2007-11-04 01:05:54 · 5 answers · asked by mrudshyam 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
it doesnt produce energy, it has a constant temperature of about 60 degrees. this constant temp, which comes from the ground (or a lake) is used to help heat or cool your house, there by reducing the oil and electricity needed for heating or cooling the house.
you still use electricity to circulate the air in the house with fans. also, depending on the size of the house, geothermal cannot be used to heat/cool 100% of the house (especially on the really hot /cold days) and you still have to use your conventional furnace, air conditioner for the rest of the cooling /heating.
2007-11-04 01:10:16 · answer #1 · answered by brian c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Geothermal energy is used to convert heat energy to work. Typically by heating water until it becomes steam. It then uses the expansion of the steam to drive a turbine which generates electricity. The expansion otherwise known as an increase in volume and a corresponding decrease in pressure also causes the steam to lose temperature based on the ideal gas law (pV= nRT) and condense back to steam.
This cycle utilizes a closed system and a pump with which to circulate the water so that it can be reheated and cooled continuously.
As far as power production goes, geothermal tends to be dependable until geophysical phenomena change the underlying supply of either magma or ground water. Reference the geyser "Old Faithful" to see an example of this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Faithful
2007-11-04 01:21:23 · answer #2 · answered by Kevin B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The interior of the planet is hot due to radioactive elements breaking down and releasing energy. We can sometimes harness this energy, for example by using the heat from the earth to make steam to drive a turbine to produce electricity.
2007-11-04 01:10:48 · answer #3 · answered by Geoff B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Please let me be the best answer for this on.
energy can not be created nor distroyed. thats a thing from science class years ago.
what you do is put water in the ground. the ground is warm. the earth is warm HOT melting rocks hot.
you put water down there (actually its antifreeze) it gets warm or hot depending on where you live. and how deep you drill.
then the hot water is put through a backwards air conditioner. called. a heat pump.
you don't make energy. you capture the energy from the earth's hot center.
2007-11-04 01:13:36 · answer #4 · answered by hifi1863 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By drilling deep enough you can tap into the hot stuff and use it to heat other stuff.
2007-11-04 01:14:44 · answer #5 · answered by charlesdclimer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