AP Environmental Science Chapter 12
82) Hydropower is an indirect form of solar energy. (a) Explain the connection between water and solar power. (b) Identify the major benefits of hydropower (c) Briefly discuss the environmental issues associated with hydropower
(a) The sun's energy drives the hydrologic cycle, which encompasses precipitation, evaporation from land and water, transpiration from plants, and drainage and runoff. As water flows from higher elevations back to sea level, we can harness its energy. (b) Hydropower is more concentrated energy; it is more efficient than any other energy source for producing electricity (90% conversion); it is renewable (c) Dams change the natural flow of a river, land is flooded, destroying plant and animal habitats, disrupting the spawning of fish, and some have reservoir-induced seismicity. People are displaced, habitats are fragmented, and if a dam breaks people and property downstream are endangered. Reservoirs may provide habitats for waterborne diseases such as schistosomiasis. Silt is trapped behind the dam, depriving agricultural lands downstream of nutrients.
59) U-235 and U-238 are different a) isotopes of uranium b) elements that are radioactive c) ionic forms of the same element d) types of radioactive decay e) types of fuel for fusion reactors
A) isotopes of uranium
9) Which of the following renewable energy sources is not used to produce electricity? a) solar heating b) geothermal c) biomass conversion d) photovoltaics e) wind
A) solar heating
93) What happens during a core meltdown in a nuclear reactor?
A core meltdown is a nuclear accident, in which at high temperatures the metal encasing the uranium fuel melts, releasing radiation, which contaminates the surrounding environment
83) An electric company approaches you with a proposition to allow a wind farm installation on your available property in the Great Plains. Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of agreeing to a "wind farm" on your property. Suggest three alternative geographic places suitable for wind farm development.
A wind farm in the Great Plains would be very profitable because it is a rural area that receives fairly continual winds. An advantage to allowing the wind farm on your available property is that the use of wind power does not cause any major environmental problems. It produces no waste or emissions. Every kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by wind power rather than fossil fuel prevents 1-2 pounds of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere. A disadvantage would be aesthetics. Wind machines change the characterisics of the landscape and, if located in migratory paths, have contributed to bird kills. The lease payment from the electric company would help offset your aesthetic concerns. However, alternative locations for the electric company to explore would be California, Iowa, Texas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota, North or South Dakota. Or, the wind farm could be developed on a platform offshore much like the drilling rigs are.
10) Which of the following does not involve solar energy? a) geothermal energy b) photovoltaic cells c) solar power towers d) wind farms e) solar thermal collectors
A) Geothermal Energy
26) Photovoltaic cells: a) have become more economical to produce and use over the past 25 years. b) are the most efficient means of converting solar energy to electricity. c) are currently only used in urban areas of highly developed countries. d) have only been adapted for use in small appliances. e) generate electricity with minimal pollution, but unfortunately, require expensive maintenance.
A) Have become more economical to produce and use over the past 25 years
25) The direct cause of air warming via passive solar heating is: a) infrared radiation. b) visible light. c) ultraviolet radiation. d) microwave radiation. e) double-paned glass.
A) Infrared radiation
77) What is the role of the reactor core in a nuclear power plant? a) it provides heat to superheat water into steam under pressure, which is used to generate electricity b) it restricts atomic fallout to reduce contamination c) it breaks large radioisotopes into smaller radioisotopes d) it reacts chemically with high-energy particles rendering them inert e) it maintains one radioactive decay per second
A) It provides heat to superheat water into steam under pressure, which is used to generate electricity
2) Which of the following is not an emerging alternative, renewable resource energy technology? a) nuclear energy b) wind farms c) alcohol fuels d) photovoltaic solar cells e) geothermal energy
A) Nuclear Energy
7) Which of the following is part of a home designed with passive solar heating? a) south facing windows b) mirrors and lenses c) use of solar collectors on the roof d) little insulation e) a greenhouse
A) South facing windows
4) In the United States, solar radiation is greatest in: a) the southwest. b) the northeast. c) the northwest. d) the mid-west e) Florida.
