APES Unit 6

Which of the following is the approximate projected rate of change in renewable energy consumption from 2010-2040 ?

2.33 quadrillion BTUs per year

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. Which of the following describes 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. Which of the following is the best evidence to support this viewpoint?

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

Which of the following geologic profiles would most likely be found at the circled region in the figure?

Peat, peat, sedimentary rock, igneous rock

Which of the following best identifies a benefit of using renewable energy sources rather than nonrenewable energy sources?

Renewable energy sources are replenishable and are virtually inexhaustible by human consumption, whereas nonrenewable sources do not form in a short period of time.

Which of the following explains why some energy sources are renewable?

Renewable energy sources can be replenished naturally, at or near the rate of consumption.

Which of the following statements about the global distribution and use of fossil fuels is best supported by the data on the map?

Saudi Arabia and Australia produce large volumes of fossil fuels with relatively low energy demand.

Which of the following claims best supports the argument that nuclear energy is a nonrenewable energy source?

The uranium deposits on Earth are finite.

Which of the following 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.

Which of the following is an example of the process of cogeneration?

Using wastewater from electricity production for heating homes

Which of the following best describes why people in less developed countries use wood as a primary energy source?

Wood, in the form of firewood and charcoal, is often readily available.

Which of the following best describes a potential negative environmental effect of fossil fuel extraction?

Air pollutants, such as methane and particulate matter, are emitted into the atmosphere.

Which of the following correctly depicts the nuclear chain reaction that occurs in a nuclear power plant?

All neutrons!!

Which of the following describes a step in the generation of electricity using fossil fuels that can most directly lead to an environmental problem?

Fossil fuel is burned to boil water.

Which of the following would be the best location for a wind farm with ten industrial turbines?

Arranged uniformly on a local farm that has fields and pastureland for dairy and grain production

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

Biomass

Which of the following best describes an advantage of burning biomass rather than burning fossil fuels in developing countries?

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

At which of the following locations in the nuclear power plant would an accident most likely result in the release of fission products?

C

If a country possesses large oil and gas reserves within its borders, which of the labeled rock types must be present in the underlying geology of the country?

C

In the diagram above, which letter correctly identifies the step where kinetic energy is converted to mechanical energy?

C

Based on the data above, approximately how much greater is the average cost of electricity produced in the United States from offshore wind than from hydroelectric power?

2.3 times greater

Which of the following best describes the total consumption of all fossil fuels in 2040 compared to the consumption of nuclear energy in 2040?

Consumption of fossil fuels will be approximately 1313 times greater than consumption of nuclear energy.

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?

Established technology and transportation infrastructure for fossil fuels allows these resources to be converted into energy to meet consumer demand.

Which of the following best describes 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.

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?

Natural gas burns more efficiently and cleanly than other sources of carbon-based fossil fuels, thus contributing to a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Which of the following PV panel systems is least effective at producing energy?

No tracking, tilted east

If peak electricity use occurs around 2p.m. in the Los Angeles area and avoiding brownouts is more important to the installers of the PV panels than annual energy output, which of the following PV panel systems would be best to use in the area?

No tracking, tilted west

Which of the following is a characteristic of nonrenewable energy sources that distinguishes them from renewable energy sources?

Nonrenewable energy sources typically take a longer time to replenish than renewable energy sources do.

Which of the following best describes a benefit of increasing the number of offshore wind farms rather than onshore wind farms?

Offshore winds farms will produce up to three times as much electricity as wind farms on land because of increased wind speeds offshore.

Which of the following statements is best supported by the data shown in the graph?

PV panels that can track the Sun and are constantly moving to always directly face the Sun produce the most electricity daily and annually.

Which of the following statements best describes a difference between nonrenewable and renewable energy sources?

Renewable energy sources can be replaced naturally at current consumption rates, whereas nonrenewable energy sources cannot be replaced easily.

Which of the following best describes an environmental problem that is often linked to the process of fracking?

Wastewater from fracking operations is injected into porous rock formations, which can induce seismic activity.