produces electricity.
Earlier, the windmills were used to harness wind energy to do mechanical work such as
lifting/drawing water from a well. Today, windmills are used to generate electricity. In
windmills, the kinetic energy of wind is harnessed and converted into electricity. The
rotatory motion of the blades turns the turbine of the electric generator to generate
electricity.

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Q1 What kind of mirror – concave, convex or plain – would be best suited for use in a
solar cooker? Why?

Answer. A solar cooker uses heat of the sunlight to cook and heat food. A mirror is used
in order to re�ect and focus sunlight at a point. A concave mirror is used in a solar cooker
for this purpose. The mirror focuses all the incident sunlight at a point. The temperature
at that point increases, thereby cooking and heating the food placed at that point.

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Q2 What are the limitations of the energy that can be obtained from the oceans?

Answer. The forms of energy that can be obtained from the ocean are tidal energy, wave
energy, and ocean thermal energy. There are several limitations in order to harness these
energies.
(i) Tidal energy depends on the relative positioning of the Earth, moon, and the Sun.
(ii) High dams are required to be built to convert tidal energy into electricity. ,
(iii) Very strong waves are required to obtain electricity from wave energy.
(iv) To harness ocean thermal energy ef�ciently, the difference in the temperature of
surface water (hot) and the water at depth (cold) must be 200C or more.

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Q3 What is geothermal energy?

Answer. Geothermal power plants use heat of the Earth to generate electricity. This heat
energy of the Earth is known as geothermal energy.
When there are geological changes, the molten rocks present in the core of the earth are
pushed to the earth's crust. This forms regions of hot spot. Steam is generated when the
underground water comes in contact with these hot spots forming hot springs. This
trapped steam is used to generate electricity in the geothermal power plants.

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Q4 What are the advantages of nuclear energy?

Answer. The advantages of nuclear energy are as follows:
(a) Large amount of energy is produced per unit mass.
(b) It does not produce smoke. It is a clean energy.
(c) Fission of one atom of uranium produces 10 million times the energy released by
burning of one atom of carbon.
(d) Fusion of four hydrogen atoms produces huge amount of energy approximately equal
to 27 MeV.

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Q1 Can any source of energy be pollution-free? Why or why not?

Answer. No source of energy can be pollution-free. It is considered that solar cells are

pollution- free. However, even their making causes environmental damage indirectly.
Also, in the case of nuclear energy, there is no waste produced after the fusion reactions.
However, it is not totally pollution-free. To start the fusion reactions, approximately 107
K temperature is required, which is provided by �ssion reactions. The wastes released
from �ssion reactions are very hazardous. Hence, no source of energy is pollution-free.

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Q2 Hydrogen has been used as a rocket fuel. Would you consider it a cleaner fuel than
CNG? Why or why not?

Answer. Hydrogen Gas is cleaner than CNG. CNG contains hydrocarbons. Therefore, it
has carbon contents. Carbon is a form of pollutant present in CNG. On the other hand,
hydrogen is waste- free. The fusion of hydrogen does not produce any waste. Hence,
hydrogen is cleaner than CNG.

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Q1 Name two energy sources that you would consider to be renewable. Give reasons for
your choices.

Answer. Two renewable sources of energy are as follows:
(a) Sun: The energy derived from the Sun is known as solar energy. Solar energy is
produced by the fusion of hydrogen into helium, fusion of helium into other heavy
elements, and so on. A large amount of hydrogen and helium is present in the Sun.
Therefore, solar energy can replenish on its own. The Sun has 5 billion years more to
burn. Hence, solar energy is a renewable source of energy.
(b) Wind: Wind energy is derived from air blowing with high speed. Wind energy is
harnessed by windmills in order to generate electricity. Air blows because of uneven
heating of the Earth. Since the heating of the Earth will continue forever, wind energy
Will also be available forever.

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Q2 Give the names of two energy sources that you would consider to be exhaustible. Give
reasons for your choices.

Answer. Two exhaustible energy sources are as follows:
(a) Coal: It is produced from dead remains of plants and animals that remain buried
under the earth's crust for millions of years. It takes millions of years to produce coal.
Industrialization has increased the demand of coal. However, coal cannot replenish

within a short period of time. Hence, it is a nonrenewable or inexhaustible source of
energy.

(b) Wood: It is obtained from forests. Deforestation at a faster rate has caused a
reduction in the number of forests on the Earth. It takes hundreds of years to grow a
forest. If deforestation is continued at this rate, then there would be no wood left on the
Earth. Hence, wood is an inexhaustible source of energy.

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Q1 A solar water heater cannot be used to get hot water on
(a) a sunny day.
(b) a cloudy day.
(c) a hot day.
(d) a windy day.

Answer. (b) A solar water heater uses solar energy to heat water. It requires bright and
intense sunlight to function properly. On a cloudy day, the sunlight re�ects back in the
sky from the clouds and is unable to reach the ground. Therefore, solar energy is not
available for the solar heater to work properly. Hence, solar water heater does not
function on a cloudy day.

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Q2 Which of the following is not an example of a biomass energy source?
(a) wood
(b) gobar-gas
(c) nuclear energy
(d) coal

Answer. (c) Biomass is a source of energy that is obtained from plant materials and
animal wastes. Nuclear energy is released during nuclear �ssion and fusion. In nuclear
�ssion, uranium atom is bombarded with low-energy neutrons. Hence, uranium atom
splits into two relatively lighter nuclei. This reaction produces huge amount of energy. In
nuclear fusion reaction, lighter nuclei are fused together to form a relatively heavier
nuclei. This reaction produces tremendous amount of energy. Hence, nuclear energy is
not an example of biomass energy source. Wood is a plant material, gobar gas is formed
from animal dung, and coal is a fossil fuel obtained from the buried remains of plants
and animals. Hence, these are biomass products.

