Modules 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 Reading Quiz/Class Notes

If a sample of radioactive material has only 12.5% of the original radioactive parent material, how many half-lives have passed? A. 3 B. 6.25 C. 12.5 D. 5

A. 3

What is an advantage of using biofuels? A. Biofuels burn more cleanly and are less toxic than fossil fuels. B. Biofuel crops can reduce the amount of food grown by using cropland to grow biofuel crops. C. Biofuels have a lower energy content than fossil fuels. D. More water is needed to grow monoculture biofuel crops.

A. Biofuels burn more cleanly and are less toxic than fossil fuels.

Why will wind and solar power see the largest increases in the future as energy sources? A. Costs will decrease for the technologies. B. Biomass will cause too much air pollution and will not be used anymore. C. Climate change will cause droughts, decreasing reliable hydropower. D. Geothermal power produces too many greenhouse gases.

A. Costs will decrease for the technologies.

Why did Samsø use a variety of energy sources to meet its energy needs? A. Diversifying the production methods made it easier to produce enough energy for the island. B. They started with windmills but switched to solar and geothermal because the windmills were not cost effective. C. There was disagreement over which single source to go with so different factions backed different energy sources. D. Each energy source provided a different kind of energy - some generated electricity while others provided liquid fuels for vehicles.

A. Diversifying the production methods made it easier to produce enough energy for the island.

Why could biofuels becoming a large part of our fuel supply lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions? A. Drivers could think biofuels are carbon-neutral and drive more, releasing more emissions. B. Biofuels will be too expensive for most people, so they will keep using fossil fuels. C. Biofuels will decrease fuel efficiency and increase carbon emissions in cars. D. Gasoline prices will drop to compete with biofuel prices, so most people will keep using gasoline.

A. Drivers could think biofuels are carbon-neutral and drive more, releasing more emissions.

What is an advantage of solar power? A. It is versatile. There are many different ways to trap heat or produce electricity from solar energy. B. The price has dropped dramatically in recent years and it is now very affordable for the average homeowner. C. It is a form of energy that can be trapped 24 hours a day, year round. D. It is the most inexpensive way to generate electricity on a large scale.

A. It is versatile. There are many different ways to trap heat or produce electricity from solar energy.

Why were there no deaths caused by radiation exposure from the Fukushima accident? A. Japanese officials moved quickly to protect people by evacuating people and providing iodine tablets. B. The power plant at Fukushima is too far away from any inhabited area to cause damage. C. Only steam was released during the accident, which did not have any radiation in it. D. The accident was a lower level incident and did not release much radiation.

A. Japanese officials moved quickly to protect people by evacuating people and providing iodine tablets.

The United States stores low-level radioactive waste at four sites in South Carolina, Utah, Washington, and A. Texas. B. New Mexico. C. Nevada. D. Oregon.

A. Texas.

Why do biofuels have a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels? A. The release of biofuels does not produce a net increase in atmospheric carbon. B. Biofuels do not release any carbon when burned. C. Biofuels require less processing than fossil fuels. D. All biofuels grow so quickly they pull extra carbon out of the atmosphere.

A. The release of biofuels does not produce a net increase in atmospheric carbon.

The meltdown at Fukushima revealed a flaw in the design of the reactor. What was the flaw? A. The steam from the reactor core could not be released without releasing radiation. B. The cooling water heated up and caused the reactor to overheat. C. The containment structure of the reactor was not strong enough to hold the reactor core. D. The two water sources didn't mix in the containment structure.

A. The steam from the reactor core could not be released without releasing radiation.

Why is cellulosic ethanol so hard to make? A. There are very few microorganisms that break apart cellulose, allowing it to be converted to ethanol. B. Cellulose is fragile and breaks down too quickly for fermentation can begin. C. Some yeast will convert the cellulose to lactic acid instead of ethanol, contaminating the batch. D. Very few plants contain cellulose, so it is hard to get enough to produce sufficient yields of ethanol.

A. There are very few microorganisms that break apart cellulose, allowing it to be converted to ethanol.

Where do algae stand as a biofuel feedstock? A. They produce considerably more oil per acre of cultivation than the other main oil crops. B. They are highly productive but can only be grown in coastal areas, which limits their usefulness as a locally produced biofuel feedstock. C. They have currently replaced both corn and soybeans as the leading biofuel feedstock. D. Early on they were seen as the best feedstock option, but it proved impossible to produce a biofuel from algae oil.

