Unit 6 Test

Which of the following best describes the total consumption of all fossil fuels in 2040 compared to the consumption of nuclear energy in 2040? a. Consumption of fossil fuels will be approximately 13 times greater than consumption of nuclear energy. b. Consumption of fossil fuels will be approximately 9 times greater than consumption of nuclear energy. c. Consumption of fossil fuels will be approximately 5 times greater than consumption of nuclear energy. d. Consumption of fossil fuels will be approximately 4 times greater than consumption of nuclear energy.

a. Consumption of fossil fuels will be approximately 13 times greater than consumption of nuclear energy.

After the Industrial Revolution, the use of fossil fuels increased significantly. Despite the documented environmental effects of these resources and the availability of renewable resources, the use of nonrenewable sources continues. Which of the following statements best explains why there is continued widespread use of nonrenewable fossil fuels in energy production in the United States? a. Established technology and transportation infrastructure for fossil fuels allows these resources to be converted into energy to meet consumer demand. b. Fossil fuels are significantly cheaper than renewable resources, so they do not require government subsidies, which ultimately saves the government money. c. The environmental effects of fossil fuels are easy to mitigate, while the environmental effects of renewable resources are difficult to understand and reverse. d. Fossil fuels will always be present and are plentiful in quantity, so there is little pressure to find a replacement for them as an energy source.

a. Established technology and transportation infrastructure for fossil fuels allows these resources to be converted into energy to meet consumer demand.

Which of the following describes a step in the generation of electricity using fossil fuels that can most directly lead to an environmental problem? a. Fossil fuel is burned to boil water. b. Water is converted to steam. c. Steam turns a turbine. d. Turbines power a generator.

a. Fossil fuel is burned to boil water.

Often, large projects provide people with opportunities for recreational activities. Which of the following is most likely to result in creating such opportunities? a. Hydroelectric power b. Wind power c. Photovoltaic cells d. Passive solar energy

a. Hydroelectric power

Which of the choices below lists the steps of coal formation in order of lowest energy-content to highest energy-content material? a. Anthracite-lignite-bituminous-peat b. Anthracite-bituminous-lignite-peat c. Peat-lignite-bituminous-anthracite d. Peat-bituminous-lignite-anthracite

c. Peat-lignite-bituminous-anthracite

Energy is always conserved. This principle is stated in the a. conservation of matter. b. first law of thermodynamics. c. second law of thermodynamics. d. conservation of momentum.

B. first law of thermodynamics.

Natural gas, a nonrenewable fossil fuel, is often seen as an alternative fuel in the worldwide transition to a renewable energy future. Which of the following statements best explains why natural gas is often used as a fuel when countries are transitioning from nonrenewable to renewable energy sources? a. Natural gas burns more efficiently and cleanly than other sources of carbon-based fossil fuels, thus contributing to a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide. b. The infrastructure for storing and transporting natural gas can be used in the future in conjunction with hydrogen fuel technologies. c. Natural gas can be used in industrial applications only, but it has great potential to replace coal as a fuel source. d. The process of extracting natural gas, known as hydraulic fracturing, requires very little water or energy.

a. Natural gas burns more efficiently and cleanly than other sources of carbon-based fossil fuels, thus contributing to a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

The map below shows energy-dependent and energy-independent countries around the world. [Map] Which of the following statements about the global distribution and use of fossil fuels is best supported by the data on the map? a. Saudi Arabia and Australia produce large volumes of fossil fuels with relatively low energy demand. b. The United States produces more fossil fuels than it consumes. c. Japan has the greatest energy independence because there are abundant reserves of fossil fuels present in the country. d. Russia and Indonesia are reliant on the export of other nations for their fossil fuels.

a. Saudi Arabia and Australia produce large volumes of fossil fuels with relatively low energy demand.

What type of energy might result in a decline in the population of certain species of migratory birds? a. Wind power b. Geothermal energy c. Passive solar energy d. Photovoltaic cells

a. Wind power

In any energy transformation, some energy is always degraded to low quality energy. This principle is stated in the a. third law of thermodynamics. b. first law of thermodynamics. c. conservation of matter. d. second law of enthalpy.

a. third law of thermodynamics.

Which of the following is the approximate projected rate of change in renewable energy consumption from 2010-2040? a. 4.33 quadrillion BTUs per year b. 2.33 quadrillion BTUs per year c. 2.00 quadrillion BTUs per year d. 0.733 quadrillion BTUs per year

b. 2.33 quadrillion BTUs per year

Compact fluorescent lights are much more efficient with an average efficiency of approximately 8% than incandescent bulbs with an efficiency of approximately 2%. Calculate the input necessary to produce the average 60 lumens/watt produced by the compact fluorescent light. a. 300 watts b. 750 watts c. 200 watts d. 500 watts

b. 750 watts

The site of one of the most ecologically destructive oil spills in history is a. Shanghai, China. b. Gulf of Mexico, USA. c. Kuwait City, Kuwait. d. Chernobyl, Ukraine.

b. Gulf of Mexico, USA.

