APES Chapter 12 and 13 Energy Resources Test Review
How many half-lives are spent fuel rods a danger to human health?
10 or more
Be able to do a half-life problem.
116 years
What is the Hubbert curve?
A bell-shaped curve representing oil use and projecting both when world oil production will reach a maximum and when the world will run out of oil
What is the electricity grid?
A network of interconnected transmission lines that joins power plants together and links them with end users of electricity
What energy sources are driven by the sun?
All fossil fuel and most renewable energy sources ultimately come from the Sun. Wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric.
Before the Industrial Revolution, what was the main source of energy?
Biomass, wood
How can we maximize our energy resources?
By conserving them, such as through riding a bike, consolidating errands, using a laptop or reducing the use of a thermostat.
As a country progresses through the demographic transition, how do the energy demands change?
Changes in energy demand generally reflect the level of industrialization in a country or region. As energy demand increases, societies change the types of fuels they use. As industries develop and factories are built, demand for electricity and nuclear fuel increases. The energy demand increases.
What are the most damaging nuclear accidents in the world?
Chernobyl, Fukushima, and Three Mile Island
What country is the world's leaders in producing hydroelectricity?
China
Which country produces the most electricity from wind energy?
China
Which energy source can provide the most electricity for the longest amount of time based on the abundance of the resource?
Coal
What are the environmental effects of using petroleum as an energy source?
Contains trace metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. There is high potential for an oil spill, which is highly detrimental. Still releases greenhouse gases
Which biodiesel source uses the least amount of energy to produce the greatest yield?
Corn
Which country gets the greatest percentages of its electricity from wind power?
Denmark
What is the efficiency of energy from a fuel to electricity?
EROEI= Energy obtained from the fuel/ energy invested to obtain the fuel
What problems are associated with run-of-the-river electricity generation?
Energy generation is intermittent, cannot function in periods of heat or low flow
What are considered to be the fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are fuels derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. The vast majority of the fossil fuels we use are coal, oil and natural gas.
How can governments encourage energy conservation?
Governments can fund renewable energy, and encourage civilians to conserve energy themselves
What are the benefits of green roofs?
Green roofs cool and shade the buildings and the surrounding environments. And the addition of plants to an urban environment also improve overall air quality.
Give an example of a high level and a low level nuclear waste.
High Level: Used fuel rods Low level: Contaminated clothing, tools
What energy source can affect the availability of food?
Hydroelectricity
How does a fuel cell work?
Hydrogen molecules are split into protons, the protons move across a membrane, electrons take an alternate route, oxygen molecules are split and combine with protons and electrons to form water in the lower reaction layer
What are some of the disadvantages of using hydrogen as a fuel?
Hydrogen rarely occurs naturally, hydrogen is explosive, would need a distribution network
Which country gets the greatest percentage of its electricity from geothermal energy?
Iceland
What is the health risk related to exposure to radioactive material?
Increased risk of cancer and radiation poisoning
What is the benefit of a flex-fuel vehicle?
It can run on both E-85 (85% ethanol and 25% gasoline) and gasoline
Why is coal so widely used around the world?
It is abundant in many areas and often easy o extract, handle, and process
Why is the use of coal such an overall inefficient energy process?
It is inefficient because 2/3 of the energy that enters a coal-burning electricity plant ends up as waste heat or undesired outputs. The efficiency of converting coal into electricity is 35%
Why do we use petroleum as the main fuel for transportation?
It provides more energy on a much smaller volume and can be shut of quickly
What are the environmental effects of using coal as an energy source?
It releases high amounts of CO2, surface mining of coal is detrimental to the environment, and releases sulfur. It also includes trace metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic
What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy?
Its advantages are that it can always be used, nondepletable in human time Its disadvantages is that heated groundwater can be depleted, not accessible everywhere, hazardous gases and steam can escape geothermal plants
What are the advantages and disadvantages of water impoundment systems?
Its advantages is that it allows for generation of electricity on demand and makes opportunities for recreational and economical activities Its disadvantages is that it disrupts water flow and is detrimental to wildlife downstream, the reservoir can flood many places, and can force people to relocate
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using natural gas as an energy source?
Its advantages is that it contains fewer impurities than other fossil fuels, emits only 60% as much CO2 as coal. Its disadvantages is that Methane can be released, fracking uses many chemicals that can leak into the surrounding environment
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using CST systems?
