evr chapter 16
Which of the following statements is NOT accurate regarding geothermal power? Geothermal energy can be used as heat exchangers for heat pumps for homes and businesses. Geothermal power can deplete groundwater sources. Geothermal power reduces but does not eliminate emissions. Geothermal power generators are one of the true fully sustainable energy sources.
... Geothermal power generators are one of the true fully sustainable energy sources.
Based on the yearly average values, calculate the solar radiation per square meter for one year. ANSWER: 4,440 kWh per year 1,560 kWh per year 370 kWh per year 130 kWh per year
1,560 kWh per year
Commercially available household photovoltaic systems cost approximately $20,000. The average cost of electricity in the United States is approximately $0.09 per kilowatt hour. At these prices how long would it take for the photovoltaic system to generate $20,000 of electricity? Assume the system will produce enough kilowatt hours for a four-person household in Topeka, Kansas. ANSWER: 35 years 12.5 years 50 years 0.1 year
12.5
U.S. hydropower dam construction was greatest during the ________. ANSWER: 1970s to 2000 late 1800s industrial revolution 1930s to 1960s early 21st century
1930's to 1960's
In what year did uranium oxide production peak in the United States? ANSWER: 1970 1980 1960 1950
1980
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of wind power? Wind power has a better EROI ratio than do nuclear power, coal, or natural gas for electricity production. Enough wind is present in the United States to provide all of the U.S. electricity needs. Wind turbines take up large amounts of land that is then unsuitable for other purposes. Wind speeds--and therefore power generation--are greater over water.
Wind turbines take up large amounts of land that is then unsuitable for other purposes.
B20 represents ________. ANSWER: a variety of broccoli used in the production of cellulosic ethanol a new vitamin recently isolated from sugar cane bagasse a bacterial strain used to ferment corn to make ethanol a ratio of biodiesel to petrodiesel in alternative vehicular fuels a synthetic compound that can be mixed with fossil fuel to give more energy
a ratio of biodiesel to petrodiesel in alternative vehicular fuels
Corn-based ethanol production has a number of drawbacks, including ________. ANSWER: increased use of fertilizers depletion of fresh water substantial inputs of fossil fuel energy increased use of pesticides all of the above are drawbacks of corn-based ethanol production
all of the above are drawbacks of corn-based ethanol production
What is an example of an energy source that is renewable and has less environmental impact than fossil fuels? crude oil natural gas bioenergy coal
bioenergy
Worldwide, the most widely used renewable energy resource is ________. ANSWER: wind solar bioenergy hydroelectric nuclear
bioenergy
Of the following renewable energy resources, which one has the highest life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions? hydropower biomass wind power solar power
biomass
Bagasse and sugar cane-based ethanol are major items in the energy resources of ________. ANSWER: Brazil Tuvalu the Maldives Mexico China
brazil
Recently, how has Germany reduced its dependence on fossil fuels? by mass producing biogas resources by utilizing fusion power by subsidizing the hydraulic fracturing production in oil shale deposits by utilizing the feed-in tariff system
by utilizing the feed-in tariff system
Vegetable oil ________. ANSWER: can be burned as fuel is a necessary ingredient in biodiesel is a fossil fuel is nonrenewable must be processed into biodiesel to operate engines
can be burned as fuel
If current trends continue, the United States is likely to ANSWER: decrease domestic production and increase imports and exports. increase domestic production and increase imports and exports. increase domestic production and decrease imports and exports. decrease domestic production and decrease imports and exports.
decrease domestic production and increase imports and exports.
________ built the first offshore wind farm in 1991. ANSWER: Denmark Spain The United States Mexico France
denmark
Regarding PV cells, what is released from the "p-type" layer and transferred to the "n-type" layer, thus initiating an electrical current? atoms electrons solar energy protons
electrons
Of the following, ________ represent proper ranking of the U.S. total primary energy consumed from the greatest to least used. ANSWER: fossil fuels, bioenergy, hydroelectric, new renewables, nuclear fossil fuels, bioenergy, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables fossil fuels, nuclear, bioenergy, hydroelectric, new renewables fossil fuels, bioenergy, hydroelectric, nuclear, new renewables bioenergy, fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables
fossil fuels, bioenergy, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables
The form of energy delivered to an electrical generating turbine in a geothermal facility is in the form of ________. ANSWER: warm soils and crushed rock heated hydrogen gas hot water or steam molten magma radioactive isotopes
hot water or steam
The United States generates more electricity from ________ than from any other renewable energy source. ANSWER: wind bioenergy geothermal hydroelectric solar
hydroelectric
Hydropower uses the __________ energy of water to generate electricity. static potential nuclear kinetic
kinetic
________ leads the world in percentage of its electricity derived from hydropower. ANSWER: Russia Canada Norway Sweden The United States
norway
More and more wind farms are being located ________ because winds are stronger there. ANSWER: in mature forests in deserts offshore in densely populated urban areas in the Arctic
offshore
Designing buildings to maximize absorption of sunlight during winter and to keep the interiors cool during summer is referred to as ________. ANSWER: nuclear energy collection passive solar energy collection wind energy collection active solar energy collection geothermal energy collection
passive solar energy collection
Harnessing energy by designing buildings to maximize or minimize the absorption of incident solar radiation are ________. ANSWER: passive solar energy collection active solar energy collection photovoltaic cell collectors hydrogen fuel-cell collectors Concentrated solar power (CSP) devices
passive solar energy collection
Corn-produced ethanol ________. ANSWER: cannot be mixed with other fuels does not require inputs of fossil fuel energy results in higher food prices for corn and corn products does not produce greenhouse gases when burned yields more than 10x the energy required to produce it
results in higher food prices for corn and corn products