A) The southwest
53) High level radioactive wastes: a) are produced by nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities. b) can be safely and permanently disposed of c) do not include spent fuel rods and tailings from uranium mining. d) have very short half-lives. e) All of these
A) are produced by nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities
48) Which of the following is not a component of a regular nuclear power plant? a) combustion engine b) fuel rods c) reactor core d) steam generator e) control rods
A) combustion engine
8) Which of the following can be used to store the heat from passive solar heating? a) containers of water b) reflective glass windows c) solar panels d) photovoltaic solar cells e) wooden roof beams
A) containers of water
75) Low levels of radioactive wastes: a) give off small amounts of ionizing radiation. b) are produced only by nuclear power plants. c) are safely stored in local landfills. d) are in solid form only. e) are not a serious problem for disposal.
A) give off small amounts of ionizing radiation
50) A reactor vessel in a nuclear power plant is: a) the protective structure surrounding the reactor core. b) the container used to store spent fuel rods. c) used to control the fission process in the reactor core. d) the site of steam and electricity production. e) the standard location for on-site waste storage.
A) the protective structure surrounding the reactor core
15) Which of the following is not a source of biomass energy? a) uranium b) wood c) peat d) animal dung e) charcoal
A) uranium
57) The production of "glass logs" to store high-level liquid radioactive wastes in the United States is called: a) vitrification. b) "wet cask storage" c) spent fuel pools. d) fuel assemblies. e) logification
A) vitrification
72) The partial destruction of the reactor core at Three Mile Island: a) was controlled by the containment building. b) caused no safety issues for workers or nearby residents. c) resulted in extensive radioactivity being released into the surrounding environment. d) caused the power plant to be closed indefinitely. e) caused cancer in many children who lived near the power plant.
A) was controlled by the containment building
52) The worst nuclear accident ever to happen at a nuclear power plant occurred at: a) Bristol, England. b) Chornobyl, Ukraine. c) Normandy, France. d) Savanna River, GA. e) Three Mile Island, PA.
B) Chornobyl, Ukraine
28) Many sun-tracking mirrors are used to focus sunlight on a central tower boiler to produce steam to drive generators. This best describes: a) active solar heating. b) indirect solar energy. c) passive solar heating. d) photovoltaic solar cells. e) solar power towers.
E) Solar power towers
38) Nuclear energy: a) is released when the chemical bonds that hold atoms together are changed. b) involves changes within the nuclei of atoms. c) involves converting a large amount of matter from the nucleus into a small amount of energy. d) results in the production of greater mass at the end of the energy process. e) All of these.
B) Involves changes within the nuclei of atoms
69) Which of the following is a major advantage of breeder nuclear fission? a) Breeder nuclear fission is responsible for 30% of the electricity needed worldwide. b) Nonfissionable U-238 is converted to fissionable Pu-239 c) It uses sodium as a coolant, which is safer than using water. d) It uses uranium-235 as a main energy source. e) It neither uses nor produces weapons-grade materials.
B) Nonfissionable U-238 is converted to fissionable Pu-239
32) Photovoltaic solar cells are: a) single-celled organisms that are used to collect solar radiation, which they turn into heat. b) wafers of crystalline silicon treated with metals that absorb solar radiation and generate electricity. c) cheap to produce, but contribute to atmospheric pollution, including CO2. d) highly efficient in converting solar energy to electricity. e) unable to function at all on rainy or cloudy days.
B) Wafers of crystalline silicon treated with metals that absorb solar radiation and generate electricity
71) Which of the following has not been linked to exposure to high levels of radiation? a) mutations b) increased incidence of influenza c) cancer d) leukemia
B) increased incidence of influenza
12) The burning of biomass, such as wood, is an example of: a) active solar heating. b) indirect use of solar energy. c) passive solar heating. d) using a non-renewable resource. e) None of these
B) indirect use of solar energy
74) The formation of a mixed oxide (MOX) containing plutonium: a) produces an essential component of nuclear weapons. b) is a means of disposing of weapons-grade plutonium. c) allows for the safe transport of radioactive liquid. d) occurs during a meltdown. e) can only be applied to low-level radioactive waste.
