Morning Star Textbook Solutions Conventional Sources of Energy - Geography

Choose the correct option 

Q9: The Neyveli Lignite coal field in________ is the largest lignite deposit field in South India.
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Telangana
(c) Puducherry
(d) Tamil Nadu
Ans: (d)

Answer the following questions 

Q1(a): What is meant by conventional sources of energy? Name any two conventional sources of energy.
Ans: Conventional sources of energy refer to energy types that have been utilized for long periods by humans and continue to be widely used today.

• Examples of conventional sources include:
• Coal
• Petroleum
• Natural Gas
• Hydel Power

Q1(b): Name two main coal bearing areas in India.
Ans: Two significant coal-bearing regions in India are:

• Raniganj in West Bengal
• Jharia in Jharkhand

Q1(c): Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Anthracite is used for domestic purposes.
(ii) Oil refineries are located close to oilfields or near ports.
(iii) The location of coalfields is an important factor in industrial development.
Ans: 
(i) Anthracite is chosen for domestic use due to its smokeless burning properties and high calorific value, making it suitable for heating and cooking.
(ii) Oil refineries are strategically positioned near oilfields or ports to reduce transportation costs and mitigate risks associated with transporting inflammable oil across the country.
(iii) The placement of coalfields significantly influences industrial growth since coal serves as a primary energy source for many industries, and its bulkiness makes transportation challenging.

Q1(d): (i) Name the varieties of coal found in India.
(ii) Give a characteristic of each type of coal.
Ans: 
(i) The varieties of coal found in India include:

• Anthracite
• Bituminous
• Lignite
• Peat

(ii) Characteristics of each coal type:

• Anthracite Coal: It is shiny, lustrous, and almost jet black in color.
• Bituminous Coal: It is hard, black, and compact, constituting about 80% of global coal output.
• Lignite Coal: Contains around 40% carbon with significant moisture content and less combustible matter.
• Peat Coal: It has the lowest carbon content among coals and is considered inferior to the other three types.

Q2(a): How is Gondwana coalfield different from tertiary coalfield in terms of location and quality?
Ans: 

Q2(b): Name the coalfield that is oldest and one that is largest in India.
Ans: The oldest coalfield in India is located in Raniganj, West Bengal, while the largest coalfield is in Jharia, Jharkhand.

Q2(c): Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Petroleum is called 'liquid gold'.
(ii) Natural gas is a fossil fuel.
(iii) CNG is an eco-friendly fuel.
Ans: 
(i) Petroleum is termed 'liquid gold' due to its invaluable nature; nearly all crude petroleum is utilized with minimal waste.
(ii) Natural gas is classified as a fossil fuel because it originates from the decomposition of ancient organic matter buried under layers of earth.
(iii) CNG is considered an eco-friendly fuel since it produces fewer emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels, leading to reduced environmental impact.

Q2(d): (i) State two advantages of coal as a source of power.
(ii) Where is the oldest oilfield located in India?
Ans: 

(i) Advantages of coal as a power source include:

• Energy generated from coal-fired plants is often more economical than other energy sources.
• Coal is straightforward to ignite and yields substantial energy upon combustion.

(ii) The oldest oilfield in India is the Digboi oilfield, located in the Tinsukhia district of Assam.

Q3(a): What is Natural Gas? Name two variants of natural gas.
Ans: Natural gas is a fossil fuel found alongside mineral oil, primarily composed of methane, along with smaller amounts of propane and ethane.
Two variants of natural gas include:

• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

Q3(b): Where is natural gas found in India? Name two coastal and two inland oil-refineries in India.
Ans:  The majority of India's natural gas is sourced from the Mumbai High region. Additional production occurs in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Tripura.

Coastal oil-refineries in India include:

• Haldia Refinery - Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Haldia, West Bengal
• Visakhapatnam Refinery - Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Inland oil-refineries include:

• Bina Refinery - Bharat Oman Refineries Limited in Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
• Panipat Refinery - Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Panipat, Haryana.

Q3(c): (i) Why do the natural gas deposits mostly accompany oil deposits?
(ii) What is added to domestic gas cylinders, which gives a foul smell? Why?
Ans: 
(i) Natural gas deposits are often found alongside oil deposits due to their formation process, which involves the decomposition of organic material under heat and pressure over millions of years.
(ii) Ethyl mercaptan, a compound that emits a foul odor, is added to domestic gas cylinders to help detect leaks, as natural gas is odorless otherwise.

Q3(d): Give two advantages and one disadvantage of natural gas.
Ans: 
Advantages of natural gas include:

• It is a cleaner and more cost-effective fuel compared to diesel or gasoline.
• Natural gas is considered an eco-friendly option due to lower emissions.

A disadvantage of natural gas is that leaks can be difficult to detect, posing significant safety risks.

