Lesson T1.2.4

T1.2.4 Fuels and energy resources Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T1.2.4, Fuels and energy resources: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Energy, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which of these is a non-renewable fuel?

    • Wind
    • Hydroelectric water
    • Coal
    • Solar

  2. Which of these is a renewable energy resource?

    • Uranium
    • Coal
    • Natural gas
    • Wind power

  3. Which of these is a fossil fuel?

    • Wood from managed forests
    • Wave power
    • Biodiesel
    • Natural gas

  4. How were fossil fuels formed?

    • From ice that froze in glaciers and was pressed hard over many years
    • From meteorite material that fell to Earth and was buried in the ground
    • From the remains of plants and animals buried over millions of years
    • From volcanic ash deposited on the land in a single day of eruption

  5. Which is a major disadvantage of burning fossil fuels?

    • They cannot store energy, so they must be used as soon as they are made
    • They are unlimited in supply, so the world will never run short of them
    • They produce no waste at all, so there is nothing to clean up afterwards
    • They release carbon dioxide, which adds to global warming

  6. Which energy resource depends directly on wind speed for its output?

    • Wind turbines
    • Coal-fired power stations
    • Nuclear power stations
    • Gas-fired power stations

  7. Solar cells transform which energy into electrical energy?

    • Light energy
    • Chemical energy
    • Kinetic energy
    • Sound energy

  8. Hydroelectric power generates electricity using energy from:

    • Steam heated by burning coal in a large boiler at the power station
    • Gas burning in boilers to heat water for the power station turbines
    • Radioactive decay in rocks that heats the water in the power station
    • Water falling or flowing through turbines

  9. Nuclear power stations generate electricity using energy from:

    • Burning uranium with oxygen
    • Tidal currents in the sea
    • Nuclear fission of uranium
    • Nuclear fusion of hydrogen in the station

  10. Which is a benefit of nuclear power?

    • It produces no radioactive waste, so the waste problem is solved completely
    • It is cheap and quick to build, so new stations can be opened very fast
    • It produces large amounts of electricity with little carbon dioxide while operating
    • Its fuel can never be used up, so the supply is unlimited for all time

  11. Why is geothermal energy considered renewable?

    • It burns fossil fuels to make steam, which is then used to turn turbines
    • Heat from inside the Earth is replaced continuously
    • The rocks below the ground are never hot enough to be used for power
    • It depends on the weather, so it is replaced by wind and rain each day

  12. Which is an example of a biomass energy source?

    • Splitting uranium atoms
    • Burning coal from underground
    • Pumping crude oil from the seabed
    • Burning wood or plant waste

  13. Why are tides considered a predictable energy source?

    • Tidal energy must be stored by burning coal, which makes it hard to plan for
    • Waves are too unpredictable to use, so tides are not reliable for power
    • Tides follow regular patterns driven by the Moon and Sun
    • Tides change at random with the weather, so they are hard to plan around

  14. Which energy resource produces the most carbon dioxide when generating electricity?

    • Coal
    • Hydroelectric
    • Wind
    • Solar

  15. A school wants energy at night when the Sun is down. Which renewable resource gives least output then?

    • Hydroelectric power
    • Solar power
    • Wind power
    • Geothermal power

  16. What is meant by a non-renewable energy resource?

    • One that never runs out, so it can be used at any rate for all time
    • One that cannot be replaced at a rate that matches our use
    • One that produces no waste, so it can be used without harm to the planet
    • One that comes directly from the Sun and is replaced every single day

  17. In a coal-fired power station, what is the first energy change?

    • Kinetic energy is transferred to chemical energy as the coal is crushed up
    • Electrical energy is transferred to thermal energy in the coal-fired boiler
    • Chemical energy stored in coal is transferred to thermal energy by burning
    • Nuclear energy is transferred to electrical energy inside the reactor core

  18. Why is a mix of energy resources better for a country?

    • It makes energy bills rise for everyone, which pays for the new power stations
    • It increases dependence on a single supply, so that one failure is serious
    • It reduces reliance on one supply and lowers the risk of shortages
    • It stops the need for any power stations, so no new plants will be built

  19. Which is a disadvantage of wind farms for some communities?

    • Turbines can be noisy and visually intrusive
    • They cannot produce any electricity
    • They release large quantities of carbon dioxide
    • They need uranium fuel to run

  20. Which resource is both renewable and produces no carbon dioxide when generating electricity?

    • Coal, which is burned in large power stations and releases a lot of carbon
    • Natural gas, which is burned to heat water and release carbon dioxide
    • Diesel, which is burned in engines and releases carbon dioxide and fumes
    • Hydroelectric power

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