B) is a means of disposing of weapons-grade plutonium
5) All of the following materials are examples of biomass fuels except: a) wood b) oil c) animal waste d) crop wastes e) sawdust
B) oil
16) Which of the following is not an example of a renewable energy source that indirectly uses solar power? a) wind energy b) tidal energy c) hydropower d) ocean waves e) ocean temperature gradients
B) tidal energy
87) Yucca Mountain has been considered as a site for the permanent storage of 70,000 tons of high-level radioactive wastes from commercially operated nuclear power plants. (a) Cite probable reasons for Congress approving Yucca Mountain in 2002 as a nuclear-waste repository. (b) Present arguments against locating radioactive wastes here, and include the use of the acronyms NIMBY and NIMTOO in your discussion.
Billions of dollars have already been spent to establish this site inside Yucca Mountain. Government scientists and engineers say the site will be safe to protect the public from radiation leaks for 10,000 years. Politics. (b) Residents of Nevada (NIMBY = not in my back yard) oppose the location of high level radioactive wastes here because of its proximity to the fastest growing city in the U.S. (Las Vegas), its location near a volcano and active earthquake fault lines. Transportation of radioactive wastes to the site involves risk to other states whose highways and rail lines would potentially be threatened (as well as Nevada). Because this is not a popular local idea, no politician wants to be credited with having it established here during his or her term of office (NIMTOO). Other concerns involve increased possibility of terrorist attacks in this region or along the transportation routes.
47) Which of the following countries has the largest deposits of the element uranium? a) South Africa b) United States c) Australia d) Afghanistan e) Canada
C) Australia
31) The fact that solar systems only generate electricity during the day is typically not a problem because: a) many photovoltaic cells continue to generate electricity through the night. b) they currently do not produce much electricity on a global scale. c) demand for electricity is often highest during the day. d) the electricity can be used to power Stirling engines. e) they are often located in deserts.
C) Demand for electricity is often highest during the day
70) One advantage of conventional nuclear power, when compared to coal, is: a) no connection to water pollution. b) limited risk from catastrophic accidents. c) Emission of few pollutants to the atmosphere. d) no related occupational death. e) unlimited supply.
C) Emission of few pollutants to the atmosphere
Geothermal energy is a prominent energy source in: a) Ireland. b) northern Europe. c) Iceland. d) Australia. e) Canada.
C) Iceland
35) The use of photovoltaic cells is limited by all of the following except: a) high cost b) low efficiency c) inability to directly generate electricity d) cells incorporate hazardous materials e) large output requires large areas of land
C) Inability to directly generate electricity
22) Which of the following does not apply to wind power? a) is a clean source of energy b) is most profitable in areas that have fairly continual winds c) is the least competitive of all forms of renewable energy, in terms of cost d) causes no air pollution e) wind machines detract from the esthetics of the region
C) Is the least competitive of all forms of renewable energy, in terms of cost
33) One unique aspect of solar energy as a source of global power is: a) it is currently the only renewable energy resource. b) it contributes to the greenhouse effect. c) it is dispersed over the Earth's entire surface rather than being concentrated in highly localized areas. d) its reserves will last well into the next millennium. e) that it is not dependent on technology for collection or utilization.
C) It is dispersed over the Earth's entire surface rather than being concentrates in highly localized areas
13) Which of the following is a liquid fuel converted from biomass? a) charcoal b) hydrogen c) methanol d) propane e) methane
C) Methanol
27) Solar thermal energy systems are inherently more efficient than other solar technologies because: a) the technology involved is less expensive. b) they can work at night and on cloudy days, as well as in full sunlight. c) they concentrate the sun's energy. d) they are dependent on circulating hot water. e) the technology involved is less expensive and they can work at night and on cloudy days, as well as in full sunlight
C) They concentrate the sun's energy
6) Passive solar heating: a) cannot be used to heat buildings. b) is effective only in the summer. c) uses the sun's energy without machines. d) is a non-renewable resource. e) depends on x-rays.
