EVRN 148 ch 12 nonrenewable energy questions
What environmental problems could be addressed if China increased their use of nuclear energy production and decreased use of coal? a. reduced change of off-shore spills b. decreased reliance on foreign oil c. a decrease in pollution from sulfur, heavy metals and carbon dioxide d. fewer cases of contaminated drinking water reserves as a result of hydraulic fracturing
a decrease in pollution from sulfur, heavy metals and carbon dioxide
which of these types of radiation is matched correctly to its components? a. beta radiation: an electromagnetic wave b. alpha radiation: two protons and two neutrons c. gamma radiation: an electron d. beta radiation: two protons and two neutrons
alpha radiation: two protons and two neutrons
which fossil energy source is the most plentiful on earth? a. coal b. petroleum c. natural gas d. oil
coal
what is likely to be the main factor that limits growth of coal use in upcoming decades? a. coal reserves are not evenly spread across the world b. coal use has large environmental impacts, such as air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions c. coal is currently being phased out in favor of nuclear energy d. coal reserves are expected to last only for a few more decades, and it is unlikely that there are any more coal deposits to find
coal use has large environmental impacts, such as air pollution and carbon
which of the following is not a major environmental impact of oil production? a. ecosystem damage from oil spills b. ecological disturbance from tar sand mining c. air pollution from oil refineries d. disrupted ocean migration patterns due to off-shore drilling
disrupted ocean migration patterns due to off-shore drilling
which factor(s) contribute to the formation of the most compressed forms of coal? a. extended heating and compression b. large amounts of mineral matter, including metals c. presence of high water concentrations d. large amounts of oxygen available during formation
extended heating and compression
assume that it costs $100 to extract a barrel of oil from a particular location in the deep ocean. that barrel is initially $80 not the world market, but prices change so that it is now worth over $120. the classification of the location's oil would likely change a. the oil would not change category since the quality of the oil remains unchanged b. from sub economic reserves to marginal resources c. from recoverable reserves to sub economic resources d. from marginal reserves to recoverable reserves
from marginal reserves to recoverable reserves
which of the following is a practice that would be classified as producing unconventional oil and gas? a. drilling for oil in the middle east b. producing gasoline from coal c. hydraulic fracturing d. producing disel fuel from soybeans
hydraulic fracturing
which combination below represents an environmental benefit and environmental drawback of natural gas compared to other fossil fuels? (benefit; drawback) a. less air pollution; greater CO2 emission b. no CO2 emission; ground water pollution c. cheaper; less air pollution d. less air pollution during gas combustion; water and air pollution during production
less air pollution during gas combustion; water and air pollution during production
If you were exploring the modern world for fossil fuels, which of the following pieces of information would be most useful to you? a. the geologic history of an area b. current climate conditions c. the location of modern swamps and marshes d. whether an area is underwater or not
the geologic history of an area
how does the release of CO2 compare between the production of conventional oil and the production of unconventional oil, such as that extracted from tar sands? a. unconventional oil is produced sustainably and results in no CO2 production, whereas conventional oil results in a great deal of CO2 being released b. the production of unconventional oil results in less CO2 production than conventional oil c. the production of unconventional oil results in greater CO2 production than conventional oil d. the production of unconventional oil results in the same amount of CO2 production as conventional oil, since oil is oil
the production of unconventional oil results in greater CO2 production than conventional oil
where did the energy in fossil fuels originally come from? a. heavy oil sands b. three-dimensional seismic surveying c. the sun's energy captured by photosynthesis d. conventional oil and gas deposits
the sun's energy captured by photosynthesis
which of the following is NOT true about the United States' switch over to natural gas as a major source for electricity generation rather than coal? a. the natural gas found in the US burns "cleaner" than coal b. there are larger reserves of natural gas in the ground than coal c. the US was suddenly able to access a lot of natural gas at once d. natural gas is more expensive to use than coal
there are larger reserves of natural gas in the ground than coal
why would a fossil fuel production company want to use a technique like 3-dimensional seismic surveying before setting up an oil or natural gas drilling operation? a. to ensure that no underground pipelines or electricity lines are hit during the drilling b. to make sure there is no possibility of groundwater contamination during drilling c. to identify pockets of natural gas or oil underground prior to drilling d. to identify the easiest path through the rock for the drilling equipment
to identify pockets of natural gas or oil underground prior to drilling
why is fractional distillation used on crude oil? a. to take out contaminants from oil b. to separate out hydrocarbons into different usable forms c. to partially remove the solids from crude oil d. to turn oil into natural gas
to separate out hydrocarbons into different usable forms
