APES semester 2 midterm chapter 15
D) 1,825 kwh
A home uses ten 100-watt lightbulbs for five hours per day. Approximately how many kilowatt-hours of electrical energy are consumed in one year by using the lightbulbs? A) 10,500 kwh B) 365 kwh C) 365,000 kwh D) 1,825 kwh E) 5,000 kwh
A) Established technology and transportation infrastructure for fossil fuels allows these resources to be converted into energy to meet consumer demand.
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) The environmental effects of fossil fuels are easy to mitigate, while the environmental effects of renewable resources are difficult to understand and reverse. C) 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. D) Fossil fuels are significantly cheaper than renewable resources, so they do not require government subsidies, which ultimately saves the government money.
B) cellulose
All of the following substances are derived from petroleum EXCEPT A) polystyrene B) cellulose C) DDT D) nylon E) asphalt
B) 20,000
Burning one gallon of gasoline in a car releases approximately 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. One person drives 60,000 miles in a car that averages 30 miles per gallon (mpg), while another person drives 60,000 miles in a car that averages 20 mpg. Over the course of the 60,000 miles, how many fewer pounds of CO2 are released by the 30 mpg car than by the 20 mpg car? A) 80,000 B) 20,000 C) 8,000 D) 100,000 E) 2,000
B) The uranium deposits on Earth are finite.
Directions: The following question(s) refer to the graph below showing the percent contribution of major fuel sources that have supplied energy for the United States for the past 150 years. The category labeled "Other" includes nuclear power, hydroelectricity, solar and wind power, and other alternative sources of energy. Although nuclear energy is considered a cleaner energy source than fossil fuels, some scientists argue this does not support the claim that nuclear energy is renewable. Which of the following claims best supports the argument that nuclear energy is a nonrenewable energy source? A) Nuclear energy has low carbon emissions and does not contribute to global warming. B) The uranium deposits on Earth are finite. C) Nuclear power plants convert water to steam, similar to fossil fuel-burning power plants. D) Nuclear energy is generated by the process of nuclear fission.
D) Nuclear power can supply electricity, but it cannot replace other uses of oil and gas.
Directions: The following question(s) refer to the graph below showing the percent contribution of major fuel sources that have supplied energy for the United States for the past 150 years. The category labeled "Other" includes nuclear power, hydroelectricity, solar and wind power, and other alternative sources of energy. Nuclear power is a component of the line labeled "Other" in the graph. Why is it impossible for nuclear energy to completely replace oil and gas in the future? A) Nuclear power is unacceptable to the public, so they will not allow it. B) Nuclear waste contributes more to global climate change than do oil and gas C) Nuclear energy is too costly for general use. D) Nuclear power can supply electricity, but it cannot replace other uses of oil and gas. E) At the current rate of consumption, there is only enough uranium to last for fifteen more years.
C) E
Directions: The following questions(s) refer to the locations indicated on the diagram. This region has been the largest petroleum exporter for the past four decades. A) A B) D C) E D) B E) C
A) 36 quadrillion BTUs
How many BTUs were consumed in the United States in 2017 by consumers that used petroleum as a fuel source? A) 36 quadrillion BTUs B) 28 quadrillion BTUs C) 97 quadrillion BTUs D) 62 quadrillion BTUs
D) 0.05 joules of light energy
If an incandescent lightbulb used for lighting has an efficiency rating of 5 percent, then for every 1.00 joule of electrical energy consumed by the bulb, which of the following is produced? A) 1.05 joules of heat energy B) 0.05 joules of heat energy C) 1.05 joules of light energy D) 0.05 joules of light energy E) 0.95 joules of light energy
B) the high risk of accidents such as Fukushima in Japan in 2011, Chernobyl in the U.S.S.R. in 1986, and Three Mile Island in the United States in 1979.
Nuclear power was predicted to supply 21% of the world's commercial energy. This has not been met because of A) the small supply of enriched uranium-235. B) the high risk of accidents such as Fukushima in Japan in 2011, Chernobyl in the U.S.S.R. in 1986, and Three Mile Island in the United States in 1979. C) approximately 75% of the available high-quality energy being given off as waste heat. D) the lack of long-term storage facilities for high-level radioactive wastes such as spent fuel rods. E) thermal pollution, which becomes a problem when nuclear power plants break down or must be dismantled.