C) Uses the sun's energy without machines
1) Plant material used for food is called: a) hydromass. b) tidalmass. c) biomass. d) cogeneration. e) fertilizer.
C) biomass
46) The process of refining uranium ore and insuring the proper amounts of various types of uranium is called: a) breeding. b) fabrication. c) enrichment. d) fission. e) integration.
C) enrichment
49) Above each fuel assembly is a control rod that regulates the nuclear reaction by absorbing: a) energy. b) heat. c) neutrons. d) radioactive wastes. e) uranium.
C) neutrons
56) All of the following are related to NIMBY response EXCEPT: a) not in my back yard b) it commonly is a response to the proposal for a nuclear power plant c) politicians and their term of office d) is the "sister" response to NIMTOO e) All of these are related
C) politicians and their term of office
17) Wind: a) is the result of the conversion of radiant energy into chemical energy. b) is used in Montana to generate most of the electricity used in that state. c) cannot be used to generate electricity. d) has been used to pump water, irrigate fields and grind grain for many hundreds of years. e) energy produces low levels of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
D) Has been used to pump water, irrigate fields and grind grain for many hundreds of years
18) Which of the following is not a problem associated with hydropower? a) reservoir-induced seismicity b) habitat destruction c) flooding potential d) increased soil erosion e) disruption of fish spawning
D) Increased soil erosion
21) Utility companies: a) have no interest in solar power because it is universally available. b) cannot utilize solar power due to limitations of the current technology. c) cannot use photovoltaic cells because it would significantly increase their production of greenhouse gases. d) can purchase photovoltaic devices in small modular units to increase their power generating capacity. e) will not use photovoltaic cells because they will never be competitive with conventional energy sources.
D) Can purchase photovoltaic devices in small modular units to increase their power generating capacity
37) What factors have led to the recent "nuclear renaissance?" a) uncertainty and increased expense of building conventional coal power plants. b) technological advances in methods for disposing of nuclear waste. c) creating additional nuclear capacity is a political priority in the Unites States. d) the uncertainty and increased expense of building conventional coal power plants and the fact that creating additional nuclear capacity is a political priority in the Unites States e) All of these.
D) The uncertainty and increase expense of building conventional coal power plants and the fact that creating additional nuclear capacity is a political priority in the United States
45) The most abundant isotope of uranium in ore is: a) C-12. b) U-234. c) U-235. d) U-238. e) PU-239.
D) U-238
62) The main problem with energy from nuclear fusion power is: a) it is dependent upon hydrogen, a limited fuel resource. b) fusion only occurs in the sun, and we don't know how the sun's energy is produced. c) fusion technology requires vast quantities of uranium. d) fusion power still remains to be proven practical to control e) None of these
D) fusion power still remains to be proven practical to control
36) The temperature of buildings can by altered by using an underground arrangement of pipes containing circulating fluids, which use the Earth as both a heat source and heat sink. This uses _______ technology. a) Infrared Radiation compartment b) Fuel Cell c) Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) d) Geothermal heat pump e) Photovoltaic solar cell
D) geothermal heat pump
29) Which of the following is NOT among the potential adverse environmental impacts of generating geothermal energy? a) emission of gases such as hydrogen sulfide b) water depletion c) induced seismicity d) increase in carbon dioxide emissions e) land subsidence
D) increase in carbon dioxide emissions
51) When high temperatures begin to melt the metal encasing the uranium fuel pellets, this is called a: a) breeder reaction. b) fission reaction. c) fusion reaction. d) meltdown. e) flame out.
D) meltdown
55) A storage site for high-level radioactive waste would have all of the following features except: a) isolated from major population centers. b) geological stability. c) no contact with groundwater. d) near volcanic activity where waste can be destroyed by high temperatures. e) no contact with flowing water or air movement.