which of the following is true regarding global natural gas distribution and use? a. the united states has the largest percentage of global proven natural gas reserves b. russia must import most of its natural gas c. two of the top three nations, in terms of percentage of global reserves, are located in the middle east d. despite changes in technology, estimates of natural gas reserves have remained fairly steady over the past decade
two of the top three nations, in terms of percentage of global reserves, are located in the middle east
if the bedrock under the arctic national wildlife refuge contains an estimated 3 billion barrels of oil and the united states consumes about 19 million barrels of oil per day, how many days of U.S. consumption could these oil deposits support? a. 16 days b. 500 days c. 157 days d. 5400 days
157 days
which of the following countries or regions is paired with the correct information about its oil supplies? a. south and central america: large oil reserves spread fairly evenly among nations b. the middle east: second largest amount of conventional oil in the world, after south america c. canada: large reserves of oil in tar sands d. russia: small amounts of fossil fuel and almost no natural gas
Canada: large reserves of oil in tar sands North America: Largest oil reserves found in Canada Canada: Large resources of oil in tar sands The Middle East: Highest amount of conventional oil in the world
which of these is the most compressed and least polluting form of coal? a. sub-bituminous b. lignite c. peat d. anthracite
anthracite
anthracite coal has undergone much more heating and compression than lignite coal. which of the following is true about the differences between these types of coal? a. anthracite coal is more energy dense than lignite coal b. lignite coal can sometimes be found in a semi-liquid form c. anthracite is considered a lower-quality coal, because the extra heating reduces the amount of energy in the coal. lignite coal contains impurities such as sulfur and metals, whereas Anthracite coal is free of contaminants
anthracite coal is more energy dense than lignite coal
Which of these use or extraction techniques is correctly matched with the fossil fuel for which it would perform the most environmental benefit? a. the installation of devices to remove sulfur from waste gases when burning natural gas b. applying carbon sequestration techniques during the burning of coal c. the mining of lignite as opposed to harder forms of coal d. the use of hydraulic fracturing to reduce water use during natural gas production
applying carbon sequestration techniques during the burning of coal
one possible future for energy use focuses on the development of the very large deposits of oil shales, methane hydrates, and other forms of unconventional fossil energy. if we were to pursue this particular energy future, how would atmospheric CO2 be affected, and how might this be best addressed in an equitable way? a. atmospheric CO2 would rise and the only way to address this would be to restrict more and more people from using energy b. atmospheric CO2 would decrease because these unconventional sources produce less CO2 than conventional sources. thus, the problem of having too much CO2 is being addressed already by using these sources c. atmospheric CO2 would rise, but this would not need to be addressed because atmospheric CO2 is not harmful d. atmospheric CO2 would rise and could potentially be addressed using techniques that pull CO2 out of the atmosphere and store it somewhere for a long period of time
atmospheric CO2 would rise and could potentially be addressed using techniques that pull CO2 out of the atmosphere and store it somewhere for a long period of time this is often referred to as carbon capture and sequestration
Which of the following is the main technical challenge with running a nuclear reactor? a. avoiding the production of too much heat and/or explosive gases b. maintaining enough heat inside the reactor to keep the reaction going c. keeping the reactor free of debris from excess uranium d. providing a consistent supply of uranium to keep the reactor going
avoiding the production of too much heat and/or explosive gases
which of the following would you expect to be true regarding coal mining and/or use? a. carbon sequestration is used before coal is burned to decrease the amount of carbon it contains b. new "clean coal" technologies have allowed coal use to rise in recent decades c. because of higher concentrations of impurities, burning lignite coal would lead to more acid rain than burning anthracite coal d. newer, more efficient mining methods have led to a decrease in water pollution by toxic metals
because of higher concentrations of impurities, burning lignite coal would lead to more acid rain than burning anthracite coal
Suppose that in the future, solar energy became extremely inexpensive, and air pollution was the most critical concern. Based on air pollution produced, which fuel would be best to phase out? a. natural gas b. oil c. coal d. nuclear
coal
in what setting would dewatering be used to obtain natural gas, and why? a. in deep sea environments where water prevents the extraction of natural gas b. in cabled deposits to remove the water from pores so the gas can then move toward the gas well c. in dry areas where water is found only in underground settings as a cap that prevents the movement of natural gas to the surface d. in offshore locations where ocean water holds the gas in place prior to drilling
in cabled deposits to remove the water from pores so the gas can then move toward the gas well
During a catastrophic nuclear meltdown, certain changes occur in the reactor that can lead to the loss of containment of the materials in the reactor core. Which of the following might be a reasonable response to this worse case scenario? a. increase the flow of coolant and put more neutron absorbing rods into the reactor b. stop the flow of coolant and pull the neutron absorbing rods out of the reactor c. reduce the flow of coolant while increasing electricity output d. turn off power to the reactor
