unit 6
T or F: geothermal energy releases zero emissions.
F
T or F: solar power releases zero emissions
T
coal that is dried or converted to a cleaner gas is called a) syngas b) biogas c) supergas d) petrogas
a) syngas
The law of horizontality describes a) igneous rock formation b) how older rock layers are deeper underground than younger c) volcanic blast pattern d) how younger rock layers are deeper than older rock
b) how older rock layers are deeper underground than younger
Of the renewable energy resources, which is growing the fastest? a) geothermal b) wind c) solar d) biogas
b) wind
Nitrogen's residency time in the environment is approximately a) 40 years b) 4,000 years c) 4 million years d) 400 million years
d) 400 million years
The amount of time it takes for the radiation in a sample of uranium-235 waste to be reduced by half is __________. a) 10 years b) 500 years c) 1 million years d) 700 million years
d) 700 million years
Acid rain has been measured in a) United States b) Asia c) Netherlands d) All of the above
d) All of the above
How does the burning of coal contribute to acid deposition, otherwise known as acid rain? a) Burning coal releases sulfur and nitrogen acids. b) Acidic pollutants from coal burning destroy the ozone layer. c) Burning coal increases the probability of rain. d) Burning coal releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
d) Burning coal releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Which of the following is the best example of cogeneration? a) A power plant uses both coal and natural gas as fuel. b) A trash-to-steam power plant accepts both residential and commercial waste. c) Several power plants supply the same city with electrical energy. d) Emissions from power plants are captured and stripped of sulfur for commercial sale. e) A coal-fired power plant captures waste heat and uses it to heat adjacent buildings.
e) A coal-fired power plant captures waste heat and uses it to heat adjacent buildings.
roughly _______ percent of global energy comes from fossil fuels. a) 80% b) 70% c) 65% d) 50%
a) 80%
flexible-fuel vehicles can operate on a mix of _____ percent ethanol and ______ percent gasoline a) 85 ; 15 b) 60 ; 40 c) 50 ; 50 d) 10 ; 90
a) 85 ; 15 (10 ; 90 is the highest ethanol ratio accepted in most conventional vehicles)
As a result of the 1970s energy crisis, where does the United States now import most of its oil from? a) Canada b) Saudi Arabia c) Mexico d) OPEC nations
a) Canada
What does the moderator do in a nuclear fission reactor? a) It slows down the neutrons so that they can react with the nucleus of a uranium atom. b) It dissolves the fuel rods so that the uranium atoms can more easily interact. c) It provides the neutrons used in the nuclear chain reaction. d) It absorbs excess neutrons so that the chain reaction does not get out of control.
a) It slows down the neutrons so that they can react with the nucleus of a uranium atom.
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? a) Near tectonic plate boundaries b) Near fossil fuel resources c) Near the equator d) Near warm ocean currents
a) Near tectonic plate boundaries
Which type of ocean power is currently experimental and not in commercial use? a) Ocean thermal energy conversion b) Tidal energy generators c) Wave-motion energy generators
a) Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
Which of the following statements regarding change in energy resource use is true? a) Renewable sources replaced nonrenewable sources for electricity generation but not for transportation. b) Most of the petroleum used in the United States is imported from other oil-rich countries. c) United States power plants changed to nuclear energy for electricity generation rather than using renewable sources during this time period. d) Petroleum power plants replaced natural gas power plants at the same time that new renewable energy plants were constructed.
a) Renewable sources replaced nonrenewable sources for electricity generation but not for transportation.
Why would we apply the precautionary principle to switching to a hydrogen economy? a) There are concerns that hydrogen gas could deplete the ozone layer. b) While it can be burned, we have no way of converting it to electricity efficiently. c) Like fossil fuels, below-ground hydrogen deposits are a limited resource. d) There are few ways to generate hydrogen, so it may be limited in availability.
a) There are concerns that hydrogen gas could deplete the ozone layer.
