Physics X - Chapter 14: Sources of Energy
Practice Sources of Energy MCQs for Class 10. Learn renewable, non-renewable energy, solar, wind, and thermal energy resources.
Quick Revision : Sources of Energy
- Good Source of Energy: Does large work per unit mass, easily accessible, easy to store/transport, economical.
- Fossil Fuels: Coal, petroleum, natural gas; non-renewable, cause air pollution & greenhouse effect.
- Thermal Power Plant: Burns fossil fuel → heats water → steam → turbine → electricity.
- Hydroelectric Plant: Potential energy of stored water → kinetic → turbine → electricity; renewable but causes ecological issues.
- Biomass: Plant/animal material; wood, cow dung, crop residue; can be converted to biogas.
- Biogas (Gobar Gas): Anaerobic digestion of biomass; contains ~75% methane; burns smokeless, leaves nutrient-rich slurry.
- Wind Energy: Kinetic energy of wind → windmill blades → turbine → electricity; needs wind speed >15 km/h, wind farms.
- Solar Energy: Sun’s radiation; used in solar cookers (greenhouse effect), water heaters, solar cells (photovoltaic).
- Solar Cell: Converts sunlight directly to electricity; made of silicon; no moving parts, low maintenance.
- Tidal Energy: Uses gravitational pull of moon on seawater; dams built across narrow openings.
- Wave Energy: Harnesses kinetic energy of sea waves.
- Ocean Thermal Energy (OTEC): Uses temperature difference (≥20°C) between surface & deep water.
- Geothermal Energy: Heat from Earth’s interior; hot springs/geysers; limited viable sites.
- Nuclear Fission: Heavy nucleus (U-235) splits → releases huge energy; used in nuclear reactors; radioactive waste issue.
- Nuclear Fusion: Light nuclei fuse (e.g., hydrogen → helium); occurs in sun; requires extreme T & P.
- Renewable Sources: Solar, wind, biomass, hydro, tidal, geothermal (inexhaustible).
- Non-renewable Sources: Fossil fuels, nuclear (uranium) (exhaustible).
- Solar Constant: ~1.4 kW/m²; solar energy reaching Earth’s outer atmosphere.
- Energy Density: Nuclear > Fossil fuels > Biomass.
- Environmental Impact: Fossil fuels pollute; large dams displace people; nuclear waste hazardous; renewables cleaner.
Basic Level Questions
Chapter Summary : Sources of Energy
Sources of Energy, explores how we power our world—from traditional fossil fuels to futuristic nuclear fusion. It explains why we need to shift from exhaustible, polluting sources to renewable, cleaner alternatives, and evaluates each energy option based on efficiency, accessibility, cost, and environmental impact. This chapter connects physics, chemistry, and environmental science to help you understand the energy choices that shape our present and future.
You’ll learn to classify energy sources as conventional (fossil fuels, hydro) and non-conventional (solar, wind, biogas), renewable and non-renewable. You’ll understand how electricity is generated in thermal, hydro, and nuclear plants, and how simpler technologies like solar cookers, biogas plants, and windmills work. The chapter covers key concepts like the greenhouse effect in solar cookers, anaerobic digestion in biogas production, and the science behind nuclear fission and fusion. Numerical problems on energy calculation, efficiency, and power output are also included, giving you a practical grasp of energy quantification.
Our platform breaks down this comprehensive chapter into bite-sized, exam-focused learning. We provide a structured set of MCQs—from basic classification to advanced numerical and comparative analysis—that cover every NCERT concept. By practicing here, you reinforce definitions, understand working principles, and solve efficiency calculations quickly. This targeted practice builds conceptual clarity, improves answer accuracy, and prepares you to excel in board exams and beyond by turning energy concepts into scoring opportunities.