D) China, the United States, and India
The 3 largest users of coal are A) China, the United States, and Mexico B) Saudi Arabia, Japan, and China C) Russia, China, and India D) China, the United States, and India E) India, the United States, and Mexico
A) peak production
The point at which pressure in a well begins to drop and production begins to decline is called the ____. A) peak production B) reduction point C) end point D) decline point
C) some high-quality energy is always degraded
The second law of thermodynamics dictates that ____. A) low-quality energy be es static B) high-quality energy does not degrade C) some high-quality energy is always degraded D) low-quality energy is required to get high-quality energy E) the amount of energy in the universe is constantly changing
D) Water vapor
Which of the following gases is released from the structure labeled C in the diagram? A) Radon-222 B) Carbon dioxide C) Methane D) Water vapor
A) methane
Which of the following is the primary gas in natural gas? A) methane B) ethane C) hydrogen sulfide D) propane E) butane
C) The combustion of fossil fuels heats water to produce steam, which then turns a turbine.
Which of the following statements correctly explains the role of fossil fuels in the production of energy? A) The heat released from burning fossil fuels rises and turns a turbine, which then releases carbon dioxide. B) The steam released from the combustion of fossil fuels turns a generator, which then powers a turbine. C) The combustion of fossil fuels heats water to produce steam, which then turns a turbine. D) Steam produced from a turbine ignites the fossil fuels, which then powers the generator.
B) Burning coal has led to very limited reserves.
Which of the following statements does not apply to burning coal? A) Burning coal produces a highly toxic ash B) Burning coal has led to very limited reserves. C) Burning coal emits trace amounts of radioactive materials D) Burning coal releases large amounts of black carbon particulates E) Burning coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels
A) The United States, the former Soviet Union, and China together contain 50% of proven reserves.
Which statement best describes the approximate global distribution of coal supplies? A) The United States, the former Soviet Union, and China together contain 50% of proven reserves. B) Australia, Japan, and France together contain 45% of proven reserves C) Brazil and South Africa together contain 33% of proven reserves. D) Germany, Brazil, and India together contain 75% of proven reserves. E) The United States contains 40% of proven reserves.
D) 30 years
A sample of radioactive waste has a half-life of 10 years and an activity level of 2 curies. After how many years will the activity level of this sample be 0.25 curie? A) 10 years B) 40 years C) 80 years D) 30 years E) 20 years
C) The increase in oil consumption outpaced the increases in coal and natural gas consumption.
According to the data plotted in the graph above, which of the following is true about the increase in world fossil fuel consumption between 1965 and 1980? A) The increase in coal consumption outpaced the increases in oil and natural gas consumption. B) Increases in oil and coal consumption outpaced the increase in natural gas consumption. C) The increase in oil consumption outpaced the increases in coal and natural gas consumption. D) The increase in natural gas consumption outpaced the increases in oil and coal consumption. E) Increases in oil, coal, and natural gas consumption occurred at about the same rate.
D) oil
According to the figure above, very little _____ is/are used to generate electricity. A) renewables B) coal C) natural gas D) oil E) nuclear energy
C) a switch to renewable energy will cause America to not need this resource.
Advocates for drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) believe that by using the oil found here we would decrease our depence on imported oil. However, opponents feel that A) since there is 20 years of oil found there we should do more research into this resource. B) there is relatively little oil so it is not worth degrading this fragile ecosystem. C) a switch to renewable energy will cause America to not need this resource. D) as demand goes up we will not need this resource. tundra ecosystems recover quickly and can handle the stress.