When plants absorb carbon dioxide + sunlight to make glucose + build cellular structures, it is a) biological carbon cycle b) remediation cycle c) sulfur cycle d) calcium cycle
a) biological carbon cycle
Organic matter that is compressed under high pressure to form solid carbon structures is __________. a) coal b) biomass c) peat d) charcoal
a) coal
Which fossil fuel was formed from dense, woody material and has the greatest reserves-to-production (R/P) estimate? a) coal b) oil c) natural gas
a) coal
What government-sponsored policy requires utilities to purchase power from citizens who produce excess electricity with renewable sources? a) feed-in tariffs b) renewable energy mandates c) tax credits d) research subsidies
a) feed-in tariffs
Layer of rock that drifts slowly over the supporting, malleable, upper mantle layer is called a) geologic plate b) a guyot c) magmic rock d) tellurite
a) geologic plate
Which of the following renewable energy resources produces the most pollution in its production of electricity? a) geothermal b) focused solar c) wind d) PV solar cells
a) geothermal
The intergovernmental panel on Climate change gathered 200 scientists together to create a) guidelines to atmospheric inventories across borders b) crop rotation schedules c) green certificates d) communal resource management
a) guidelines to atmospheric inventories across borders
Currently, Sweden has decided to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by replacing them with __________. a) hydropower, nuclear power, and bioenergy b) solar power, wind turbines, and geothermal energy c) coal, oil, and natural gas d) fusion power, wind turbines, and geothermal energy
a) hydropower, nuclear power, and bioenergy
If a population's growth is slow w/ low birth rates + low death rates, which demographic is it? a) industrial b) transitional c) postindustrial d) pre-transitional
a) industrial
When rain has no time to evaporate, transpire, or move into groundwater reserves it becomes a) runoff b) permeation c) wetlands d) infiltration
a) runoff
To conserve water, major US cities require new building construction to use a) water-saving toilets b) slow running faucets c) small head shower nozzles d) copper wiring
a) water-saving toilets
Which of the following energy sources is sometimes fatal to wildlife when it is formed or generated? a) wind power b) geothermal c) nuclear power d) biomass
a) wind power
Atmospheric gases blanketing Earth exist in a mixture. What % of this mixture is oxygen? a) 8 b) 20 c) 36 d) 58
b) 20
The half-life of a radioactive substance with the decay rate shown in the graph above is closest to a) 5 seconds b) 7 seconds c) 14 seconds d) 18 seconds e) 21 seconds
b) 7 seconds
Which of the following is an environmental problem associated with abandoned coal mines? a) Thermal pollution of streams in the area b) Acid drainage due to leaching of spoil heaps by rainwater c) Air pollution caused by smog from ozone formation d) Alkaline solutions that pollute streams e) Released nutrients that cause eutrophication into streams
b) Acid drainage due to leaching of spoil heaps by rainwater'
Which of the following statements about clean coal technology is true? a) Clean coal technology is too expensive to ever be used. b) Clean coal technologies will reduce coal pollution but will not reduce carbon dioxide emissions. c) Clean coal technologies will allow us to reduce the pollution produced by burning coal to zero. d) Clean coal technologies will decrease the cost of using coal.
b) Clean coal technologies will reduce coal pollution but will not reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
______ Is primarily responsible for acid rain in the northeast United States. a) Uranium-238 b) Coal c) Natural gas d) Oil e) Solar
b) Coal
Which of the following statements regarding energy is true? a) Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of shortages in coal supplies. b) Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy. c) The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of the low cost of constructing nuclear power plants. d) The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of shortages in coal supplies. e) Renewable energy has not increased as much as nuclear energy has since 1970 because of federal laws restricting construction of wind farms.
b) Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy.
Drawbacks include noise and the release of corrosive chemicals a) Photovoltaics b) Geothermal c) Biomass d) Hydroelectric e) Hydrogen fuel
b) Geothermal
Geothermal energy is the main energy source at this location because it is located on a large divergent boundary. a) Great Lakes b) Iceland c) China d) Japan
b) Iceland (it's not Japan because Japan is near a subduction zone NOT a divergent plate boundary)
Which of these is NOT true of wind power? a) Wind speeds--and therefore power generation--are greater over water. b) Wind turbines take up large amounts of land that is then unsuitable for other purposes. c) Wind power has a better EROI than nuclear, coal, or natural gas for electricity production. d) Enough wind is present in the United States to provide all of the U.S. electricity needs.
b) Wind turbines take up large amounts of land that is then unsuitable for other purposes.
