Get here the notes/solutions/extras of NBSE Class 10 Social Science Chapter 6 Power Resources. However, the study materials should be used only for references and nothing more. The notes can be modified/changed according to needs.
Summary
Energy is the capacity to do work or produce an activity. Humans use a variety of energy sources to power their activities and machines. These include chemical energy from fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas, as well as renewable sources like hydroelectric power from dams, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind power, tidal power and geothermal energy from the earth’s interior heat.
In rural India, the traditional energy sources are firewood and cow dung cakes. These two provide around 70% of the energy needs in rural households. However, decreasing forest area and the need for cow dung as manure is creating a requirement for alternative energy options in villages.
The energy sources can be classified into two main categories – conventional and non-conventional. Conventional sources include coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectricity and firewood. These have been used for a long time but are non-renewable, cause pollution, and are not eco-friendly. Non-conventional sources like solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and nuclear energy are newer, more abundant and more environmentally friendly.
Coal is the world’s most abundant fossil fuel and one-third of global energy consumption comes from coal. It is formed from compressed ancient plant matter over millions of years. India has large coal reserves and depends heavily on coal for commercial energy needs like power generation and industry. Coal India Limited has been directed to achieve 1 billion tonnes of coal production by 2023-24.
Petroleum or crude oil is another crucial fossil fuel extracted from sedimentary rocks. It is used for fuel, lubricants and as a raw material for making plastics, chemicals etc. The major petroleum producers in India are Mumbai High (63%), Assam (16%) and Gujarat (18%). Oil is refined at refineries to produce petrol, diesel and petrochemicals.
Natural gas is a cleaner gaseous fossil fuel found along with or separate from petroleum. It requires less processing than coal or oil and burns with lower emissions. India’s major natural gas reserves are in Mumbai High, Gujarat, Assam, Krishna-Godavari Basin and the Gulf of Cambay. It is used for energy generation and as an industrial raw material.
Electricity can be generated by hydropower from fast-flowing water (hydro-electricity) or by burning fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas to drive turbines (thermal electricity). Nuclear power is produced by splitting uranium or thorium atoms to release energy. India has uranium and thorium reserves and operates several nuclear power plants.
Non-conventional energy sources are gaining importance due to the limited stock and environmental issues with fossil fuels. Solar energy can be harnessed through solar thermal plants or photovoltaic cells that directly convert sunlight to electricity. India has high solar potential with large solar farms already operational.
Wind power is another clean renewable source that is being rapidly adopted, with large wind farms already set up across several states like Tamil Nadu. Biogas produced by decomposing organic matter like animal waste, farm residue etc. is an excellent domestic fuel, providing both energy and manure through gobar gas plants.
Tidal energy from oceanic tides and geothermal energy from the earth’s internal heat are other emerging options being explored. The Gulf of Kutch area has a large tidal power plant while experimental geothermal plants have been set up in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
With rising consumption, prices and the limited stock of fossil fuels which also cause environmental damage, India needs to aggressively develop renewable and non-conventional energy sources to meet its growing energy demands sustainably. A combination of energy conservation efforts by individuals and widespread adoption of clean energy technologies will be crucial.
The key points are promoting behavioural changes to reduce energy wastage, increasing efficiency of energy use, developing renewable sources through solar/wind/tidal/geothermal/biogas projects, and reducing dependence on polluting and depleting fossil fuel reserves. Through such measures, India can transition to a sustainable path of energy development and consumption.
Textual questions and answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. “In a world increasingly concerned about environmental impact. communities are seeking ways to diversify their energy sources. What is a promising method of energy production that harnesses natural processes and reduces reliance on traditional fossil fuels?
(a) Accelerated drilling for more oil reserves (b) Expansion of coal-based power plants (c) Deployment of nuclear power plants (d) Utilization of non-conventional sources like geothermal and biomass energy.
Answer: (d) Utilization of non-conventional sources like geothermal and biomass energy
2. In rural households, cow dung and firewood are frequently employed as energ sources. What primary purpose do these traditional energy sources serve in meeting the energy needs of rural communities?
(a) To accelerate the shift towards modern energy infrastructure. (b) To minimize the dependency on renewable energy sources. (c) To contribute to environmental degradation in rural areas. (d) To fulfill energy requirements due to their accessibility and ease of use.
Answer: (d) To fulfill energy requirements due to their accessibility and ease of use.
3. Which of the following is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India?
(a) Petroleum (b) Coal (c) Firewood (d) Biogas
Answer: (b) Coal
4. Read the following statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose one of the correct alternatives given below.
Assertion (A): Natural gas is considered a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal and oil.
Reason (R): Natural gas releases fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants when burned, leading to lower environmental impacts.
(a) Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is a correct explana tion of the Assertion. (b) Both the Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is NOT a correct explanation of the Assertion. (c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false. (d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer: (a) Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is a correct explanation of the Assertion.
Very Short Answer Questions
1. Where is the largest solar power plant located in India?
Answer: The largest solar plant of India is located at Madhapur near Bhuj.
2. What is biogas?
Answer: A gas is produced when organic matter decomposes. This gas has higher thermal efficiency when compared to charcoal, kerosene, and cow dung.
Short Answer Questions
1. Why are thermal power plants located near coalfields?
Answer: Coal is a heavy and bulky material, but after use (i.e., burning), it becomes ash. Hence, if heavy industries or thermal power stations are located on or near the coalfields, the cost and problems of transportation of this fuel become almost negligible. It is for this reason that heavy industries and thermal power stations are located in or near the coalfields.