A. They produce considerably more oil per acre of cultivation than the other main oil crops.

How much carbon dioxide is produced alongside electricity in a nuclear power plant compared to burning coal? A. Zero carbon dioxide is released from producing electricity from nuclear power. B. About the same amount of carbon dioxide is produced compared to burning coal. C. Three times the amount of carbon dioxide is produced compared to burning coal. D. Half of the amount of carbon dioxide is produced compared to burning coal.

A. Zero carbon dioxide is released from producing electricity from nuclear power.

Considering all the pros and cons of the many feedstocks that can be used to make ethanol or biodiesel, what is the best choice for a land-based fuel crop? A. a diverse assortment of perennial native plants that require few inputs B. low carbon biomass crops such as bamboo or hemp C. rapidly growing, small, annual, greenhouse plants such as herbs or flowers D. monoculture crops of corn, soybean, or rapeseed

A. a diverse assortment of perennial native plants that require few inputs

What are control rods used for? A. absorbing neutrons to slow a fission chain reaction B. releasing neutrons to slow a fission chain reaction C. releasing neutrons to speed up a fission chain reaction D. absorbing neutrons to speed up a fission chain reaction

A. absorbing neutrons to slow a fission chain reaction

Japanese officials were concerned about the consumption of milk by people still living in the Fukushima vicinity because it came from cows that fed on grass that was contaminated with radioactivity. Specifically, what type of radiation were they concerned about? A. alpha and beta radiation B. iodine radiation C. gamma radiation D. short wavelength radiation

A. alpha and beta radiation

Wind power is A. an indirect form of solar power. B. not available on a large scale. C. always a constant source of energy. D. generated by producing steam to spin a turbine.

A. an indirect form of solar power.

Which strategy will decrease the fuel efficiency of your car? A. driving faster, safely, so you arrive at your destination sooner and use less gas B. using cruise control because is uses more gas than maintaining the car's speed yourself C. starting slowly because jackrabbit starts are more energy efficient D. combining your trips because a warmed-up car is less fuel efficient than a cold one

A. driving faster, safely, so you arrive at your destination sooner and use less gas

Biomass sources used to make biofuels are called A. feedstock. B. bioethanol. C. biodiesel. D. fuel crops.

A. feedstock.

A nuclear fission chain reaction begins when A. fuel rods are bombarded with neutrons, causing the uranium nucleus to split and release energy. B. fuel rods are bombarded with neutrons, causing the uranium nucleus to combine with another nucleus and release energy. C. fuel rods are heated until they split the uranium atoms inside, releasing energy. D. fuel rods are heated until the uranium atoms inside combine and release energy.

A. fuel rods are bombarded with neutrons, causing the uranium nucleus to split and release energy.

The source of most hydropower comes from A. giant dams. B. rivers and streams. C. capturing energy released from variations in ocean temperatures. D. ocean tides.

A. giant dams.

One of the primary species Tillman used in his plots was a perennial species with potential as a biofuel source known as A. switchgrass. B. wheat. C. corn. D. sugarcane.

A. switchgrass.

Most nuclear reactors use the element A. uranium. B. carbon. C. radium. D. plutonium. E. helium.

A. uranium.

A general rule says that after half-lives, radioactive material has decayed enough to be rendered safe. A. 15 B. 10 C. 20 D. 5 E. 50

B. 10

How much parent material of a radioactive isotope is left after 4 half-lives? A. 0.10% B. 6.25% C. 25% D. 3.13% E. 12.50%

B. 6.25%

What do wind energy and coal have in common as energy sources? A. Both are considered renewable, but not sustainable, energy sources. B. Both provide a force that turns a turbine in a generator to generate electricity. C. The cost of each to the consumer represents the true cost of the electricity production. D. Neither one was used on the island of Samsø.

B. Both provide a force that turns a turbine in a generator to generate electricity.

Which statement is TRUE about the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power? A. Power production can be increased or decreased more easily in a nuclear power plant than in a fossil fuel plant. B. It costs much less to build or decommission a fossil plant than a nuclear one. C. Fossil fuel plants use far more water to generate electricity than nuclear power plants. D. It costs much less to operate a fossil fuel plant than a nuclear one.