Methane generated from the anaerobic breakdown of waste in landfills is known as ________. a) co-fire b) biogas c) greenhouse gas d) ethanol
b) biogas
Infectious, pathological and chemotherapy waste are types of a) fossil fuel waste b) biological waste c) radioactive waste d) cyber waste
b) biological waste
Which of the following best describes the way that the United States has dealt with the insecurity caused by foreign oil dependence? a) becoming stronger allies with Middle Eastern countries b) diversifying oil imports c) enacting laws mandating the use of oil only produced in the United States
b) diversifying oil imports
Julie has decided to become more environmentally friendly and turns off all her lights when they are not in use and unplugs all her electronic devices at night. This is an example of __________. a) energy efficiency b) energy conservation c) cogeneration d) energy creation
b) energy conservation
Which energy source has the lowest energy returned on investment (EROI)? a) hydropower b) ethanol c) wind power d) nuclear power
b) ethanol
oil shale, during its natural formation, is subjected to ________ pressure than is applied to oil during its natural formation. a) more b) less
b) less
Which fossil fuel is produced as a by-product that occurs when bacteria decompose organic material under anaerobic conditions? a) peat b) methane c) oil d) anthracite coal
b) methane
Which reserve of the following conventional energy resources will eventually (within the foreseeable future) become exhausted, even if it is used carefully? a) biofuels b) nuclear fission energy c) nuclear fusion energy d) biopower
b) nuclear fission energy
Which fossil fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons that must be separated before they can be individually used as different fuels? a) coal b) oil c) natural gas
b) oil
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 a) bituminous, peat, lignite, anthracite b) peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite c) peat, lignite, anthracite, bituminous d) lignite, bituminous, anthracite, peat e) anthracite, bituminous, peat, lignite
b) peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite
Which resource is NOT considered a "conventional alternative" to fossil fuels? a) nuclear power b) solar power c) hydropower d) bioenergy
b) solar power
The use of coal for cooking, heating, and other purposes began __________. a) with the industrial revolution b) thousands of years ago by Native Americans (and other ancient cultures) c) in the 1700s by people who needed cooking fuel sources
b) thousands of years ago by Native Americans (and other ancient cultures)
The United States and other industrialized nations devote the greatest proportion of their oil use to __________. a) agriculture b) transportation c) industry
b) transportation
Which of the following is an example of the process of cogeneration? a) using timber waste products as biofuel b) using wastewater from electricity production for heating homes c) using the corn crops for ethanol fuel production d) using the reservoir behind a hydroelectric dam for recreation
b) using wastewater from electricity production for heating homes
Approx how many people around the world depend on fuel wood as main fuel source? a) 500k b) 800k c) 1.5 billion d) 3 billion
c) 1.5 billion
Of the 5,513 known species of mammals what % is currently endangered? a) 7 b) 10 c) 22 d) 25
c) 22
What does the EROI (energy returned on energy invested) tell us about a potential energy source? a) A high EROI energy source will require a massive monetary investment before it can be extracted while a low EROI source does not. b) Whatever the EROI is when the analysis is first done is going to be the EROI for that energy source forever. c) A high EROI ratio means an energy source is worth extracting based on the amount of energy needed to extract it. d) An energy source with a low EROI will cause little environmental damage.
c) A high EROI ratio means an energy source is worth extracting based on the amount of energy needed to extract it.
Which country depends most on nuclear power for electricity? a) Japan b) Russia c) France d) United States
c) France
Which of the following accurately describes a fuel cell vehicle? a) Fuel cell vehicles run on both an internal combustion engine and a backup battery. b) Fuel cell vehicles are able to convert waste oil from the food industry into ethanol, which is burned as a source of power. c) Fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen to generate electricity that runs the motor. d) Fuel cell vehicles generate energy by creating a flow of electrons in a semiconducting material such as silicon. e) Fuel cell vehicles use methane to heat water, which creates steam that turns a turbine to generate electricity.
c) Fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen to generate electricity that runs the motor.
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 a) I only b) II only c) I and III only d) II and III only e) I, II, and III
c) I and III only
Nuclear power is a component of the line labeled "Other" in the graph. Why is it impossible for nuclear energy to completely replace oil and gas in the future? a) Nuclear power is unacceptable to the public, so they will not allow it. b) At the current rate of consumption, there is only enough uranium to last for fifteen more years. c) Nuclear power can supply electricity, but it cannot replace other uses of oil and gas. d) Nuclear energy is too costly for general use. e) Nuclear waste contributes more to global climate change than do oil and gas.
c) Nuclear power can supply electricity, but it cannot replace other uses of oil and gas.
Which of the following descriptions of primary extraction is accurate? a) Primary extraction uses solvents or flushing with water. b) Primary extraction is more expensive than secondary extraction. c) Primary extraction may leave as much as two-thirds of the total oil deposit below ground. d) Primary extraction is no longer used in the United States.
c) Primary extraction may leave as much as two-thirds of the total oil deposit below ground.
Which of the following is a negative consequence associated with photovoltaic solar cells? a) Photovoltaic solar cells increase the reliance on transport of fuels long distances from energy sources to homeowners. b) Smog and ground-level ozone can be created from pollutants released from photovoltaic solar cells during electricity generation. c) The manufacture of photovoltaic solar cells involves toxic metals that can be released into the environment. d) The installation of photovoltaic solar cells on houses and other buildings can result in the release of chemicals that destroy stratospheric ozone.
c) The manufacture of photovoltaic solar cells involves toxic metals that can be released into the environment.