2. Why is petroleum refineries termed as ‘nodal industries’?
Answer: On account of the various by-products obtained during the refining process, petroleum refineries serve as ‘nodal industries’ for chemical, fertilizer, and synthetic textile industries.
Long Answer Questions
1. What is natural gas? Where is it extracted in India?
Answer: Natural gas is a clean energy resource found associated with or without petroleum. Natural gas can be extracted easily by drilling wells. More than three-fourths of the production comes from Mumbai High, 10 percent from Gujarat, 7 percent from Assam, and the remaining from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and Rajasthan.
Large reserves of natural gas have been discovered in Krishna-Godavari Basin and Gulf of Cambay. Andaman and Nicobar Islands also have reserves of natural gas.
2. Distinguish between hydro-electricity and thermal electricity.
Answer: Hydro-electricity is generated by fast-flowing water. A renewable resource is used to produce this electricity. Multipurpose projects like the Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley Corporation, Kopili Hydel Project, etc., produce this kind of electricity.
On the other hand, thermal electricity is generated by using coal, petroleum, and natural gas to drive turbines and produce thermal power. A non-renewable fossil fuel is used to produce this electricity. There are over 310 thermal power plants in India, e.g., Loktak, Santhaldih, Talcher, Neyveli, Ukai, Dhuvaram, etc.
3. ‘Biogas is considered as an ideal domestic fuel.’ Give four reasons in support of the statement.
Answer: Four reasons supporting biogas as an ideal domestic fuel:
- It has higher thermal efficiency compared to charcoal, kerosene, and cow dung.
- Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are utilized to produce biogas for domestic consumption in rural areas.
- Gobar gas plants use cow dung and give twin benefits to farmers – energy and manure.
- Such plants are set up at individual, cooperative, and municipal levels.
4. Differentiate between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.
Answer: Conventional sources: These energy sources have been in use for a long time, e.g., coal, petroleum, etc. Such sources are non-renewable, limited, create pollution, and are not eco-friendly.
Non-conventional sources: Sources of energy which are new, e.g., wind, sun, tide. These sources are abundant and eco-friendly.
5. How is petroleum an important source of both energy and raw material?
Answer: Petroleum is an important source of energy and raw material as:
- On account of the various by-products obtained during the refining process, petroleum refineries serve as ‘nodal industry’ for chemical, fertiliser and synthetic textile industries.
- It is a fuel obtained from sedimentary rocks that emits very little smoke, leaves no ash, and can be used to the last drop.
- It provides fuel for heating, lighting, running machinery and vehicles, lubricants for machinery, and raw materials for manufacturing different products such as plastics and chemicals.
- The demand for petroleum and petroleum products has increased in recent years.
Extra MCQs
1. What are the two traditional sources of energy used in rural India?
A. Coal and natural gas B. Petroleum and electricity C. Firewood and cow dung cake D. Solar energy and biogas
Answer: C. Firewood and cow dung cake
2. Which of the following is a non-conventional source of energy?
A. Coal B. Petroleum C. Solar energy D. Natural gas
Answer: C. Solar energy
3. What is the percentage of energy contribution from firewood and cow dung cake in rural households?
A. 50% B. 60% C. 70% D. 80%
Answer: C. 70%
4. What is the first step in the coal-making process?
A. Formation of lignite B. Formation of bituminous coal C. Formation of anthracite coal D. Formation of peat
Answer: D. Formation of peat
5. Which of the following is the world’s most abundant fossil fuel?
A. Petroleum B. Natural gas C. Coal D. Firewood
Answer: C. Coal
49. Which of the following is a factor contributing to the need for alternative energy sources in rural India?
A. Decreasing forest area B. Requirement of dung for manures C. Both A and B D. None of the above
Answer: C. Both A and B
50. Which of the following is a reason for promoting the use of renewable energy sources?
A. To reduce dependency on fossil fuels B. To mitigate environmental impacts C. To ensure energy security D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Extra questions and answers
1. What percentage of energy required in rural households of India is provided by firewood and cow dung cake?
Answer: It is estimated that firewood and cow dung cake provide 70 per cent of the energy required in the rural households.
2. What is the role of coal in the production of chemical products?
Answer: In addition to supplying fuel, coal is used in the production of many chemical products, including medicines and pesticides.
3. What is the importance of petroleum refineries in the industrial sector?
Answer: On account of the various by-products obtained during the refining process, petroleum refineries serve as ‘nodal industry’ for chemical, fertiliser and synthetic textile industries.
4. Explain the process of coal formation.
Answer: Coal is created from decaying plant materials compressed over millions of years to form a solid mass of almost pure carbon. It is the world’s most abundant fossil fuel. This fossil fuel is found in a variety of forms, depending on the degree of compression and the depth and time of burial.
The formation of peat was the first step in the coal-making process. Over time, the peat was compacted beneath other deposits. Water was squeezed out of the peat, and methane was expelled into the atmosphere. Over thousands of years, continued burial and compression caused the peat to change into different grades of coal – lignite, bituminous, and anthracite.
39. How is biogas produced and utilized in rural areas?
Answer: Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste is utilized to produce biogas for domestic consumption in rural areas. Gobar gas plants use cow dung and give twin benefits to the farmers – energy and manure.
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