B. It costs much less to build or decommission a fossil plant than a nuclear one.

What disadvantage does nuclear power share with fossil fuels? A. Large amounts of water are needed for cooling the power plants. B. Mining and processing ore can cause water and air pollution. C. Radioisotopes can be produced, which could be weaponized. D. The waste is hazardous, and there is no long term plan to deal with the high level waste.

B. Mining and processing ore can cause water and air pollution.

Which state in the United States is the leading producer of wind power? A. California B. Texas C. Oklahoma D. Maine E. Montana

B. Texas

How is energy conservation part of the solution to the problem of providing fuels for our vehicles? A. Using less energy means we can commandeer more cropland to grow biofuels. B. The more we conserve, the fewer biofuels (or other fuels) we have to produce. C. Using more energy will make the fuel supplies we have go further. D. Increasing efficiency and decreasing waste helps us use more fuel.

B. The more we conserve, the fewer biofuels (or other fuels) we have to produce.

Geothermal (ground source) heat pumps A. are used for large buildings like schools, but are not yet designed for small uses such as a home. B. can lower heating costs, since you are only heating your home in the winter up from ~55°F. C. trap the heat from deep within the Earth to generate electricity. D. are only usable in areas with hot springs or volcanic activity.

B. can lower heating costs, since you are only heating your home in the winter up from ~55°F.

One of the first conservation efforts on Samsø involved A. using solar power. B. heating homes. C. installing geothermal water heaters. D. driving electric cars.

B. heating homes.

Tilman's research showed that by growing switchgrass with a mixture of plant species, a plot can produce _____________ biomass with ____________ amounts of irrigation, fertilizer, and management. A. more; higher B. more; smaller C. less; higher D. less; smaller

B. more; smaller

A technology that captures heat or light without any mechanical or electronic assistance is called A. photovoltaic cells. B. passive solar technology. C. active solar technology. D. solar thermal systems.

B. passive solar technology.

Large hydroelectric dams A. can fulfill energy needs without any other source. B. produce no CO2 emissions to generate the electricity because nothing is burned. C. are cheap to build and have constant production capacity. D. do little if any environmental damage.

B. produce no CO2 emissions to generate the electricity because nothing is burned.

Current methods of producing bioethanol from cellulosic feedstocks are A. slow, but cheap and easy. B. slow, expensive, and energy-intensive. C. quick, cheap, and easy. D. quick, but expensive and energy-intensive.

B. slow, expensive, and energy-intensive.

Renewable energy sources are still a ____________ part of the world's energy system, and most of this is the burning of _____________. A. large; coal B. small; biomass C. large; biomass D. small, natural gas E. mall; liquid biofuel

B. small; biomass

We should consider the environmental, social, and economic costs of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources to fairly compare them. These three factors are known as the A. triple energy costs. B. triple-bottom line. C. true cost factors. D. energy efficient factors.

B. triple-bottom line.

A hydroelectric dam creates power when A. water is turned into steam to spin a turbine and generate electricity. B. water flows through pipes to spin a turbine and generate electricity. C. water is diverted from a river to spin a turbine and create electricity. D. a waterfall produces an electrical charge.

B. water flows through pipes to spin a turbine and generate electricity.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using corn to produce ethanol? A. Growing, harvesting, and producing corn ethanol requires more energy than the ethanol itself can create. B. Chemically, the production of ethanol from corn is a difficult process and does not always work. C. Growing corn requires a lot of fertilizers and pesticides, which are chemical inputs made from fossil fuels. D. It cannot be done on a small scale.

C. Growing corn requires a lot of fertilizers and pesticides, which are chemical inputs made from fossil fuels.

What is TRUE of the production of nuclear fuel? A. The mining and processing is safe for both human health and the environment. B. There are very few processing steps needed to produce nuclear fuel. C. Hazardous waste is created at every step of the process. D. Nuclear fuel is the most stable and abundant form of uranium.