D) near volcanic activity where waste can be destroyed by high temperatures
11) In rural areas of developing countries, photovoltaic cells are used to: a) avoid the need to extend power lines. b) provide refrigeration for vaccines. c) grind grain. d) pump water. e) All of these
E) All of these
24) The energy released in the burning of biomass fuels: a) originated as solar energy. b) was stored as chemical energy in plant tissues or animal waste products. c) was initially converted from solar energy to chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis. d) is one of the oldest fuels known to humans. e) All of these
E) All of these
3) The amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth depends on: a) the amount of cloud cover. b) the distance from the equator. c) the time of day. d) the season of the year. e) All of these
E) All of these
39) Nuclear fusion: a) produces a product with a larger mass than the starting material. b) is a form of combustion. c) involves splitting a large atom into two smaller atoms of different elements. d) is the rearrangement of electrons that occurs during a chemical reaction. e) is the process that powers the sun and other stars.
E) Is the process that powers the sun and other stars
23) Which of the following is not a disadvantage to using biomass as a source of energy? a) deforestation b) air pollution c) depletion of minerals in the soil d) increased possibility of erosion e) nonrenewable source of energy
E) Nonrenewable source of energy
20) Which of the following statements about geothermal energy is false? a) Geothermal energy is typically associated with volcanism. b) Geothermal energy is used to heat greenhouses for the production of produce in Iceland. c) The United States is the world's largest producers of geothermal electricity. d) Experts argue whether geothermal energy is a renewable resource. e) The most common environmental hazard associated with this resource is increasing levels of atmospheric CO2.
E) The most common environmental hazard associated with this resource is increasing levels of atmospheric CO2
14) Growing crops specifically for alcohol production would probably result in: a) increased desertification. b) increased soil erosion. c) reduced food production. d) increased pollution by fertilizers and pesticides. e) All of these
E) all of these
66) Fission products with short half-lives that are products of U-235 fission: a) mimic nutrients essential for good health. b) can be incorporated into bones, teeth, muscle and the thyroid gland. c) continue to decay even after being ingested. d) can cause cancer. e) All of these
E) all of these
30) Potential locations for wind farms include: a) mountain passes b) islands c) coastal areas d) grasslands e) All of these places
E) all of these places
61) Which of the following vocabulary is mis-matched with its definition? a) fission - splitting atoms into smaller fragments b) fusion - combining atomic nuclei into larger nuclei c) high-level nuclear waste - spent fuel elements from commercial reactors d) low-level nuclear waste - any slightly contaminated material e) meltdown - process by which uranium ore is refined after mining to increase the concentration of fissionable U-235
E) meltdown - process by which uranium ore is refined after mining
58) Spent fuel is a) exhausted energy b) the depleted environmental reserves of radioactive elements c) the entombed storage of dismantled nuclear reactors d) the used neutrons in the nucleus of an atom e) radioactive waste generated by nuclear energy
E) radioactive waste generated by nuclear energy
54) The greatest problem with the use of nuclear power to generate electricity is its production of: a) air pollutants. b) water pollution. c) carbon dioxide. d) radiation that is released into the surrounding region. e) radioactive waste that requires waste storage.
E) radioactive waster that requires waste storage
63) Which of the following statements is not true? The splitting of a uranium atom in a nuclear reactor: a) may trigger the splitting of additional atoms of uranium. b) produces dangerous waste material. c) results in the production of high-energy neutrons. d) results in the production of large amounts of heat energy. e) results in no loss of mass.
E) results in no loss of mass
91) The steps in the nuclear fuel cycle include mining, enrichment, electrical generation, reprocessing of spent fuel, waste disposal and decommissioning of worn-out reactors. Relatively speaking, which of these steps is energy - intensive and which step is most expensive to properly carry out?
Enrichment, the refining process to increase the concentration of fissionable U-235 in uranium ore to about 3% is energy intensive. Decommissioning or the dismantling of an old nuclear power plant is very expensive. During the 21st century, we may find we are paying more in our utility bills to decommission old plants than we are to have new plants constructed.
85) You are planning on converting your "typical home" into one with passive solar heating. List five modifications that you are considering.
