Chapter 14

Which of the following is of least concern in the continued reliance upon coal to generate electricity in the world? the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere the release of nitrogen and sulfur oxides the release of mercury to the environment the continued availability of coal

the continued availability of coal

If there are 1.2 trillion barrels of oil reserves known in the world, and we are consuming 30 billion barrels a year, we could estimate that we have about 40 years worth of oil still in the ground. This calculation represents ________. the reserves to production ratio energy conversion efficiency the proven reserves the energy return on investment (EROI)

the reserves to production ratio

Which of the following is an environmental impact directly associated with using coal-fired plants to generate electricity? -discarded batteries, whether rechargeable or not -electromagnetic fields impacting human health -twice the amount of greenhouse gas emissions than for using natural gas -use of chemical coolants to treat electrical wiring in transformers

twice the amount of greenhouse gas emissions than for using natural gas

During peak usage, what happens to the cost of electricity? It almost always decreases. It almost always increases. Cost of electricity always stays the same. It depends on the time of the year. It depends on where the power plant is located.

It almost always increases.

Currently, which of the following primary energy sources accounts for the least global consumption? Renewable energy Hydropower Wood Nuclear Gas

Nuclear

Which of the following are current environmental impacts related to the widespread generation and use of electricity in modern societies? Electricity from transformers and batteries are significant sources of water and soil pollution. Nitrogen gas from transformers and copper from batteries are significant sources of water and soil pollution. Copper from transformers and electrons from batteries are significant sources of water and soil pollution. PCBs from transformers and cadmium from batteries are significant sources of water and soil pollution.

PCBs from transformers and cadmium from batteries are significant sources of water and soil pollution.

Electric current is measured in ________. -volts and electrical potential are measured in kilowatt hours -amperes and electrical potential are measured in volts -kilowatt hours and electrical potential are measured in volts -volts and electrical potential are measured in amperes

amperes and electrical potential are measured in volts

Many pollutants from coal-fired power plants are properly managed today. Which of the following is currently considered to be the biggest threat to the environment? carbon dioxide nitrous oxide methane gas sulfur dioxide oxygen

carbon dioxide

In the United States, the energy end use sector that uses the greatest amount of coal is ________. industry residential electricity transportation

electricity

Most oil in the world is used to ________. -fuel cars and trucks -produce aviation fuel -produce solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics -heat homes and offices

fuel cars and trucks

Most coal in the world is used to ________. produce natural gas generate electricity heat homes industrial end uses, such as steel production

generate electricity

Where is electricity made at a coal-fired power plant? cooling tower control room generator silo boiler

generator

Which one of the following represents the use of a nonrenewable primary energy source? -heating a cabin in the winter using coal -using the energy of falling water to turn a mill, which grinds corn into corn meal -using coal to generate electricity, which is used to heat a home -using a windmill to pump water out of the ground

heating a cabin in the winter using coal

Natural gas is increasingly transported ________. -as a solid, frozen into blocks that can be easily transported on trains and used in power plants -in gas form in long pipes extending across oceans, because the greatest demand is often in continents with the least supply -in liquid form between continents -in gas form over short distances because it is typically consumed where it is produced

in liquid form between continents

Natural gas is increasingly transported __________. -as a solid, frozen into blocks that can be easily transported on trains and used in power plants -in gas form in long pipes extending across oceans, because the greatest demand is often in continents with the least supply -in liquid form between continents -in gas form over short distances, because it is typically consumed where it is produced

in liquid form between continents

In general, the 50 richest countries in the world today consume ________. -most of the biomass energy in the world -mostly renewable energy resources -less energy per person than in developing countries in Africa and Asia -most of the primary energy in the form of fossil fuels

most of the primary energy in the form of fossil fuels

Interest in nuclear power plants is increasing because ________. -nuclear power relies on fusion, a process that does not involve radioactivity -nuclear power plants are cheaper to build than those that burn coal -nuclear power plants remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the air -of increasing costs of other forms of alternative energy and concerns about global warming

of increasing costs of other forms of alternative energy and concerns about global warming

All fossil fuels, including coal, are considered an indirect form of ____________ energy. nuclear renewable solar wind geothermal

solar

The greatest proven oil reserves in the world are found in ________. the Middle East United States South America Russia

the Middle East

The use of natural gas to generate electricity is increasing because __________. -natural gas is more efficient than coal and releases fewer pollutants -the global supply of coal will only last about another 10 years -burning natural gas reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere -the methane in natural gas does not contribute to global warming

-natural gas is more efficient than coal and releases fewer pollutants

The citizens of a small city need to replace their coal-fired power plant. To limit their contributions to global warming, they decide to build a new power plant using the latest technologies and an abundant fossil fuel that contributes the least to global warming. Their new plant will therefore use __________ for fuel. nuclear material natural gas oil coal

natural gas

Most electricity is generated by using ________. -transformers to generate electrical current -primary energy sources to heat water and produce pressurized steam, which turns the turbines of an electric generator -primary energy sources to promote chemical reactions that generate electricity -secondary energy sources to heat water and produce pressurized steam, which turns the turbines of an electric generator

primary energy sources to heat water and produce pressurized steam, which turns the turbines of an electric generator

A rancher in Texas drills for water on her property and in the process, hits oil which squirts strongly from the ground. Within days a system is installed to capture the oil as it shoots up from the ground. This system of collecting oil represents ________. secondary oil recovery primary oil recovery hydraulic fracturing tertiary oil recovery

primary oil recovery

A rancher in Texas drills for water on her property and in the process, hits oil, which squirts strongly from the ground. Within days a system is installed to capture the oil as it shoots up from the ground. This system of collecting oil represents __________. tertiary oil recovery hydraulic fracturing primary oil recovery secondary oil recovery

primary oil recovery

The problem of the disposal of high-level radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants could be addressed in part by fuel recycling. Why isn't fuel recycling of nuclear waste a widespread practice where nuclear power is used? Fuel recycling ________. -requires a large and expensive input of energy that does not make the process cost-effective -produces plutonium, which can be made into nuclear bombs -is a very explosive process that is still not controlled or safely managed -releases a large amount of carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming

produces plutonium, which can be made into nuclear bombs

Which of the following is an advantage to using wind powered electrical generators? Wind powered electrical generators ________. -produce a steady rate of electricity -use a renewable energy resource -produce a form of electricity that is more easily stored in batteries -are usually centrally located and nicely positioned within the electrical grid

use a renewable energy resource