Category Physics

What are the different types of energy resources available on the Earth?

Along with hydropower and fossil fuels, like crude oil and coal, the Earth has other resources of energy as well. These include the geothermal heat which comes from the depths of the Earth. The heat of the Earth normally comes out on the surface in destructive ways in many volcanic regions, and at other places such as Iceland this heat is released through ‘quiet volcanism’. High temperatures prevail deep inside the Earth’s surface, which can be used to produce energy with the help of geothermal power plants. Energy can also be obtained from plants in the form of biogas or fuel from sugarcane, which is used to run a number of cars in countries like Brazil.

How do geothermal power plants work?

Geothermal power plants convert the thermal energy of the Earth into electricity. This is truly worthwhile in those areas where the upper layers of the Earth have a temperature of more than 100°C, such as Iceland or several parts of Italy. Hot steam at a temperature of over 150°C can be used directly to drive the turbines. Other processes that use the heat of the Earth at a depth of several kilometres are still in the trial stage. In these processes, water is pressed at a high pressure in hot rocky layers, where it heats up in artificially created cracks. From there, it is pumped again to the Earth’s surface by means of a second drill. This heat can be used directly for heating or for generating electricity. 

 

What is biogas?

Biogas is a mixture of gases released when the remains of plants rot in the absence of oxygen. This happens in a natural way in dung heaps, as also in compost plants, garbage dumps, and crops. In large biogas plants, the remains of the plants are decomposed by bacteria in an air-tight tank. The released gas is highly combustible because of its high methane content. The Earth has almost unlimited supply of plant remains, which makes biogas an important source of energy from renewable raw materials. It can be used as gas for heating or for generating electricity. It can also be liquefied easily and used as fuel for vehicles.

 

How is glass manufactured?

Glass mainly consists of lime, soda, and quartz sand. These three components are milled together finely, mixed with one another, and melted at about 1600°C in a furnace. When the molten glass is cooled to l000°C, it can be shaped into different objects. Depending on the intended use, the glass objects are shaped by pressing or drawing the molten glass. The used glass that we collect is also a valuable raw material, as it can be processed to make new glass objects. 

What is porcelain made of?

Porcelain is made of three raw materials: china clay, feldspar, and quartz. They are mixed in a proper ratio to make porcelain mass which is then poured in moulds or processed to make vessels on turntables. The objects are then heated at 900°C for almost 20 hours. Porcelain gets the shiny glaze from alumina, silica, or calcia slurry, and is heated again at 1300°C.

Continue reading “What is porcelain made of?”