increase the flow of coolant and put more neutron absorbing rods into the reactor these actions will slow down the reaction
the technology used to carry out hydraulic fracturing of subsurface fossil fuel deposits has only been widely available for a couple of decades. what has happened to natural gas prices and availability as the result of the use of this technology? a. natural gas has become cheaper and more available because the use of this technology has greatly increased the amount of gas that can be extracted b. natural gas has become more pollution because the gas generated with hydraulic fracturing has higher sulfur content than normal gas reserves c. natural gas has become cheaper and less available because the use of this technology has depleted many of the known natural gas reserves d. natural gas has become more expensive and more available because this technology has resulted in more extraction of natural gas deposits
natural gas has become cheaper and more available because the use of this technology has greatly increased the amount of gas that can be extracted
why does uranium have to be enriched before it can fuel a nuclear reactor? a. naturally occurring uranium does not contain enough of the fissionable isotope to sustain a nuclear reaction b. enriching uranium adds other elements to lower the risk of a nuclear meltdown c. naturally occurring uranium is not in the gaseous form in nuclear reactors d. it is only enriched to form nuclear weapons; naturally occurring uranium is sufficient for nuclear reactors
naturally occurring uranium does not contain enough of the fissionable isotope to sustain a nuclear reaction
If you were in charge of air pollution regulations in Colorado and could choose to generate energy from any non-renewable source, which of the following lists best represents the best to worst fuel choices if your goal is to reduce both greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions? a. coal > natural gas > nuclear b. nuclear > natural gas > coal c. natural gas > nuclear > coal d. coal > nuclear > natural gas
nuclear > natural gas > coal
the following is NOT a concern when deciding whether to increase nuclear power generation on a global scale? a. nuclear power produces more CO2 than coal-fired power plants b. the unlikely but possible impact of a nuclear accident is huge c. no one has experience with managing the long-term high-level waste from reactors d. there is a societal aversion in many places to nuclear power based on previous nuclear accidents
nuclear power produces more CO2 than coal-fired power plants
tar sands are currently an economically viable and widely used unconventional fuel source. what nonrenewable fuel source do tar sands replace? why? a. oil. the sands are heated, and crude oil separates from the sand b. nuclear. the tar sands are radioactive much like uranium and can be mined for use in existing nuclear power plants c. natural gas. the sands are broken apart in a controlled setting, and natural gas is released from within them d. coal. the sands are mined in chunks and then can be used to create electricity in existing coal-fired power plants
oil. the sands are heated, and crude oil separates from the sand
assuming that there are abundant quantities of fossil fuels in the ground, when the prices of these fuels rise, do reserve estimates increase, decrease, or stay the same? why? a. reserve estimates stay the same because companies control the prices of fossil fuels for other reasons besides geologic availability b. reserve estimates stay the same because we have not found any new fossil fuel reserves in a very long time c. reserve estimates decrease because of the principles of supply and demand: the price of something usually rises as its supply dwindles d. reserve estimates increase because when we pay more for fossil fuels, we are able to extract from reserves that were simply too expensive to access before
reserve estimates increase because when we pay more for fossil fuels, we are able to extract from reserves that were simply too expensive to access before
how is electricity produced in a pressurized water reactor? a. nuclear fuel is burnt, and the heat is used to rotate a turbine b. a stream of water rotates a turbine c. steam rotates a turbine d. a flow of electrons is produced as they are emitted by plutonium atoms
steam rotates a turbine
which of the following is true about nuclear energy? a. strong forces hold atomic nuclei together, and some of this energy is released as heat when atoms are split in fission reactions b. some nuclear energy is released during normal chemical reactions but not enough to cause a chain reaction to occur c. nuclear fusion uses the energy of the sun to join atoms of light and heavy elements together d. one of the greatest dangers of using nuclear fission to generate electricity is the threat of nuclear explosions
strong forces hold atomic nuclei together, and some of this energy is released as heat when atoms are split in fission reactions
why don't we know exactly how much oil can be produced in the future? a. most of the potential oil deposits are deep under the ocean b. most of the oil is in the middle east, and OPEC does not release such information for security reasons c. the amount of oil that can be produced depends on new discoveries and the demand for oil d. that information isn't released by oil companies to the public
the amount of oil that can be produced depends on new discoveries and the demand for oil
what triggers the fission (splitting of the atom) of the uranium or plutonium in a nuclear power plant? a. the impact of neutrons on the nuclei of plutonium or uranium atoms, causing them to become unstable b. friction caused by the insertion of fuel rods into the core c. the primary ignition of the fuel using a blasting cap d. the continuous application of heat from a conventional source