A) 50
After 200 million years, only 1/16 of the original amount of a particular radioactive waste will remain. The half-life of this radioactive waste is how many million years? A) 50 B) 12.5 C) 25 D) 100 E) 75
D) cleaner because it burns more completely safer to store because it is a gas
An advantage of using natural gas, rather than oil, as a fuel is that natural gas is A) less expensive because most reserves are in the United States B) less of a contributor to global warming because it does not release CO2 when it burns C) more abundant because it is a by-product of photosynthesis D) cleaner because it burns more completely safer to store because it is a gas
E) subsidized by the government or some other funding source
Any energy resource with a low or negative net energy yield cannot compete in the open marketplace with other energy alternatives with high net energy yields unless it is ____. A)stamped for approval under federal regulations B) valued by long-term customers C) advertised through the appropriate channels D) the only source of energy E) subsidized by the government or some other funding source
D) lower natural gas prices
By 2011, the growing supply of natural gas led to ____ in the United States. A) increased demand B) less development of alternative fuels C) higher oil prices D) lower natural gas prices E) a decrease in oil demand
E) release of carbon, which contributes to global climate change.
Coal has a huge environmental impact because of its A) effect on global climate. B) threat to human health due to air pollutants released when coal burns. C) use of new technology that makes coal safer and cleaner to remove from the earth and to transport to homes and industry D) high cost, mostly to cover the transportation of coal to electric power plants. E) release of carbon, which contributes to global climate change.
A) release of carbon, which contributes to global climate change.
Coal has a huge environmental impact because of its A) release of carbon, which contributes to global climate change. B) threat to human health due to air pollutants released when coal burns. C) effect on global climate. D) high cost, mostly to cover the transportation of coal to electric power plants. E) use of new technology that makes coal safer and cleaner to remove from the earth and to transport to homes and industry
C) thermal pollution
Compared to a coal-fired power plant that produces the same amount of energy, a nuclear power plant generates more A) fly ash B) SO2 C) thermal pollution D) CO2 E) particulates
D) oil
Conventional natural gas is often found in deposits above what other resource? A) peat B) coal C) uranium D) oil E) water
C) comes from cheap-to-extract deposits
Currently, oil has a high net energy ratio because it ____. A) is found in small deposits B) does not take much money to get it C) comes from cheap-to-extract deposits D) is found in stable countries E) comes from inaccessible places
A) B
For the diagram below, assume fracking has not been used with the oil and gas well. Rock layer that must have very low to no permeability A) B B) A C) C D) D
A) C
For the diagram, assume fracking has not been used with the oil and gas well. Rock layer that must be rich in organic matter that was subjected to heat and pressure over time during the formation of oil and natural gas. A) C B) D C) A D) B
E) reduce the use of coal-burning plants
If natural gas prices remain affordable, increased production would ____. A) make nuclear plants more affordable B) accelerate the use of wind power C) accelerate the use of solar power D) result in the U.S. imposing natural gas E) reduce the use of coal-burning plants
C) Natural gas burns more efficiently and cleanly than other sources of carbon-based fossil fuels, thus contributing to a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Natural gas, a nonrenewable fossil fuel, is often seen as an alternative fuel in the worldwide transition to a renewable energy future. A) 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? B) The process of extracting natural gas, known as hydraulic fracturing, requires very little water or energy. C) Natural gas burns more efficiently and cleanly than other sources of carbon-based fossil fuels, thus contributing to a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide. D) The infrastructure for storing and transporting natural gas can be used in the future in conjunction with hydrogen fuel technologies. E) Natural gas can be used in industrial applications only, but it has great potential to replace coal as a fuel source.
B) Oil
Of the following sources, which supplies the most commercial energy in the world today? A) Nuclear B) Oil C) Hydroelectric D) Biomass E) Solar
A) Anthracite is considered the highest grade coal because it is almost pure carbon, and it is often used for domestic heating.
Purity is a major factor in determining the type of coal used for energy. Which of the following types of coal are correctly paired with a description of its purity and common use? A) Anthracite is considered the highest grade coal because it is almost pure carbon, and it is often used for domestic heating. B) Coking coal is most widely available and contains 60-86% carbon, which makes it ideal for use in coal power plants. C) Lignite is the most mature and purest form of coal, and it is often used for large-scale power generation. D) Steam coal has a high carbon content with low amounts of impurities, which makes it ideal for use in the steel industry.
E) there is the right combination of clay, sand, oil, and bitumen.
