Consider the following statements and identify the correct answer using the code given below: 1. In a thermal power station, fuels such as oil, coal, or natural gas are used to generate electricity. 2. Fuels are burned to heat water and turn it into steam, which goes through a turbine, which spins and turns, generating electricity.

Thermal power stations generate electricity by utilizing heat energy from various sources, primarily fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum (oil), and natural gas [4]. Statement 1 is correct as these fuels are the standard inputs for conventional thermal plants [2]. Statement 2 describes the fundamental thermodynamic process, often based on the Rankine cycle, where fuel is burned in a boiler to heat water and produce high-pressure steam [1]. This steam is then channeled through a turbine, causing it to spin and drive an alternator or generator to produce electric power [1]. Since the process of burning fuels to create steam (Statement 2) is the specific mechanism by which these fuels are used to generate electricity in a thermal power station (Statement 1), Statement 2 provides a direct explanation of Statement 1 [5].

Sources

1. [2] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > Rock Minerals > p. 115
2. [3] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 27: Fuel and Power > ELECTRICITY > p. 272
3. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > Thermal Electricity > p. 24
4. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > 2Z:7 COGENERATION > p. 293
5. [5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/steam-rankine-cycle