6.7-6.10 study guide

Some solar energy systems produce high-temperature water for industrial applications and produce steam to run turbines that generate electricity. What type of solar energy system is needed for these kinds of applications?

A solar collector system using mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight

What is the most successful solution to the problem of fish mortality caused by dams?

Building fish ladders around the dam

Describe an advantage of burning biomass rather than burning fossil fuels in developing countries?

C) Biomass production is cheaper than fossil fuel extraction, making it more readily available for use.

A developer intends to use passive solar heating in a new construction project in Minnesota in an effort to reduce electricity costs for the property owners. What should be employed to maximize the benefit of passive solar heating?

Concentrate the energy on the roof using mirrors to heat water that is then used to generate electricity

The largest hydroelectric dam in the world is located on one of the world's longest rivers in which country?

E, china

Describe a disadvantage of geothermal energy production.

Geothermal energy implementation in homes and businesses has a high upfront cost, and electricity is needed to operate pumps.

Economic benefits of building large dams include which of the following? I. Storage of water for agriculture and domestic use. II. Controlling floods upstream. III. Production of renewable energy

I and III only

Throughout the world, especially the less-developed countries, burning wood or other biomass for heating or cooking in homes is common. One negative environmental impact of this practice is the production of particulates indoors, which can be a health hazard to humans.What is the best strategy for mitigating this potential problem?

Installing effective ventilation systems in dwellings

Many environmentalists consider Egypt's Aswan High Dam on the Nile River to be an ecological disaster. Why?

Most of the nutrient-rich silt that the Nile annually deposited downstream is now deposited behind the dam.

Scientists are looking for new locations to generate electricity using geothermal energy. Where would be the best choice for a geothermal energy generating plant?

Near tectonic plate boundaries

Describe how electricity is generated using photovoltaic cells.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight directly into electricity... (absorb photons which excite electrons which result in the flow of a current)

What is a major limitation of using photovoltaic cells to generate electricity?

b) do not produce as much electricity on cloudy days

In the majority of less developed countries, the major source of energy for domestic use is what?

biomass

This type of energy utilizes heat that is stored beneath Earth's surface to heat water and produce steam. What is it?

geothermal

What energy source is not derived directly or indirectly from solar energy?

geothermal energy

What is true about passive solar heating?

heat is collected and stored through triple-paned windows and heavy insulation with no moving parts

Buildings designed to partially heat rooms by passive solar heating rely on what?

materials that absorb and store solar energy to warm the room

Which panel system is least effective at producing energy?

no tracking, tilted east

The graphs below show the energy output of one kilowatt of photovoltaic capacity of different panel systems over a day (graph on the left) and the annual energy production (graph on the right) of the same systems. Dual-axis tracking means that the panels are constantly moving to always face the Sun directly. If the panels are tilted in a fixed position, the direction of tilt is indicated. Flat panels are not tilted in any direction. 1. If peak electricity use occurs around 2 pm in the Los Angeles area and avoiding brownouts is more important to the installers of the panels than annual energy output, what orientation of panel systems would be best to use in the area?

no tracking, tilted west

What is a drawback to using biofuels, such as ethanol, as a fuel source?

there is high energy investment in producing and processing the crops needed for ethanol production.

What is a negative consequence associated with photovoltaic solar cells?

they have toxic metals that can be released into the environment

Geothermal energy plants are a viable alternative energy source. Why?

they use the heat from Earth's interior to create steam that is used to generate electricity and then can be pumped back into the ground

What was the primary cause for the decline in the use of wood as a fuel in the eighteen hundreds?

vast deforestation, making wood a scarce energy source