The reason three-fourths of the world's oil sand is found in Alberta, Canada, is because A) Bogota, Colombia, was built on Andes Mountain rock, not on sand. B) Mexico City, Mexico, is on the former sandy lake bed and water is beneath the city, not oil. C) Austin, Texas, has already removed all of its oil sand from the ground. D) the Middle Eastern countries have already removed three-fourths of their sand. E) there is the right combination of clay, sand, oil, and bitumen.
B) Nuclear fission
The source that produces long-lived hazardous wastes A) Wind B) Nuclear fission C) Sunlight D) Biomass E) Tidal energy
B) Pennsylvania
The worst nuclear power accident in the United States occurred in 1979 in what state? A) California B) Pennsylvania C) Connecticut D) New York E) Washington
A) fracking
Using a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure to free tightly held oil and natural gas is known as ____. A) fracking B) high density pumping C) hacking D) mud drilling E) rotary drilling
E) net energy
What is the total amount of high-quality energy available after the energy needed to make it available is subtracted? A) entropy B) total energy C) gross energy D) useful energy E) net energy
B) Fracking fluids can escape from the drill hole and contaminate surface water and groundwater.
Which of the following best describes an environmental problem associated with hydrologic fracturing, or fracking? A) Fractures in the shale will close up once the fracking fluid is removed unless fine particles, like sand, are introduced to hold them open. B) Fracking fluids can escape from the drill hole and contaminate surface water and groundwater. C) The products of fracking release more carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels.
B) Partially decayed vegetation is placed under high-pressure, anaerobic, acidic conditions.
Which of the following best describes the conditions under which peat is formed? A) Partially decayed vegetation is placed under low-pressure, aerobic, alkaline conditions. B) Partially decayed vegetation is placed under high-pressure, anaerobic, acidic conditions. C) Partially decayed vegetation is placed under high-pressure, anaerobic, alkaline conditions. D) Partially decayed vegetation is placed under low-pressure, aerobic, acidic conditions.
A) Carbon dioxide is a product of the combustion fossil fuels, and it can lead to global climate change when released into the atmosphere.
Which of the following describes an environmental problem that can result from the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity? A) Carbon dioxide is a product of the combustion fossil fuels, and it can lead to global climate change when released into the atmosphere. B) A chemical reaction occurs between the fossil fuel and oxygen to produce energy for the generation of electricity. C) The combustion of fossil fuels can heat water to convert the water into steam to turn turbines that are connected to electrical generators. D) Combustion reactions using fossil fuels require more energy than they produce and are therefore very inefficient.
D) Burial deep underground at sites remote from population centers
Which of the following is the current recommendation of Congress for the permanent storage of high-level radioactive waste in the United States? A) Storage in huge pools of water at the nuclear plants where they are produced B) Storage deep in the Antarctic ice sheet and burial beneath the ocean floor C) Injection deep underground in remote areas between impervious layers of shale and clay D) Burial deep underground at sites remote from population centers E) Storage in concrete and steel casks, above ground in air-cooled buildings, at nuclear plants where they are produced
D) Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy.
Which of the following is the most valid inference regarding electricity production, based on the graph above? A) The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of shortages in coal supplies. B) Renewable energy has not increased as much as nuclear energy has since 1970 because of federal laws restricting construction of wind farms. C) Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of shortages in coal supplies. D) Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy. E) The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of the low cost of constructing nuclear power plants.
E) Disposal of radioactive waste
Which of the following is the primary environmental problem associated with the use of nuclear power to generate electricity? A) Radon leaking into buildings B)Depletion of the ozone layer C) Production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide D) Production of acid rain E) Disposal of radioactive waste
E) It emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels.
Which of the following is true of natural gas? A) It is easy to transport. B) It is found more in the U.S. than in Russia. C) It is pumped into pressurized tanks at deep sea oil rigs. D) It has a high net energy ratio. E) It emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels.
A) low CO2 emissions
Which of the following is true of nuclear powered electricity generation? A) low CO2 emissions B) higher land disruption than coal C) requires no subsidies D) reduced supplies of uranium E) low net energy yield
