APES Test (3/14) AP Questions
How much money did the family save in the month in which they lowered the thermostat setting halfway through the billing period?
$5
Based on the data in the graph, which of the following methods would be used to calculate the percent change of wind energy generated from 2010 to 2015 ?
(200kWh−100kWh)(100kWh)×100
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?
1,825
The half-life of radon gas is approximately four days. Four weeks after the introduction of radon into a sealed room, the fraction of the original amount remaining is closest to
1/128
A family of four lives in a three-bedroom house and uses an average of 900kWh of electricity per month. The family cools their house for three months during the summer with two window-unit air conditioners that each use 350kWh of electricity per month. Which of the following is the percentage of the family's total annual electricity that is used to run the two air conditioners for the three summer months?
19.4 %
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?
20,000
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?
30 Years
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?
50
The half-life of a radioactive substance with the decay rate shown in the graph above is closest to
7 seconds
An automobile travels at an average speed of 55 miles per hour (mph) with a maximum speed of 65mph. It travels a distance of 75 miles and consumes a total of 2.8 gallons of fuel. Which of the following represents the correct calculation for the fuel efficiency of the automobile?
75miles/2.8gallons
An individual has been driving a passenger vehicle to work, averaging 60 miles a week in a car that averages 22 miles per gallon. The individual plans to purchase a hybrid vehicle that averages 50 miles per gallon. If the individual drives to work 50 weeks a year, how much gas will they save if they switch to a hybrid vehicle for their commute?
76 Gallons
Which of the structures in the diagram is the site where the nuclear power plant accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl occurred?
A
Which of the following best explains the process of electricity generation in a hydrogen fuel cell?
At the anode, hydrogen is oxidized and electrons flow in a circuit to the cathode. At the cathode, oxygen reacts with the hydrogen to produce water. Water and heat are by-products of the reaction.
Geothermal energy is the main energy source at this location because it is located on a large divergent boundary.
B
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.
This is the location of the world's largest hydroelectric dam, with a generating capacity of 22,500MW
C
Which of the following describes an environmental problem that can result from the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity?
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 countries has the largest coal reserves?
China
This area has low water-flow velocities because flowing water forms a reservoir that can be used for hydroelectric power generation or recreation.
D
Which of the following is the primary environmental problem associated with the use of nuclear power to generate electricity?
Disposal of radioactive waste
This region has been the largest petroleum exporter for the past four decades.
E
Which of the following is the most valid inference regarding electricity production, based on the graph above?
Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy.
Based on the diagram, which processes would provide the energy used to generate electricity at the power plant?
Fission in radioactive fuel
During the Cretaceous period of Earth's geological history, eastern Montana was covered with lowland swamps rich in plant life. These plants were buried and slowly decomposed. Which of the following resources would most likely be mined from the plant remains buried in eastern Montana during the Cretaceous?
Fossil fuels such as coal
Which of the following best describes an environmental problem associated with hydrologic fracturing, or fracking?
Fracking fluids can escape from the drill hole and contaminate surface water and groundwater.
Which of the following accurately describes a fuel cell vehicle?
Fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen to generate electricity that runs the motor.
Which of the following energy sources is not derived directly or indirectly from solar energy?
Geothermal
This type of energy utilizes heat that is stored beneath Earth's surface to heat water and produce steam.
Geothermal Energy
Extraction of natural gas by the process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is most likely to result in which of the following environmental problems?
Groundwater contamination
Economic benefits of building large dams include which of the following?
I and III only
A developer intends to use passive solar heating in a new construction project in Minnesota in an effort to reduce electricity costs for the property owners. Which of the following should be employed to maximize the benefit of passive solar heating?
Install south-facing glazed windows in the home and dark surfaces to cover the walls and floors.
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.
Installing effective ventilation systems in dwellings
Which of the following is a true statement about passive solar heating?
It is based in part on the principle of the greenhouse effect.
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.
Some automobiles in the United States are fueled by natural gas. What is the primary environmental advantage of natural gas relative to gasoline as a transportation fuel?
Natural gas combustion emits fewer pollutants.
Scientists are looking for new locations to generate electricity using geothermal energy. Which of the following locations would be the best choice for a geothermal energy generating plant?
Near tectonic plate boundaries
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.
This type of energy is considered a nonrenewable energy source.
Nuclear Energy
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.
Currently proven global reserves are expected to be largely exhausted within the next 50 years.