First I will add a solar sunspace to my existing home. It will have south-facing double-paned glass on the roof and side for insulation. The space will contain black-painted water-filled drums to store heat from sunlight and warm the surrounding air. An insulating curtain would slide closed at night. A cooling vent would be in place for the summer as well as a vent space for warm air to enter the house and cool air to enter the sunspace. A brick wall, which would store heat, would separate the sunspace and house. I would also consider insulating the attic and north-facing walls and installing insulated drapes on the windows. I would install thick adobe or stonewalls and floor and increase the overhang of the roof to help block the summer sun. Each improvement would be designed to capture solar energy and distribute it in the house without the need for pumps or fans
88) Compare and contrast the nuclear accidents that occurred at Three Mile Island and Chornobyl. Include the nature of the accidents, responses, and impacts in your comparison.
In 1979 there was a 50% meltdown of the reactor core at the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania. The accident was due to human error, and almost all of the radioactivity was kept from escaping because of the design of the containment building. No significant health risks from this accident have been reported, but as a result the public became quite concerned about the safety of nuclear power plants. In 1986 the worst accident ever to occur at a nuclear power plant occurred at the Chornobyl (Chernobyl) power plant in the Ukraine. The nuclear reactor ripped apart with explosions, expelling large quantities of radioactive material into the air. The danger was not only to the workers and residents of the local community, but also to people in northern Europe. Many people died, others contracted cancer, and over 116,000 people had to permanently abandon their homes. The immediate cause of the accident was related to a flaw in the design of the plant (a RMBK reactor), combined with human error in reacting to the problem that developed.
94) Explain the difference between a nuclear fission reaction in a conventional nuclear reactor and that in a breeder nuclear fission reactor. Are there any other differences between the two processes? If so, explain.
In nuclear fission, the nucleus of an atom of U -235 is struck by and absorbs a neutron becoming unstable and splitting into two smaller atoms. Each of these is approximately half the size of the original uranium atoms. In the fission process, two or three neutrons are also ejected from the uranium atoms. They collide with other U-235 atoms, generating a chain reaction as those atoms are split and more neutrons are released to collide with additional U-235 atoms. In breeder nuclear fission, U - 238, which is not fissionable and is a waste product of conventional nuclear fission is converted to plutonium, Pu-239, a human-made isotope that is fissionable. Some of the neutrons emitted in breeder nuclear fission produce additional plutonium from U - 238. A breeder reactor makes more fuel than it uses.
90) Supporters of nuclear energy argue that nuclear power is a cleaner fuel and has less impact on the environment than coal-burning plants. Provide arguments supported by facts to both defend and refute this position.
Nuclear power (including the fuel cycle) releases fewer greenhouse gases into the environment than coal-burning plants. Developing technology is producing new nuclear power plants - (pebble-bed modular reactors) that are safer and more cost effective to build and operate. Helium is used rather than water to turn turbines. Vitrification can be used to seal the spent fuel for safer storage. Emissions from coal burning plants also may release a significant amount of sulfur oxides and mercury into the atmosphere. Arguments against nuclear power include producing spent fuel that can provide a way for terrorists to develop nuclear weapons, the need for fossil fuel to mine and enrich uranium, and the safety concerns from nuclear power plant accidents.
80) Discuss the positive and negative aspects of using direct solar energy, and suggest ways to encourage research and development in this form of alternative energy.
On the positive side, solar energy is renewable and there are many alternatives available for obtaining energy from the sun (e.g. passive and actives forms). It is an ideal source of energy in places with lots of sun. Newer technology incorporates photovoltaic cells into roof tiles, eliminating the concern about the appearance of solar panels On the negative side, the cost of photovoltaic panels is quite high. Solar energy as the primary energy source is not suited for many places on the planet. Some form of energy storage is needed when it is dark or when the sun is barely shining. Ways to encourage research and development include government funding of research through the DOE, state or federal subsidies for homeowners or businesses to reduce the cost of adding solar systems, giving tax incentives for solar designs and solar panels, using multimedia to educate people about the benefits of using solar energy.
89) Discuss the mechanisms and consequences of radiation for living organisms. Include the likely sources of radiation and specific impacts in your discussion.