C. Hazardous waste is created at every step of the process.

Since we started producing nuclear power in 1960, how common are large nuclear accidents that result in the major release of radioactive material into the environment? A. Unfortunately this is a frequent occurrence with more than 35 such accidents since 1960. B. With 18 accidents so far, we have had, on average, one large accident about every 3 years. C. Large nuclear accidents are very uncommon. There have only been 3 such accidents in nuclear power's history. D. Large nuclear accidents are relatively uncommon. There have been fewer than 10 large nuclear accidents in the 55 years of nuclear power production.

C. Large nuclear accidents are very uncommon. There have only been 3 such accidents in nuclear power's history.

Which statement is TRUE of our renewable energy options? A. A single renewable energy source will be able to replace fossil fuels. B. Renewable energy options cannot be used together. C. We must put money and resources into deploying renewable energy options. D. Renewable energy options do not have any disadvantages.

C. We must put money and resources into deploying renewable energy options.

A biofuel is A. fuel used by living organisms. B. any energy source that is made by natural processes. C. an energy source made from biological material. D. material from living or recently living organisms or their by-products.

C. an energy source made from biological material.

An example of direct biomass energy is A. fermenting corn or sugarcane to produce ethanol. B. producing cellulosic ethanol from grasses or trees. C. burning waste such as cornstalks or manure. D. using restaurant fry grease to make biodiesel.

C. burning waste such as cornstalks or manure.

Biodiesel can be made A. in a simple process that can only be done on a large scale. B. through the process of fermentation, using yeast and corn. C. from any fat or oil. D. from grass or crop waste.

C. from any fat or oil.

Low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) can include A. used control rods. B. used nuclear fuel rods. C. gloves or tools exposed to radioactive material. D. waste from nuclear weapon production.

C. gloves or tools exposed to radioactive material.

The waste produced in a typical nuclear fission reactor A. is fed back into the reactor to be reused as fuel. B. decays to forms that are safe to handle in about 25 years. C. is actually more radioactive than the original fissionable material used as fuel. D. is collected and reprocessed for medical radiation therapies.

C. is actually more radioactive than the original fissionable material used as fuel.

A step present in cellulosic ethanol production that is NOT present in grain ethanol production is A. preparation. B. distillation. C. lignin separation. D. fermentation. E. pretreatment.

C. lignin separation.

The only energy source burned on Samsø, other than gasoline and diesel fuel in vehicles, is A. crop waste. B. natural gas. C. straw biomass. D. coal.

C. straw biomass.

An important finding of Tillman's research using diverse grasses for biofuel production is that A. the grasses require more fertilizers and pesticides than regular biofuel crops like corn. B. fuels made from the grasses have a lower return on energy investment than energy harvested from soybeans. C. the grasses can be grown on neglected agricultural lands and in marginal soil. D. the grasses release more CO2 than they store.

C. the grasses can be grown on neglected agricultural lands and in marginal soil.

Nuclear energy accounts for approximately _% of global energy production. A. 40 B. 20 C. 30 D. 10 E. 50

D. 10

Nuclear power plants require _% more water than a coal-fired power plant. A. 50 B. 75 C. 95 D. 25

D. 25

If of the world's deserts were covered in photovoltaic cells, we could supply all of the world's electricity needs. A. 2% B. 50% C. 10% D. 4% E. 25%

D. 4%

Strains of algae developed for biodiesel have as much as % of the cell's weight as oil. A. 15 B. 20 C. 75 D. 50 E. 25

D. 50

What is TRUE of biodiesel? A Biodiesel can be used in gasoline engines. B. Over 75% of biofuels currently produced are made by biodiesel companies. C. Production of biodiesel is a more complex process than ethanol production. D. Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel, nontoxic, and biodegradable.

D. Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel, nontoxic, and biodegradable.

Why is geothermal power becoming more popular? A. It can only be used for heating, but not for cooling. B. It is not expensive. C. It can be used anywhere. D. It has a low carbon footprint.

D. It has a low carbon footprint.

Where does the energy come from that a nuclear reactor uses to generate electricity? A. It is the energy released when radioactive isotopes are used to burn coal. B. It is the energy released when radioactive material is burned. C. It is energy released when radioactive isotopes combine in a chemical reaction to form a larger atom. D. It is the energy released when radioactive isotopes are split into 2 or more smaller atoms.