Oil
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 best describes how electricity is generated using photovoltaic cells?
Photons of light excite electrons that result in a flow of current.
Converts solar energy directly into electrical energy
Photovoltaics
Which of the following areas shown on the map of the United States has a history of coal deposits and is most likely to have mining operations?
Point B
The following data table shows the percentage of United States energy consumption by energy source for 2010 and 2017. Based on the provided data, which of the following best explains the change in energy resource use?
Renewable sources replaced nonrenewable sources for electricity generation but not for transportation.
Which of the following is a way for the government to encourage efficient energy use?
Requiring higher fuel economy standards for new cars
Is renewable
Solar
Which of the following environmental problems is most often associated with electricity generation in the type of power plant illustrated in the diagram?
Spent fuel rods are radioactive and must be disposed of properly.
Which of the following has the largest proven coal reserves?
The United States
Which statement best describes the approximate global distribution of coal supplies?
The United States, the former Soviet Union, and China together contain 50% of proven reserves.
The separation of the various components of crude oil in refineries is accomplished primarily by taking advantage of differences in which of the following?
The boiling points of the components
Which of the following statements correctly explains the role of fossil fuels in the production of energy?
The combustion of fossil fuels heats water to produce steam, which then turns a turbine.
Construction of a solar power plant is proposed for a desert area near a school. A student has hypothesized that the shade cast by the solar panels will increase the mortality of creosote bush, a native desert plant in the area. Before construction begins, what experimental data should the student collect in order to eventually test the hypothesis?
The direct sunlight received by creosote bush in the desert area (in kWh/m2) during a 12-month period
Which of the following best describes how the use of hydrogen fuel negatively impacts the environment?
The energy needed to produce the hydrogen fuel may come from fossil fuels, whose use contributes to ocean acidification and global climate change.
Which of the following is the best example of an energy storage element in a solar energy system?
The hot water tank in a solar hot water system
Which of the following statements about geothermal energy is accurate?
The location of geothermal energy sources ranges from short distances below ground to miles below the surface.
Which of the following is a negative consequence associated with photovoltaic solar cells?
The manufacture of photovoltaic solar cells involves toxic metals that can be released into the environment.
The water used in this type of power plant is often released back into a reservoir. Which of the following effects could this released water have on the reservoir?
The temperature of the released water causes a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the reservoir.
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?
The uranium deposits on Earth are finite.
The graph above shows the radioactive decay of Cesium-137 that was produced in a power plant in 2011.
The year when Cesium-137 can be disposed of safely
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 considered an advantage of using nuclear power to generate electricity?
There is no CO2 emitted from the nuclear reaction.
Which of the following is an unintended consequence of the use of hydroelectric dams for electricity generation?
There will be more erosion than sediment deposition downstream from the hydroelectric dam.
Compared to a coal-fired power plant that produces the same amount of energy, a nuclear power plant generates more
Thermal Pollution
Which of the following is a true statement concerning the production of electricity in conventional nuclear power plants using fission reactors?
Thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy and then to electrical energy, as in coal-burning power plants.
Which of the following is the most practical solution to maximizing energy production at wind farms while minimizing the risk to wildlife?
Turn off turbines during periods of maximum migration.
Which of the following would be most likely to be used as a fuel source for electricity generation in the plant displayed in the diagram?
Uranium-235
Which of the following negative consequences is most often associated with using biomass for energy production?
Using biomass for energy production can result in local deforestation.
Which of the following gases is released from the structure labeled C in the diagram?
Water Vapor
All of the following substances are derived from petroleum EXCEPT
cellulose
An advantage of using natural gas, rather than oil, as a fuel is that natural gas is
cleaner because it burns more completely
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the pumping of highly pressurized water with a mixture of sand and chemicals into boreholes to
create cracks within the rock in order to provide pathways for the release of gas and oil
A major limitation of using photovoltaic cells to generate electricity is that they
do not produce as much electricity on cloudy days
Buildings designed to partially heat rooms by passive solar heating rely on
materials that absorb and store solar energy to warm the room
There are various stages in the formation of coal as heat and pressure are increased and moisture content is decreased. These stages, in order, are
peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite
In contrast to low-level radioactive waste, most high-level radioactive waste is currently
stored at reactor sites
Geothermal energy plants are a viable alternative energy source because they
use the heat from Earth's interior to create steam that is used to generate electricity and then can be pumped back into the ground