The first stage in generating power from a hydrogen fuel cell is to ________. ANSWER: split hydrogen atoms into hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons convert water into a hydrocarbon split methane (CH4) into hydrogen atoms and carbon reduce water to hydrogen and oxygen gases react water with CO2
split hydrogen atoms into hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons
Ethanol produced from bioenergy starts with ________ produced by ________. ANSWER: methane; sewage sludge starch; corn and sugar cane ammonia; anaerobic bacteria CO2; burning fossil fuels hydrogen gas; wind turbines
starch; corn and sugar cane
What is the process behind tidal energy? the back and forth movement of the daily tidal cycle the difference between high and low tides electricity generated by the rise and fall of tides waves rushing back and forth as a result of tides
the difference between high and low tides
What this figure does not tell you is ________. ANSWER: the relative amount of solar energy used to generate electricity compared to other renewable sources the relative amount of electricity produced from geothermal energy compared to other renewable sources the proportion of U.S. energy consumption that comes from non-renewable sources whether wind energy plays any role in U.S. energy and electricity production what proportion of each renewable energy source the United States produces and consumes
the proportion of U.S. energy consumption that comes from non-renewable source
What is the ultimate source for geothermal energy? the radioactive decay of elements deep within Earth ignition due to crude oil and natural gas deposits magma that wells up from Earth's core rocks melting into magma due to geysers
the radioactive decay of elements deep within Earth
What is electrolysis? the conversion of sunlight into electricity in a PV cell the generation of energy from wave motion increasing the efficiency of wind turbines the splitting of water into component hydrogen and oxygen
the splitting of water into component hydrogen and oxygen
The only energy source(s) from ocean water so far put into commercial production are ________. OTEC tidal and ocean wave generators OTEC and ocean wave generators tidal electrical generators tidal and OTEC generators
tidal electrical generators
Assume that photovoltaic conversion of solar energy has 10% efficiency. Calculate how many square meters of photovoltaic cells would be needed to supply one person's electricity for the year, based on the yearly average values. ANSWER: 2.85 m2 0.285 m2 0.0285 m2 28.5 m2
28.5 m2
Based on the yearly average values, calculate one person's residential electricity needs for a year. ANSWER: 1,560 kWh per year 370 kWh per year 130 kWh per year 4,440 kWh per year
4,440 kWh per year
What was the net amount of uranium imported into the United States in 2005? ANSWER: 65 million pounds 20 million pounds 45 million pounds 5 million pounds
45 million pounds
How much uranium oxide did the United States produce in 2005? ANSWER: 5 million pounds 40 million pounds 65 million pounds 20 million pounds
5 million
Approximately what percentage of overall U.S. energy consumption does bioenergy contribute? ANSWER: 5% 9% 12% 49%
5%
If efficiency of photovoltaic cells improves to 40%, how many square meters of photovoltaic cells would be needed for one person's yearly electricity use? ANSWER: 2.85 m2 7.12 m2 11.4 m2 1.14 m2
7.12 m2
Why is there little to no growth expected for hydropower? Almost all rivers that can be dammed for power generation have been dammed already. The cost of generating power is much too high. Hydropower uses a nonrenewable resource that is quickly being depleted. Too much pollution is generated when the dams are in operation.
Almost all rivers that can be dammed for power generation have been dammed already.
Describe the trends in uranium oxide domestic production from the peak production year to 2005. ANSWER: Domestic production declined slightly. Domestic production declined dramatically. Domestic production increased dramatically. Domestic production increased slightly.
Domestic production declined dramatically.
What sort of threat does wind energy pose to certain kinds of wildlife? The towers can topple during storms. The force of the wind emitted can divert the flight path of birds and other flying animals. Wires leading to the nacelle are often exposed, and this can shock creatures such as squirrels. Flying creatures such as birds and bats are killed when they fly into wind turbine blades.
Flying creatures such as birds and bats are killed when they fly into wind turbine blades.
Which of the following statements about ethanol is true? We can supply all of the automotive fuel used in the United States if we just double ethanol production. Corn-based ethanol has a high energy returned on investment (EROI) value. We can easily grow enough corn ethanol and supply the world's food needs. Growing corn for ethanol requires substantial inputs of fossil fuel energy.
Growing corn for ethanol requires substantial inputs of fossil fuel energy.
How is cellulosic ethanol different from traditional corn-based ethanol? It is made from wheat or rice grains instead of corn. It can be made from used grease and oil from restaurants. It can be made from the nonfood portions of plants and from wood. It is made from sustainably grown corn.
It can be made from the nonfood portions of plants and from wood.
What is the basis for the use of hydrogen fuel cells? It has not been demonstrated to work for powering vehicles. It is an example of a renewable energy source in action. It will result in the release of pollution to the atmosphere. It is extremely energy-efficient.
It is extremely energy-efficient.
How is the sun's energy production different from the process in which energy is produced in current nuclear power plants? Both the sun and nuclear power plants release energy through the chemical reaction of uranium and hydrogen. The sun releases energy through nuclear fission, whereas our current nuclear power technology releases energy through nuclear fusion. The sun releases energy through nuclear fusion, whereas our current nuclear power technology releases energy through nuclear fission. Both the sun and nuclear power plants release energy through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and helium.
The sun releases energy through nuclear fusion, whereas our current nuclear power technology releases energy through nuclear fission.
________ strongly influences the amount of energy generated from hydropower. ANSWER: Latitude The phase of the moon The temperature of water in the boiler and turbine The volume of water released and the height of the fall The temperature of reservoir water
The volume of water released and the height of the fall
Which of the following is one of the three current major drawbacks of solar energy? Certain greenhouse gases are emitted with its use. This resource is intermittent in nature. The resource is nonrenewable. It emits radiation.
This resource is intermittent in nature.