Which of the following toxic heavy metals is released in significant quantities during the burning of coal? a. Uranium b. Mercury c. Nickel d. Plutonium

b. Mercury

[Earth Map] [Answers are Images] Which of the following geologic profiles would most likely be found at the circled region in the figure? a. Metamorphic Rock / Igneous Rock b. Peat / Peat / Sedimentary Rock / Igneous Rock c. Clay / Sandstone / Silt / Igneous Rock d. Sedimentary Rock / Igneous Rock / Magma / Igneous Rock

b. Peat / Peat / Sedimentary Rock / Igneous Rock

Which of the following best identifies a benefit of using renewable energy sources rather than nonrenewable energy sources? a. Renewable energy sources do not have negative environmental impacts, whereas nonrenewable energy sources have many negative environmental impacts. b. Renewable energy sources are replenishable and are virtually inexhaustible by human consumption, whereas nonrenewable sources do not form in a short period of time. c. Renewable energy sources are available uniformly throughout the world, whereas nonrenewable sources are unequally distributed. d. Renewable energy technologies are more developed and more readily available than nonrenewable energy technologies.

b. Renewable energy sources are replenishable and are virtually inexhaustible by human consumption, whereas nonrenewable sources do not form in a short period of time.

Which of the following is an example of the process of cogeneration? a. Using timber waste products as biofuel b. Using wastewater from electricity production for heating homes c. Using the corn crops for ethanol fuel production d. Using the reservoir behind a hydroelectric dam for recreation

b. Using wastewater from electricity production for heating homes

Nuclear reactors produce energy through the process of a. incineration. b. fission. c. transmutation. d. fusion.

b. fission.

Which of the following correctly depicts the nuclear chain reaction that occurs in a nuclear power plant? a. too b. many c. to d. write lol

b. the one that remains neutron all the way through :)

Based on the data above, approximately how much greater is the average cost of electricity produced in the United States from offshore wind than from hydroelectric power? a. 0.42 times greater b. 0.88 times greater c. 2.3 times greater d. 3.9 times greater

c. 2.3 times greater

Calculate the percent difference between the energy production by biomass as compared to the energy production by coal. a. 20% b. 40% c. 200% d. 67%

c. 200%

Which of the following are features of passive solar design? a. Coniferous trees to block the sun on the sunny side of the home b. Compact fluorescent light bulbs to conserve electricity c. A solid material like stone, concrete, or tile that stores heat for nighttime d. Energy-efficient appliances to reduce costs of cooling

c. A solid material like stone, concrete, or tile that stores heat for nighttime

A diagram of a pressurized water nuclear reactor is shown below. [Diagram] In the diagram above, which letter correctly identifies the step where kinetic energy is converted to mechanical energy? a. A b. B c. C d. D

c. C

[Diagram] At which of the following locations in the nuclear power plant would an accident most likely result in the release of fission products? a. A b. B c. C d. D

c. C

[Map] If a country possesses large oil and gas reserves within its borders, which of the labeled rock types must be present in the underlying geology of the country? a. A b. B c. C d. D

c. C

Which of the following statements best describes a difference between nonrenewable and renewable energy sources? a. Nonrenewable energy sources release carbon dioxide when used, whereas renewable energy sources do not release carbon dioxide. b. Renewable energy sources are often obtained a long distance away from the customer, whereas nonrenewable energy sources are obtained locally. c. Renewable energy sources can be replaced naturally at current consumption rates, whereas nonrenewable energy sources cannot be replaced easily. d. Renewable energy sources produce energy that can be recycled after use, whereas the energy from nonrenewable energy sources cannot be recycled.

c. Renewable energy sources can be replaced naturally at current consumption rates, whereas nonrenewable energy sources cannot be replaced easily.

Which of the following best describes an environmental problem that is often linked to the process of fracking? a. Fracking operations require large tracts of land, which degrades habitat and harms wildlife. b. Fracking can increase stream flow and water volume, disrupting fish migration pathways. c. Wastewater from fracking operations is injected into porous rock formations, which can induce seismic activity. d. Excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, run off the land near fracking sites, which can lead to large algal blooms in nearby waterways.

c. Wastewater from fracking operations is injected into porous rock formations, which can induce seismic activity.

All of the following are considered to be advantages of nuclear energy EXCEPT a. uranium has a much higher energy content than oil or coal. b. it is very efficient when compared to fossil fuels. c. it produces no hazardous wastes. d. the technology currently exists to use nuclear fission to produce electricity.

c. it produces no hazardous wastes.

The graph represents the coal production in a particular region. Using the units of million short tons, calculate the percent of lignite produced as compared to all coal produced. a. 4.0% b. 20% c. 80% d. 7.3%

d. 7.3%

Which of the following best describes a potential negative environmental effect of fossil fuel extraction? a. Fossil fuel extraction requires new infrastructure and has a high start-up cost. b. Birds are injured or killed when they fly around extraction sites. c. Thermal energy produced during the extraction process is released into nearby streams and lakes. d. Air pollutants, such as methane and particulate matter, are emitted into the atmosphere.

d. Air pollutants, such as methane and particulate matter, are emitted into the atmosphere.

Which of the following characteristics is common to coal and petroleum? a. Both were formed by the remains of ancient marine organisms. b. Both release significant amounts of mercury when burned. c. Both are considered renewable resources. d. Both are forms of ancient organic matter buried deep within the earth's crust.

d. Both are forms of ancient organic matter buried deep within the earth's crust.

The diagram is a model of which type of solar energy usage? a. Photovoltaic cells b. Geothermal heat pump c. Active solar heat d. Passive solar heat

d. Passive solar heat

Which of the following best describes why people in less developed countries use wood as a primary energy source? a. The infrastructure required to transport wood is well established. b. Wood produces fewer carbon emissions than other energy sources, such as geothermal or natural gas. c. Wood can be converted to peat and cheaply burned for fuel. d. Wood, in the form of firewood and charcoal, is often readily available.

d. Wood, in the form of firewood and charcoal, is often readily available.