Its advantages is that it does not produce emissions, reduces the need for fossil fuels, produces energy when it is most needed Its disadvantages is that its large, cannot create electricity at night, can kill birds
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear energy?
Its advantages is that its Clean energy, lots of energy per proportion of fuel, few emissions in mining of fuel Its disadvantages is that its expensive, possibility of nuclear accident, and storage of nuclear waste poses a great issue
What are the advantages and disadvantages with liquified coal?
Its advantages is that its Higher amount will lead to US independency of foreign oil. Its disadvantages is that it Releases twice as much greenhouse gas, production is expensive, and has severe environmental impacts
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solid biomass as an energy source?
Its advantages is that its renewable and easy to obtain Its disadvantages is that it releases air pollutants such as CO. Also releases large amounts of CO2. Can lead to deforestation
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind power?
Its advantages is that nondepletable, can be used on land or off, only significant energy input once installed is the wind, no pollution, can be used on multi-purpose land, and can work at all times of day Its disadvantages is that it relies on batteries to store energy, birds and bats can be killed in collisions, loud, unsightly
How can we conserve energy?
Lowering the house thermostat in cold months, consolidating errands, or turning off the computer when its not used. Governments may implement conservation measures to encourage civilians to do habits on their own
What are the advantages of using nondepletable energy sources?
No matter how we use there will always be more. The amount of a nondepletable resource available tomorrow does not depend on how much we use today.
What is the difference between a renewable and nonrenewable resources? Give an example of each that refers to energy sources
Nonrenewable energy resources are energy resources with finite supply, primarily the fossil fuels and nuclear fuels. An example of those are fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Renewable sources are energy sources that are potentially renewable or nondepletable. An example of those are hydroelectric power, solar energy, wood, plants, animal manure, fish, and animal oils.
Where is nuclear waste currently stored?
On site
What are some of the design elements of using passive solar energy design?
Positioning windows on south-facing walls, using multiple-paned glass, covering roofs in dark materials, and building homes on the side of a hill
What are the major petroleum producing companies of the world?
Saudi Aramco, Gazprom, and National Iranian Oil Co. The top countries are Saudi Arabia, Russia, The United States, Iran, China, Canada, and Mexico
How can utility companies reduce peak demand events?
Set up a variable price structure under which customers pay less to use electricity when demand is lowest and more when demand is highest
What is a subsistence energy source and give an example.
Subsistence energy source is an energy source gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. Some examples are straw, sticks, and animal dung.
What is the largest dam in the world?
The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China is the largest dam in the world.
What are the countries with the largest supplies of coal?
The US, Russia, China, and India
What are the general steps used to generate power in a coal fired power plant?
The coal is burned, which boils water, which produces steam, which turns a turbine, which spins a generator, and produces power
What is the smart grid and how can it be beneficial in the United States?
The smart grid is an efficient, self-regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.
How does cogeneration increase efficiency of a power plant?
The use of a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat. If steam used for industrial purposes or to heat buildings is diverted to a turbine first, the efficiency will be increased instead of generating heat and electricity seperately
How do hydroelectric dams generate electricity?
The water spins a turbine, the turbine spins a generator, the generator produce electricity
What are the steps in using wind to generate electricity?
The wind turns the turbine, the turbine turns a generator, and electricity is produced
What is thermal mass and how can it effect building design?
Thermal mass is a property of a building material that allows it to retain heat or cold.
Why has the use of oil risen so dramatically since 1900?
These changes were the result of political, economic and environmental factors.
What is the fuel of nuclear reactors and why do we use it?
Uranium 235. We use it because nuclear energy requires a much smaller volume and mass of uranium to be productive
In the United States, what areas use the most energy?
Urban areas
What is the best and easiest way to increase efficiency when traveling by car.
Use cruise control or drive a hybrid car
Where is tidal power a viable alternative energy resource and what type of energy is utilized?
Viable in areas where there is a significant difference in between low tide and high, such as the bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. It utilizes kinetic energy
What is the fastest growing renewable energy source in the world?
Wind energy
Give an example of a carbon based renewable energy resource.
Wood and charcoal
What are the grades of coal from most to least efficient?
anthracite, bituminous, lignite, peat
What are petroleum products used for?
plastics, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning solvents
