Question

Which is the biggest source of non-conventional energy ?

(A) Air
(B) Water
(C) Sun
(D) Moon

Answer 1

Hint:
The largest source of non-conventional energy will be the one that is not dependent on any other sources for replenishment and the one that will not get exhausted for a very long time. The source of almost all energy sources is the solar radiation incident on Earth.

Complete solution:
The largest non-conventional source of energy is solar energy, that is, the energy that comes from the Sun.

Non-conventional energy is the energy generated by using wind, solar, small hydro, tides, geothermal heat and biomass. The sources of non-conventional energy are renewable processes of energy generation. These sources do not pollute the environment and they are constantly replenished by natural processes. They are called renewable resources as they can be replaced through natural processes at a rate equal to or greater than the rate at which they are consumed.

The energy of the Sun is the original source of most of the energy found on earth. Wind energy is generated by the movement of air due to heating by the Sun’s radiation. Similarly, the energy generated from water actually extraction of the kinetic and potential energy of water that originally comes from the heat energy from the Sun. Solar energy is also the origin of other energy sources like biomass and ocean thermal energy.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:
Tidal energy is a renewable energy generated from the natural rise and fall of tides and currents in the oceans. Tidal energy is derived from the motion of the Earth-Moon system which causes the rise and fall in water levels due to the gravitational pull.