the impact of neutrons on the nuclei of plutonium or uranium atoms, causing them to become unstable
which of the following is true about hydraulic fracturing? a. the method refers to drilling long horizontal wells to supplement hydraulic power sources b. the method was highly controversial until recent studies confirmed its safety c. the method creates small breaks in rock layers to allow the extraction of shale gas or tight gas d. the method is used in locations where there is extensive subsurface water that needs to be displaced in order to extract the natural gas
the method creates small breaks in rock layers to allow the extraction of shale gas or tight gas
which of the following represents the biggest environmental impact that would occur during normal operation of a nuclear power plant? a. the release of gases associated with climate change b. the continual, daily release of radiation from the plant c. a meltdown of a reactor core leading to a nuclear explosion d. the mining of fuel for the reactor and disposal of used radioactive materials produced in the power plant
the mining of fuel for the reactor and disposal of used radioactive materials produced in the power plant
which of the following is true regarding conventional and unconventional oil? a. conventional oil refers to oil extracted on land, whereas offshore oil platforms, such as the Deepwater Horizon, extract unconventional oil deposits b. conventional oil is environmentally damaging, whereas unconventional oil is sustainable and renewable c. the production of unconventional oil, such as that extracted from tar sands, results in greater CO2 production than the production of the same amount of conventional oil d. the united states has the largest reserves of unconventional oil in North America, while canada has large reserves of conventional oil
the production of unconventional oil, such as that extracted from tar sands, results in greater CO2 production than the production of the same amount of conventional oil
although extracting petroleum from shale oil is highly energy and resource intensive, why would companies such as Shell Oil want to develop this energy source? a. the products of shale oil are easily integrated into our current system of energy use b. shale oil emits less CO2 in the end than conventional fossil fuels c. the technology used to obtain shale oil is easily available, cheap, and environmentally friendly d. shale oil has a higher energy density than conventional oil
the products of shale oil are easily integrated into our current system of energy use
if combined, which pair of countries and/or areas would control the highest total percent of the world's coal? a. europe and eurasia b. africa and central america c. the united states and china d. the middle east and russia
the united states and china
which of the following statements about natural gas reserves is true? a. there is only about 20 more years' worth of natural gas reserves in the united states b. since natural gas reserves are dwindling, natural gases currently being phased out in favor of nuclear energy c. the united states dominates global natural gas reserves with an estimated 41% of global natural gas reserves d. the united states is finding new natural gas reserves faster than it consumes them
the united states is finding new natural gas reserves faster than it consumes them
which of the following statements is NOT a reason why fossil fuels are so cheap? a. negative impacts such as air pollution are not usually included in the price of fossil fuels b. there are so many fossil fuels available to everyone around the globe that there is no major economic demand for them to drive the prices up c. fossil fuel development and sue is heavily subsidized d. fossil fuel use is supported in both national and international markets
there are so many fossil fuels available to everyone around the globe that there is no major economic demand for them to drive the prices up
which of the following statements about the relationship between traditional fossil fuels and unconventional fossil fuels is true? a. traditional fossil fuels emit a lot of C)2 when they are burned, whereas unconventional fossil fuels do not emit any CO2 b. traditional fossil fuels all come from the middle east, whereas unconventional fossil fuels are fossil fuel sources that have been found elsewhere c. traditional fossil fuels are located in large pockets relatively near to the earth's surface, whereas unconventional fuels are present in deeper or smaller pockets and require new technology or greater expense to extract d. traditional fossil fuels typically result in more air pollution when they are burned, whereas unconventional fossil fuels are typically cleaner burning
traditional fossil fuels are located in large pockets relatively near to the earth's surface, whereas unconventional fuels are present in deeper or smaller pockets and require new technology or greater expense to extract
why will we likely emit more CO2 per unit of energy consumed as we use more unconventional fuel sources in the future such as tar sands and oil shale? a. unconventional fuels often take more energy to extract, which uses more fossil fuels and hence creates more CO2 b. unconventional fuels actually hold more CO2 inside of them, which burns off when they are used to make energy c. we need to run more unconventional fuels b mass/volume to get the same amount of energy as traditional fuels, which consequently produces more CO2 d. the question is moot. the majority of unconventional fuels actually do not produce more CO2 than traditional fossil fuels on average
unconventional fuels often take more energy to extract, which uses more fossil fuels and hence creates more CO2 b. unconventional fuels actually hold more CO2 inside of them, which burns off when they are used to make energy