Which of the following is a drawback to using biofuels, such as ethanol, as a fuel source? a) Ethanol-blended gasoline has higher carbon emissions than petroleum alone. b) The global demand for biofuels is continually decreasing. c) There is high energy investment in producing and processing the crops needed for ethanol production. d) Ethanol-blended gasoline increases the likelihood of freezing gas lines in winter months.
c) There is high energy investment in producing and processing the crops needed for ethanol production.
Which of the following is an unintended consequence of the use of hydroelectric dams for electricity generation? a) Greenhouse gases will be released from the hydroelectric dam during the generation of electricity. b) The frequency of floods will increase downstream from the hydroelectric dam. c) There will be more erosion than sediment deposition downstream from the hydroelectric dam. d) The population of fish that migrate to areas upstream from the hydroelectric dam to breed will increase.
c) There will be more erosion than sediment deposition downstream from the hydroelectric dam.
Which of the following is a reason why hybrid electric vehicles use less fossil fuel per mile traveled than a typical internal combustion engine vehicle uses? a) Hybrid electric vehicles don't burn fossil fuels; they run on electric energy. b) Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by the Sun using rooftop photovoltaic panels. c) When the brakes are applied in hybrid electric vehicles, kinetic energy is converted into electric energy to charge the batteries that assist the electric motor. d) Batteries in hybrid electric vehicles can be charged in the driveway overnight, when rates for electricity usage are typically low. e) The engines in hybrid electric vehicles are powered by biofuels made from genetically modified corn.
c) When the brakes are applied in hybrid electric vehicles, kinetic energy is converted into electric energy to charge the batteries that assist the electric motor.
Which of the following is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world? a) Hydrogen fuel cell b) Biodiesel c) Wind energy d) Geothermal e) Hydroelectricity
c) Wind energy
A home is constructed with a heating system that pipes cold water in the winter deep underground to be heated, then returns it to the house. In the summer, it pumps warm water down and cools it. What kind of geothermal system is this? a) geothermal electricity generation b) an enhanced geothermal system c) a ground-source heat pump d) this is not an example of geothermal energy
c) a ground-source heat pump
Why are we so eager to find clean coal technologies? a) because the government is charging industry for the amount of coal emissions being produced b) because coal in its natural form costs too much for us to use c) because coal is the most abundant of the fossil fuels in the United States d) because coal is the most environmentally friendly of the fossil fuels
c) because coal is the most abundant of the fossil fuels in the United States
Which resource IS considered a "conventional alternative" to fossil fuels? a) wind b) geothermal c) bioenergy d) ocean power
c) bioenergy
Most biomass-fueled power plants produce electricity and heat that can be used by people in a process known as __________. a) pyrolysis b) co-firing c) cogeneration d) decomposition and fermentation
c) cogeneration
Which of the following methods for conservation allows businesses and homes to make use of wasted heat from traditional heating and cooling systems? a) car pooling b) double generation c) cogeneration d) energy tracing
c) cogeneration
What is a downside of hydroelectric power? a) Hydroelectric power has a low EROI ratio b) hydroelectric power produces air pollutants c) dams trap nutrient-rich sediments d) electricity generation is not steady and predictable
c) dams trap nutrient-rich sediments
What two major economic or global problems could be alleviated if we based our energy on hydrogen? a) oil spills and nuclear accidents b) air pollution and nuclear accidents c) dependence on fossil fuels and climate change d) oil spills and environmental degradation from mining
c) dependence on fossil fuels and climate change
Coal can be converted into a cleaner burning gas by combining it with oxygen and steam at a high temperature through the process of __________. a) carbon capture b) oxygenation c) gasification d) air infusion
c) gasification
burning _____ emits cancer-causing hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene a) peat b) wood c) gasoline d) coal
c) gasoline
Which of these forms of energy does not originate from radiation emitted by the sun? a) wind b) fossil fuels c) geothermal d) biomass
c) geothermal
Which greenhouse gas is about 145% higher now than it was in the 1800's? a) butane b) nitrogen c) methane d) oxygen
c) methane
Pollutants from agriculture, storm runoff, lawn fertilizers, and sewer overflows are a) point source b) open source c) non-point source d) easy to trace
c) non-point source
The use of __________ power grew very quickly in the 1970s and 1980s, but our use of it has dramatically decreased since then. a) electrical b) hydropower c) nuclear d) coal
c) nuclear
What "unconventional" fossil fuel is being extracted in Alberta, Canada, and shipped into the United States through the Keystone pipeline? a) methane hydrates b) shale oil c) oil sands
c) oil sands
If a country possesses large oil and gas reserves within its borders, which rock type must be present in the underlying geology of the country? a) magma b) igneous rock c) sedimentary rock d) metamorphic rock
c) sedimentary rock
Which form of renewable energy has experienced the most rapid growth in recent years? a) wind b) hydropower c) solar d) geothermal
c) solar
Which type of mining creates the greatest environmental damage? a) extraction of natural gas b) oil drilling in the ocean c) surface strip-mining and mountaintop removal d) primary extraction of oil on land
c) surface strip-mining and mountaintop removal
proven recoverable reserves are both ______ and _______ recoverable. a) physically; feasibly b) reasonably ; sustainably c) technologically ; economically d) respectfully ; practically
c) technologically ; economically
pH measures____ a) the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the atmosphere b) the amount of dissolved oxygen present in water c) the amount of hydrogen ions in water d) the amount of hydrogen ions in the atmosphere
c) the amount of hydrogen ions in water
Which of the following descriptions is NOT accurate regarding geothermal power? a) Geothermal energy can be used as heat exchangers for heat pumps for homes and businesses. b) Geothermal power can deplete groundwater sources. c) Geothermal power reduces but does not eliminate emissions. d) Geothermal power generators are one of the true fully sustainable energy sources.