Q4(a): Name one important area that has large coal deposits in:
(i) Jharkhand
(ii) West Bengal
Ans: 
(i) Jharia has large coal deposits in Jharkhand.
(ii) Raniganj has large coal deposits in West Bengal.

Q4(b): State any one disadvantage of coal found in India.
Ans: One disadvantage of coal in India is that it has a relatively low calorific value, making it less efficient compared to other energy sources.

Q4(c): (i) Name two states that have deposits of the Gondwana coal.
(ii) Name two industries that use large quantity of coal.
Ans: 
(i) Jharkhand and Odisha have deposits of Gondwana coal.
(ii) Industries that consume significant amounts of coal include:

• Iron and Steel industries
• Thermal energy power plants

Q4(d): (i) Which state is the largest producer of mineral oil?
(ii) Mention any two advantages of hydel power.
Ans: 
(i) Assam is the largest producer of mineral oil in India.
(ii) Advantages of hydel power include:

• It is a clean and non-polluting source of energy.
• It does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, helping to combat global warming.

Q5(a): Why does India have to import oil?
Ans: India imports oil to fulfill its growing industrial and domestic energy demands.

Q5(b): Name one refinery which belongs to the private sector and one in the public sector.
Ans: The Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat is a private sector refinery, while the Guwahati Refinery in Assam belongs to the public sector.

Q5(c): Name the two coastal oil-refineries, one on the west coast of India and the other on the east coast of India. Name one inland oil refinery. List the sources of crude oil for these refineries.
Ans: Below are the oil-refineries along with their location and source of crude oil:

1. Oil refinery - Trombay refinery in Maharashtra
   Location - West coast of India
   Source of crude oil - Ankleshwar fields
2. Oil refinery - Visakhapatnam Refinery in Andhra Pradesh
   Location - East coast of India
   Source of crude oil - Tatipaka field
3. Oil refinery - Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh
   Location - Inland oil refinery
   Source of crude oil - Mumbai High

Q5(d): Where are the deposits of Petroleum normally located? Give two uses of Petroleum besides being used as a fuel.
Ans: Petroleum is normally found in underground reservoirs in sedimentary rock formations like sandstone, shale and limestone. The entire production of India comes from the Assam-Arakan belt, the Gujarat-Cambay belt and the Mumbai High offshore zone.

Two uses of Petroleum besides being used as a fuel are-

• Petroleum after refining is used as raw material for the production of various petrochemical products like synthetic rubber, synthetic fibre, polysterene, PVC, phenol, gasoline etc.
• It is used for power generation.

Q6(a): Name four products that are obtained during the refining process of petroleum.
Ans:  Four products that are obtained during the refining process of petroleum are-

• Petrol
• Diesel
• Kerosene
• Tar

Q6(b): State any two advantages of using petroleum as a source of power.
Ans: Two advantages of using petroleum as a source of power are-

• It is a stable energy source.
• It is a high density fuel.

Q6(c): State any three disadvantages of using petroleum.
Ans: Three disadvantages of using petroleum are-

• Petroleum is a natural fossil fuel and non-renewable.
• Extracting and burning petroleum generates greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and environmental pollution.
• It is expensive because of its limited supply and high demand.

Q6(d): State any three disadvantages of hydel power.
Ans: Three disadvantages of hydel power are-

• The cost of building dams for producing hydroelectricity is quite high.
• Building a large dam alters the natural water table level.
• Building dams displaces many people from the area and disturbs their life physically, mentally and psychologically.

Q7(a): Where is Mumbai High? What is Sagar Samrat?
Ans: In Maharashtra, about 176 km off Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, there is a huge oil deposit known as Mumbai High.
The syncline of the rock structure in which oil has been struck is higher than the normal height and oil is taken from the depth of over 1,400 m with the help of a specially designed platform known as 'Sagar Samrat'. It is a self propelled jack-up type of drilling platform.

Q7(b): Why is coal often used near the source of its mining whereas mineral oil is transported to great distances?
Ans: Coal is a bulky material and its transportation is difficult and costly. Secondly, coal is not a hard but a soft mineral. If not transported in a proper way, it may get crushed and reduced to ash. This results in reduction of the weight of coal. Hence it is used near the source of mining.
Oil is transported to greater distances through pipelines which is a cheaper and easier means of transport.

Q7(c): Name the region in which India's main coalfields are located. What is the quality of coal found here? What are its uses?
Ans: The Gondwana coalfields are the largest in India as it accounts for 98% of the total reserves of coal in India. Gondwana coal fields are located in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. These coal fields accounts for four-fifth of India's coal reserves.
Gondwana coal is mainly of bituminous quality. It is almost free from moisture and contains sulphur and phosphorus in small variable quantities.
Gondwana coal is used to produce coke, coal gas and steam coal.