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Q3 Most of the sources of energy we use represent stored solar energy. Which of the
following is not ultimately derived from the Sun’s energy?
(a) geothermal energy
(b) wind energy
(c) nuclear energy
(d) biomass

Answer. (c) Nuclear energy is released during nuclear �ssion and fusion. In nuclear
�ssion, uranium atom is bombarded with low-energy neutrons. Hence, uranium atom
splits into two relatively lighter nuclei. This reaction produces huge amount of energy. In
nuclear fusion reaction, lighter nuclei are fused together to form a relatively heavier
nuclei. The energy required to fuse the lighter nuclei is provided by �ssion reactions.
This reaction produces tremendous amount of energy. These
reactions can be carried out in the absence or presence of sunlight. There is no effect of
sunlight on these reactions. Hence, nuclear energy is not ultimately derived from Sun's
energy. Geothermal energy, wind energy, and bio-mass are all ultimately derived from
solar energy. Geothermal energy is stored deep inside the earth's crust in the form of
heat energy. The heating is caused by the absorption of atmospheric and oceanic heat. It
is the sunlight that heats the atmosphere and oceans. Wind energy is harnessed from the
blowing of winds. The uneven heating of the earth's surface by the Sun causes wind.
Biomass is derived from dead plants and animal wastes. Chemical changes occur in these
dead plants and animal wastes in the presence of water and sunlight. Hence, biomass is
indirectly related to sunlight.

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Q4 Compare and contrast fossil fuels and the Sun as direct sources of energy.

Answer. Fossil fuels are energy sources, such as coal and petroleum, obtained from
underneath the Earth's crust. They are directly available to human beings for use. Hence,
fossil fuels are the direct source of energy. These are limited in amount. These are non-
renewable sources of energy because these cannot be replenished in nature. Fossil fuels
take millions of years for their formation. If the present fossil fuel of the Earth gets
exhausted, its formation will take several years. Fossil fuels are also very costly. On the
other hand, solar energy is a renewable and direct source of energy. The Sun has been
shining for several years and will do so for the next �ve billion years. Solar energy is
available free of cost to all in unlimited amount. It replenishes in the Sun itself.

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Q5 Compare and contrast biomass and hydroelectricity as sources of energy.

Answer. Biomass and hydro-electricity both are renewable sources of energy. Biomass is
derived from dead plants and animal wastes. Hence, it is naturally replenished. It is the
result of natural processes. Wood, gobar gas, etc. are some of the examples of biomass.
Hydro-electricity, on the other hand, is obtained from the potential energy stored in
water at a height. Energy from it can be produced again and again. It is harnessed from
water and obtained from mechanical processes.

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Q6 What are the limitations of extracting energy from—
(a) the wind?
(b) waves?
(c) tides?

Answer. (a) Wind energy is harnessed by windmills. One of the limitations of extracting
energy from wind is that a windmill requires wind of speed more than 15 km/h to
generate electricity. Also, a large number of windmills are required, which covers a huge
area.
(b) Very strong ocean waves are required in order to extract energy from waves.
(c) Very high tides are required in order to extract energy from tides. Also, occurrence of
tides depends on the relative positions of the Sun, moon, and the Earth.

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Q7 On what basis would you classify energy sources as
(a) renewable and non-renewable?
(b) exhaustible and inexhaustible?
Are the options given in (a) and (b) the same?

Answer. (a) The source of energy that replenishes in nature is known as renewable source
of energy. Sun, wind, moving water, biomass, etc. are some of the examples of renewable
sources of energy. The source of energy that does not replenish in nature is known as
non-renewable source of energy. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, etc. are some of the
examples of non- renewable sources of energy.
(b) Exhaustible sources are those sources of energy, which will deplete and exhaust after
a few hundred years. Coal, petroleum, etc. are the exhaustible sources of energy.
Inexhaustible resources of energy are those sources, which will not exhaust in future.
These are unlimited. Biomass is one of the inexhaustible sources of energy.
Yes. The options given in (a) and (b) are the same.

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Q8 What are the qualities of an ideal source of energy?

Answer. An ideal source of energy must be:
I. Economical
II. Easily accessible
III. Smoke/pollution free
IV. Easy to store and transport
V. Able to produce huge amount of heat and energy on burning

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Q9 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a solar cooker? Are there places
where solar cookers would have limited utility?

Answer. Solar cooker uses Sun's energy to heat and cook food. It is inexhaustible and
clean renewable source of energy. It is free for all and available in unlimited amount.
Hence, operating a solar cooker is not expensive.
Disadvantage of a solar cooker is that it is very expensive. It does not work without
sunlight. Hence, on cloudy day, it becomes useless. The places where the days are too
short or places with cloud covers round the year,have limited utility for solar cooker.

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Q10 What are the environmental consequences of the increasing demand for energy?
What steps would you suggest to reduce energy consumption?

Answer. Industrialization increases the demand for energy. Fossil fuels are easily
accessible sources of energy that ful�l this demand. The increased use of fossil fuels has
a harsh effect on the environment. Too much exploitation of fossil fuels increases the
level of greenhouse gas content in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming and a
rise in the sea level. It is not possible to completely reduce the consumption of fossil
fuels. However, some measures can be taken such as using electrical appliances wisely
and not wasting electricity. Unnecessary usage of water should be avoided. Public
transport system with mass transit must be adopted on a large scale. These small steps
may help in reducing the consumption of natural resources and conserving them.

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