d) Geothermal power generators are one of the true fully sustainable energy sources.
How is cellulosic ethanol different from traditional corn-based ethanol? a) It is made from sustainably grown corn. b) It is made from wheat or rice grains instead of corn. c) It can be made from used grease and oil from restaurants. d) It can be made from the nonfood portions of plants and from wood.
d) It can be made from the nonfood portions of plants and from wood.
Currently proven global reserves of this energy source are expected to be largely exhausted within the next 50 years. a) Uranium-238 b) Coal c) Natural gas d) Oil e) Solar
d) Oil
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? a) The released water is radioactive and is lethal to a variety of organisms in the reservoir. b) Chemical pollutants in the released water cause algal blooms in the reservoir. c) Ash from the power plant is dissolved in the released water and will precipitate out into the reservoir. d) The temperature of the released water causes a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the reservoir.
d) The temperature of the released water causes a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the reservoir.
Which country generates the most electricity from nuclear energy? a) Japan b) Russia c) France d) United States
d) United States
Which of the following scenarios is an example of cogeneration? a) Using dishwashing liquid and bacteria to clean up oil spills b) Using electricity to cool a house and releasing the heat into the atmosphere c) Using two alternative energy sources to produce electricity for a city d) Using the steam given off from a coal-fired electrical generation plant to heat nearby buildings
d) Using the steam given off from a coal-fired electrical generation plant to heat nearby buildings
Tidal turbines driven by ocean currents are called a) mills b) PV cells c) dams d) barrages
d) barrages
Which alternative energy source makes the largest contribution to world energy production? a) hydropower b) nuclear energy c) wind d) biomass
d) biomass
One way the oil industry is decreasing the environmental impacts of drilling is __________. a) by vertical drilling b) by reducing production each year by 10% c) by switching to clean coal technologies d) by directional drilling
d) by directional drilling
burning _____ emits mercury which biomagnifies in food chains a) peat b) wood c) gasoline d) coal
d) coal
The 2 main ways geologists describe rock textures are grain size and a) smoothness b) size c) brittleness d) color
d) color
______ pump(s) pump cold water into dry underground rock, allow it to be heated, then draw it back up to generate power. a) bioenergy b) ground-source heat pumps c) hydraulic d) enhanced geothermal systems
d) enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)
Hydrogen's use in fuel cells __________. a) is an example of a renewable energy source in action b) will result in the release of pollution to the atmosphere c) has not been demonstrated to work for powering vehicles d) is extremely energy-efficient
d) is extremely energy-efficient
Producing energy creates jobs, but not all energy sources create the same number of jobs. Which energy source creates the most jobs per unit of energy produced? a) natural gas b) biomass c) coal d) photovoltaic solar
d) photovoltaic solar
Electrolysis is used to __________. a) convert sunlight into electricity in a PV cell b) generate energy from wave motion c) increase the efficiency of wind turbines d) split water into hydrogen and oxygen
d) split water into hydrogen and oxygen
CAFE Tier 2 standards reduce nitrous oxide emissions and a) methane emissions b) CFC emission c) ozone emissions d) sulfur emission
d) sulfur emission
What simple mode of power was once used to grind grain and pump water a) hydroelectric b) electric generator c) dog sled d) wind
d) wind