D. It is the energy released when radioactive isotopes are split into 2 or more smaller atoms.

Why are researchers so interested in cellulosic ethanol as a biofuel? A. Cellulosic ethanol is a better substitute for gasoline than corn ethanol. B. Making ethanol from cellulose is easier than making it from crops such as corn or soybeans. C. Cellulosic ethanol is more energy rich than other ethanol products. D. Since all plants contain cellulose, any plant could be used as a feedstock.

D. Since all plants contain cellulose, any plant could be used as a feedstock.

Samsø is considered an "energy positive" island, producing more energy than it uses. How can this be true when they still had to import gasoline for their vehicles? A. They did import some gasoline but they exported other liquid biofuels to compensate. B. Some of their vehicles were plug-in hybrid vehicles whose batteries were charged using wind-generated electricity. C. Every household in Samsø participated in the collective production of energy, so all made a positive contribution to the project. D. Their windmills generated enough extra electricity to compensate for the gasoline they consumed.

D. Their windmills generated enough extra electricity to compensate for the gasoline they consumed.

Is U-235 or U-238 more radioactive? Why? A. U-235 is more radioactive because it has more electrons than U-238. B. U-238 is more radioactive because it is a bigger atom and thus it is less stable. C. U-238 is more radioactive because it has 238 protons instead of the normal 235. D. U-235 is more radioactive because it has a lighter nucleus since it contains fewer neutrons.

D. U-235 is more radioactive because it has a lighter nucleus since it contains fewer neutrons.

The difference between generating power from nuclear energy compared to other power plants is that the source of heat comes from A. burning biomass. B. geothermal heat. C. burning coal. D. a controlled nuclear reaction.

D. a controlled nuclear reaction.

To qualify as a sustainable energy source, the energy source must have which characteristic? A. be available everywhere B. be usable over and over again C. have no environmental impact D. be renewable and used at a rate at which it is naturally replaced

D. be renewable and used at a rate at which it is naturally replaced

When comparing energy return on energy investment, Tillman found ____________ has the highest net yield of energy. A. biomass diesel B. corn ethanol C. soybean biodiesel D. biomass ethanol

D. biomass ethanol

The easiest and cheapest first step to reducing our fossil fuel use is A. passive solar construction. B. using wind power. C. burning waste for energy. D. conservation and energy efficiency.

D. conservation and energy efficiency.

The most common biomass fuels are used almost exclusively for A. biodiesel fuels. B. jet fuel. C. a fuel additive. D. cooking and heating.

D. cooking and heating.

In 2016, over half of the energy use worldwide came from A. hydroelectric power. B. nuclear power. C. wind power. D. fossil fuels. E. solar power.

D. fossil fuels.

Which type of radiation the greatest potential to cause serious health problems? A. alpha radiation B. particle radiation C. beta radiation D. gamma radiation

D. gamma radiation

We have many options to decrease our energy use. Some steps require some investment of money but have a quick pay-back time. What is the first thing a homeowner should do if he or she wants to make some changes that will save energy? A. insulating hot-water pipes, since this is cheap and effective B. installing attic insulation, since heating and air conditioning use the most energy C. upgrading appliances to Energy Star models D. having an energy assessment done to identify what the most cost effective first step would be

D. having an energy assessment done to identify what the most cost effective first step would be

The renewable energy source producing the most electricity in 2016 was A. geothermal. B. solar. C. biomass. D. hydroelectric. E. wind.

D. hydroelectric.

Atoms that have different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus, but the same number of protons, are called A. radioactive. B. fissionable. C. molecules. D. isotopes.

D. isotopes.

Isotopes are named according to their A. number of protons. B. number of electrons. C. atomic number. D. mass number.

D. mass number.

Cellulosic ethanol is bioethanol that can be made from A. corn. B. algae. C. sugarcane. D. switchgrass. E. leftover restaurant fry oil.

D. switchgrass.

The greenest kilowatt is the one A. that costs the least. B. producing the most energy per cost. C. causing the least environmental damage. D. you never use.

D. you never use.

Tillman's research found high diversity plots sequestered times more carbon in the soil than the amount released by growing and processing the crop into a biofuel. A. 10 B. 16 C. 7 D. 5 E. 14

E. 14

What is the energy produced from moving water?

Hydropower

What is energy that hold protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom?

Nuclear Energy

What are energy sources that are replenished over a short time scale or are perpetually available?

Renewable Energy

What is the energy derived from the movement of air?

Wind Energy