Radiation comes in three forms: alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. High-level radioactive sources are capable of giving off any of these forms of radiation that can be damaging to human health. Radioactive wastes with relatively short half lives create health concerns because many of the shorter-lived fission products mimic essential nutrients and tend to concentrate in the body, where they continue to decay, producing harmful effects. Examples of these are strontium-90, iodine-131, and cesium-137
92) Describe the improvements that have been made in designing the next generation of nuclear reactors. What problems remain?
The vision is to design nuclear reactors that are 10 times safer than current reactors. The use of small ceramic-encased balls of uranium instead of fuel rods would increase the safety factor. Costs can be held in line by standardizing nuclear power plants to be simple and smaller rather than custom-building each one. This will improve building schedules and streamline the regulatory process. However, questions involving safety and management of radioactive waste must still be addressed.
81) Discuss the advantages and potential adverse environmental impacts of using geothermal energy.
The amount of geothermal energy is enormous because it is natural heat within the Earth. Geothermal energy can be obtained from hydrothermal pools, hot dry rock, or geothermal heat pumps. Environmental concerns include concern about whether or not geothermal energy from hydrothermal pools is renewable, the emission of hydrogen sulfide gas in the steam or hot water, subsidence of the surrounding land, possible induced seismicity, expense in creating systems for energy from hot, dry rock and GHPs (geothermal heat pumps).
What is OTEC? List the advantages and limitations associated with this potential energy source
The generation of electricity from ocean temperature gradients is known as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). One advantage of OTEC is that after the cold ocean water has been used in the power plant, it can also be used to air condition buildings and for aquaculture growing algae, fish and crustaceans. A limitation is change that might occur in the ocean as a result of removing so much of the deep, cold water. Water properties such as dissolved gases, turbidity, nutrient levels, and salinity gradients might be altered along with the temperature. This would have an impact on marine organisms.
86) Briefly describe the important steps in the nuclear fuel cycle, and identify the steps that involve the use of fossil fuels as well as the steps that are the most expensive to properly carry out. Include the process of decommissioning the nuclear power plant in your discussion.
The nuclear fuel cycle begins with mining the uranium ore, producing enriched uranium from the ore to increase the concentration of fissionable U-235, generating electricity from the fission of the fuel in the fuel rods, reprocessing of the spent fuel, disposing the nuclear fuel waste, and decommissioning of the worn-out reactor. Fossil fuels are involved in the mining and enrichment process, and the most expensive part of the operation involves spent fuel and decommissioning of the worn-out reactor.
41) Joining two lightweight atomic nuclei into a single heavier nucleus is called: a) enrichment. b) fusion. c) fission. d) atom exchange. e) the nuclear fuel cycle.
b) fusion.
44) The half-life of a radioactive element is the period of time required: a) to convert half of a given mass into radioisotopes. b) to extract one-half of the energy from the Earth's uranium supply. c) for one half of the total amount of a radioactive substance to change into a different material. d) for the sun to use up one-half of its available atomic resources. e) None of these
c) for one half of the total amount of radioactive substance to change into a different material
40) Nuclear fission: a) is a form of combustion. b) is the blending or "melting together" of two small atoms to form a large atom. c) is the splitting of a large atom into two smaller atoms of different elements. d) is the rearrangement of electrons that occurs during a chemical reaction. e) is the process that powers the sun and other stars.
c) is the splitting of a large atom into two smaller atoms of different elements.
65) Fission of U-235: a) results in the release of electrons, which collide with other U-235 atoms creating a chain reaction. b) releases a great amount of heat, which is used to transform steam into water. c) must be controlled in order to be used for the production of electricity. d) in power plants may get out of control generating a bomb-like nuclear explosion. e) is controlled by the careful placement of the reactor core within the turbine.
c) must be controlled in order to be used for the production of electricity
42) Forms of a single element that differ in atomic mass are called: a) atoms. b) radioactive. c) compounds. d) isotopes. e) molecules.
d) isotopes.
43) The atomic mass of an element is equal to the: a) number of neutrons. b) number of protons. c) number of electrons. d) number of neutrons + number of protons. e) number of protons + number of electrons.
d) number of neutrons + number of protons.