Q7(d): State three advantages of dams.
Ans: Three advantages of dams are-

• Dams built to produce hydroelectricity help to save and restore water.
• Dams provide water for irrigation.
• Dams prevent flooding.

Q8(a): What is meant by hydel power?
Ans: Electricity generated from water is called hydel power.

Q8(b): With reference to the Bhakra Nangal Dam, answer the following:
(i) Name the river on which it has been constructed.
(ii) Name two states that benefit from this project.
Ans:
(i) Bhakra Nangal dam has been constructed on the river Sutlej.
(ii) Punjab and Himachal Pradesh benefit from this project.

Q8(c): (i) On which river is Hirakud Dam located?
(ii) Give any two uses of this dam.
Ans:
(i) Hirakud dam is built across Mahanadi river.
(ii) Two uses of this dam are-

• It regulates the flow of the Mahanadi river and produces hydroelectricity through several hydroelectric plants.
• The dam helps control floods in the mahanadi delta and irrigates 75,000 sq km of land.

Q8(d): State three disadvantages of building a big dam.
Ans: Three disadvantages of building a big dam are-

• The cost of building dams for producing hydroelectricity is quite high.
• Building a large dam alters the natural water table level.
• It can cause serious geological damage like triggering earthquakes in the area.

Thinking Skills

Q1: Suppose you are involved in the printing industry. Which conventional source of energy you would be using and for what? How is this resource affecting the lives of people in India?
Ans: In the printing industry, the conventional source of energy typically used is electricity. It powers the printing press, printers, cutting machines, and other equipment necessary for the printing process.

Electricity affects the lives of people in India in the following ways:

• Employment - It sustains jobs and livelihoods for workers involved in printing-related tasks, contributing to employment opportunities in India.
• Economic growth - When printing companies operate efficiently, it supports other sectors such as publishing, packaging, advertising, and education. This fosters economic growth and contributes to the overall development of India.
• Access to printed materials - Electricity-powered printing ensures access to printed materials that are crucial for education, information dissemination, entertainment and cultural preservation.
• Communication - Reliable electricity supply enables the production of newspapers and magazines, serving as important sources of news and information for people across India.
• Advertising and marketing - Electricity powers the production of marketing materials such as banners, brochures, and flyers, which is essential for advertising and marketing activities.
• Environmental impact - The impact of electricity generation on the environment depends on the energy mix. Transitioning to cleaner and renewable sources of electricity can help mitigate environmental consequences, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the printing industry.

Q2: Name one fuel which has been developed as an alternative to petrol and diesel for use in vehicles. Name the fossil fuel from which it is derived and is preferred than the conventional source of energy from which it is derived?
Ans: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has been developed as an alternative to petrol and diesel for use in vehicles.

It is derived from Natural gas. It is preferred over other conventional sources of energy such as petrol and diesel because of the following reasons:

• Natural gas is an eco-friendly fuel as it causes less damage to the environment.
• It is easier to preserve than other fuels. It can be stored and transported through pipelines, small storage units, cylinders or tankers on land and sea.
• It can be piped into houses for heating and cooking purposes and running a variety of appliances.
• It is a cleaner, cheaper fuel than diesel or gasoline.
• It is lighter than air and tends to dissipate when there is a leakage unlike propane, which being heavier than air, collects into explosive pockets.

Q3: Imagine that you live in an area where a dam is being constructed. What advantages and disadvantages do you foresee once this hydro-project is completed?
Ans: I foresee the following advantages once this hydro-project is completed:

• Renewable energy generation - The dam can harness flowing water to generate renewable hydroelectric power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Clean energy production - Hydroelectric power produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, contributing to improved air quality and mitigating climate change.
• Reliable power supply - The dam provides a consistent and reliable power supply, benefiting industries, households, and other sectors dependent on electricity.
• Water management and irrigation - Dams can regulate water flow, allowing for water storage and controlled release for irrigation and water management purposes.
• Positive Environmental impact - It does not produce any Greenhouse Gases and prevents us from the harmful effects of Global Warming.

I foresee the following disadvantages once this hydro-project is completed:

• Displacement of communities - Construction of the dam may lead to the displacement of local communities, disrupting their livelihoods and cultural practices.
• Negative Environmental impact - Dams can alter river ecosystems, affecting fish migration, water quality, and downstream habitats. It may also lead to the loss of fertile land due to submergence.
• Sedimentation and reservoir lifespan - Over time, reservoirs may accumulate sediment, reducing their storage capacity and lifespan.
• Risk of dam failure - In rare cases, dam failures can occur, leading to catastrophic consequences such as flooding downstream areas.
• Risk of earthquake - Building a large dam can cause serious geological damage like triggering earthquakes in the area.