Minerals and Energy Resources Test - 29

Chrome is used for preparing ‘stainless steel’ utensils. Since it does not corrode (unlike iron or copper) it is used both for making utensils and also for storing industrial liquids like acids. 

• Feldspar is an important ingredient in the manufacture of glass and an important raw material as well, because it acts as a fluxing agent, reducing the melting temperature of quartz and helping to control the viscosity of glass. 
• In the manufacturing of ceramics, feldspar is the second most important ingredient after clay.

Mica is a shiny mineral and is used extensively in electrical and electronic industry. It has many properties which make it useful – it comes in thin layers, and is a non-conductor of electricity and heat. 

Oil crisis began in the year 1973, when the members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries proclaimed an oil embargo (hindrance). This is the reason why interest has shifted to wind energy generation.

Non-conventional energy sources are those energy sources which are comparatively new technologies. Most of these sources are renewable and do not poses threat to environment. With increasing population and  changing way of life, the energy requirement is increasing at a fast pace. Thus non-conventional energy sources give the world an alternate source to provide for energy crunch and are also environment friendly, therefore reducing threat.

Energy generated from natural sources like wind, tides, solar, geothermal heat, and biomass including farm and animal wastes is called non-conventional energy. It has following features like: it is pollution free, they are renewable and are abundant in nature. Non-conventional energy sources helps us to overcome the growing problems related to consumption of energy, rising prices of oil and gas, increasing use of fossil fuels causing harm to environment.

 Lignocellulosic biomass is derived from wood remains i.e. plants and trees, as the wood is made of lignose and cellulose. It is recognised as a very valuable commodity.

Hydro power is nothing but the energy produced with the help of water. Among the given options, tidal power is the hydropower because in this the energy obtained from tides is converted into useful forms of power, mainly electricity. Though it is not used widely, it has very high potential use in future.

Potential energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position Potential energy is used in Tidal stream generator and tidal barriage to produce energy by storing water at a particular height.

The first windmill used for the production of electric power was built in Scotland in July 1887. It was built by Prof James Blyth of Anderson's College, Glasgow. Its height was 10 metres. Wind turbine was installed in the garden of his holiday cottage. It was used to charge accumulators developed by the Frenchman Camille Alphonse Faure, to power the lighting in the cottage.