APES Chapter 12
nuclear fuel
Fuel derived from radioactive materials that give off energy
crude oil
Liquid petroleum removed from the ground
curie
A unit of measure for radiation; 1 curie = 37 billion decays per second.
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
control rod
A cylindrical device inserted between the fuel rods in a nuclear reactor to absorb excess neutrons and slow or stop the fission reaction
fuel rod
A cylindrical tube that encloses nuclear fuel within a nuclear reactor
Bitumen
A degraded petroleum that forms when petroleum migrates to the surface of Earth and is modified by bacteria.
turbine
A device with blades that can be turned by water, wind, steam, or exhaust gas from combustion that turns a generator in an electricity-producing plant
petroleum
A fossil fuel that occurs in underground deposits, composed of a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, water, and sulfur
fossil fuel
A fuel derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago
electrical grid
A network of interconnected transmission lines that joins power plants together and links them with end users of electricity
fission
A nuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus, which then splits into two or more parts, releasing additional neutrons and energy in the form of heat
combined cycle
A power plant that uses both exhaust gases and steam turbines to generate electricity
nuclear fusion
A reaction that occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei
The Hubbert curve predicts that... A.Peak oil will occur once half of the supply is used up B.Finding additional reserves could greatly increase the time to peak oil C.Natural gas will be cheaper than oil by the early twenty-first century D.The cost of oil is independent of the world oil supple E.Coal will run out faster than oil
A.Peak oil will occur once half of the supply is used up
Which of the following is the most-fuel-efficient mode of transportation in terms of joules per passenger-kilometer? A.Train B.Bus C.Airplane D.Car with one passengers E.Car with three passengers
A.Train
Nuclear power plants produce electricity using energy from the radioactive decay of... A.Uranium-235 B.Uranium-238 C.Uranium-239 D.Plutonium-235 E.Plutonium-238
A.Uranium-235
subsistence energy source
An energy source gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs
Commercial energy source
An energy source that is bought and sold
nonrenewable energy resource
An energy source with a finite supply, primarily the fossil fuels and nuclear fuels
Bitumen is... A.A form of liquid coal B.A degraded type of petroleum C. A by-product of natural gas extraction D.A fast forming fossil fuel E.A petroleum product used for plastic production
B.A degraded type of petroleum
Which of the following energy sources is responsible for the largest fraction of electricity generation in the United States? A.Natural gas B.Coal C.Uranium D.Oil E.Wood
B.Coal
Which is a disadvantage if natural gas? A.High sulfur emissions B.Groundwater contamination C. High carbon dioxide emissions D.Low EROEI due to extraction processes E.Significant waste disposal
B.Groundwater contamination
A radioactive isotope has a half life of 40 years and a radioactivity level of 4 curies. How many years will it take for the radioactivty level ot become 0.25 curies A.80 B.120 C.160 D.200 E.240
C.160
Traveling alone in a car uses 3.6 MJ of energy per kilometer. If 4 people go on a trip of 400 miles, what is the MK used per person? A.200 Mj B.320 MJ C. 580 MJ D.860 MJ E.1440 MJ
C.580 MJ
Which is an example of a secondary energy source? A.Solar B.Coal C.Electricity D.Heat E.Nuclear
C.Electricity
Increases interest in nuclear power is due to... A.Low energy costs B.Lack of significant accidents C.Low carbon dioxide emissions D.New solutions for waste disposal E.Decreased energy independence
C.Low carbon dioxide emissions
The major source of energy in the United States is... A.natural gas B.coal C.Oil D.Nuclear E.Renewable
C.Oil
In 1969,M. King Hubbert published a graph known as the Hubbert curve.This graph shows... A.the amount of nuclear fuel available in North America B.The amount of nuclear fuel available in the world C.The point at which world oil production will reach a maximum and the point at which we will run out of oil D.The poin at which world oil production will increase E.The cual reserves found in the United States, China and Russia.
C.The point at which world oil production will reach a maximum and the point at which we will run out of oil
For a sample of Ti-44 with a half life of 63 years, how long until 1/16 of the original amount is left? A.62 years B.126 years C.189 years D.252 years E.315 years
D.252 years
Which type of coal has the highest energy density? A.Lignite B.Peat C.Bituminous D.Anthracite E.Subbituminous
D.Anthracite
Natural gas is primarily... A.Ethane B.Propane C.Butane D.Methane E.Kerosene
D.Methane
The fact that global transfer of energy from fuels to electricity is about 35 percent efficient is mostly a consequence of... A.The Hubbert curve B.The law of conservation of matter C.The first law of thermodynamics D.The second law of thermodynamics E.The law of limiting factors
D.The second law of thermodynamics
Which of the following is NOT a nonrenewable energy resource? A.Oil B.Coal C.Natural gas D.Wind E.Nuclear fuels
D.Wind
One g of U-235 produces approximately how much energy that 1 g of coal? A.3,000 times B.19,OOO times C.80,000 times D.400,000 times E.2,000,000 times
E.2,000,000 times
Which of the following is NOT associated with the surface extraction of coal? A.Low death rates among miners B.Relatively high economic costs C.Large piles of tailings D.Underground tunnels and shafts E.Acid runoff into streams
E.Acid runoff into streams
What makes petroleum convenient to use as fuel for transportation? I.High energy density II.Clean Burning III.Its liquid state A.I only B.I and III only C.II and III only D.III only E.I, II, and III
E.I, II, and III
Which of the following statements regarding petroleum is correct? I.It is formed from the decay of woody plants II.It contains natural gas as well as oil III.It migrates through pore spaces in rocks A.I,II and III B.I and III C.II only D.I and II E.II and III
E.II and III
Which energy source does not originate form the Sun? A.Coal B.Solar C.Oil D.Nuclear E.Natural gas
E.Natural gas
Currently, most high-level radioactive waste from nuclear reactor in the United States is... A.Stored in deep ocean trenches B.Buried in Yucca Mountain C.Reprocessed into new fuel pellets D.Chemically modified into safe materials E.Stored at the power plant that produced it
E.Stored at the power plant that produced it
Congeneration is... A.The use of two or more energy sources to generate electricity B.The use of two separate turbines to generate electricity C.A method of electricity generation that includes renewable energy D.A method of increasing.a power plants capacity factor E.The use of a fuel to generate heat and electricity
E.The use of a fuel to generate heat and electricity
capacity
In reference to an electricity-generating plant, the maximum electrical output
radioactive waste
Nuclear fuel that can no longer produce enough heat to be useful in a power plant but continues to emit radioactivity
oil sands
Slow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay
coal
Solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant materials preserved 280 million to 360 million years ago (also most abundant)
energy intensity
The energy use per unit of gross domestic product
capacity factor
The fraction of time a power plant operates in a year
peak oil
The point at which half the total known oil supply is used up
CTL (coal to liquid)
The process of converting solid coal into liquid fuel
Becquerel (Bq)
Unit that measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays; 1 Bq = decay of 1 atom or nucleus per second.
energy carrier
something that can move and deliver energy in a convenient, usable form to end users
Cogeneration
the use of a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat also known as combined heat and power
