chapter 17, energy: some basics · web view48. what are the different threats posed by strip-mining...

Chapter 17Energy: Some Basics

1. Which of the following terms refers to energy that is stored; for example the gravitational energy of water behind a dam:a) potential energyb) kinetic energyc) cogenerationd) soft path energye) first-law efficiency

Ans: aLink to: 17.1Difficulty: Easy

2. Which of the following terms refers to the capture and use of waste heat:a) potential energyb) kinetic energyc) cogenerationd) soft path energye) first-law efficiency

Ans: cLink to: 17.5Difficulty: Easy

5. Total worldwide energy use today is about 13.8 terawatts (trillions watts), and that figure is increasing very rapidly. The two general trends that are leading to the rapid increase in energy use are population growth and: a) increasing urbanizationb) declining energy efficiencyc) changes from fossil fuels to alternative energy sourcesd) rising standard of livinge) increasing demands for environmentally benign energy

Ans: dLink to: 17.1Difficulty: Easy

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6. A train carries 200 passengers from Washington, D.C. to New York. The locomotive uses 2800 liters of diesel fuel during the trip. Afterwards, all the energy that was in the diesel changed to: a) potential energy b) kinetic energyc) heat d) high-quality energye) antimatter


7. The car has the greatest potential energy:

a) at position 1b) at position 2c) at position 3d) at position 4e) just after a fill-up

Ans: bLink to: 17.2Difficulty: Easy

8. The car in the figure below has the greatest kinetic energy at:

a) position 1

4

2

13

4

2

13

b) position 2c) position 3d) position 4e) the position at which the car is moving the fastest

Ans: eLink to: 17.2Difficulty: Easy

9. At position 4 in the figure below, the car is accelerating. The energy that causes that acceleration is coming from:

a) potential energyb) kinetic energyc) chemical potential energyd) momentume) heat


10. At position 5 in the figure below, which is 100 meters down the road from position 4, there is a stop sign. When the car has stopped, all of the energy that went into moving the car goes into:

a) potential energyb) kinetic energy

4

2

13

4

2

13

c) chemical potential energyd) momentume) heat


11. The majority of Earth’s energy input comes from:a) geothermal heat from the Earth’s interiorb) the Earth’s albedo c) sunlight d) combustion of fossil fuelse) photolysis of ozone in the stratosphere


13. Which energy source supplies the majority of electrical power generation in the U.S.?a) hydroelectricb) solar c) nucleard) coale) oil


14. Energy:a) is the product of force times distanceb) can be destroyedc) is always conservedd) cannot be transformede) cannot be conserved


15. The first law of thermodynamics states that:a) efficiency of energy conversion is always less than 100%

b) energy is never created, never destroyed, but always preservedc) the present is the key to the pastd) energy is measured in joules, power in wattse) energy can go from higher quality forms to lower, but not in the opposite direction

Ans: bLink to: 17.2Difficulty: Medium

16. The second law of thermodynamics states that:a) efficiency of energy conversion is always less than 100%b) energy is never created, never destroyed, but always preservedc) the present is the key to the pastd) energy is measured in joules, power in wattse) energy can go from higher quality forms to lower, but not in the opposite direction

Ans: eLink to: 17.2Difficulty: Medium

18. Hard path energy is characterized as:a) high quality, decentralized, low technologyb) high yield, technology-intensive, and flexiblec) centralized, technology-intensive, and high yieldd) high tech, polluting, and based entirely on fossil fuelse) centralized, diverse, low yield


20. Soft path energy is characterized as:a) low technology, decentralized, with zero effect on the environmentb) high quality, high technology, based on renewable sourcesc) focused on conservation, centralized, and high technologyd) diverse, low quality energy, based on renewable sourcese) centralized, based on applying high-tech solutions to improve efficiency and yield

Ans: dLink to: 17.6

Difficulty: Medium

21. Soft path energy has all of the following characteristics except:a) diverse and flexibleb) local and decentralizedc) focused on renewable sourcesd) close match between energy quality and end-usee) environmental effects shifted from the local level to the regional


22. “Cogeneration” refers to the use of:a) waste heat to improve overall efficiencyb) scrubbers to reduce sulfur emissionsc) steam turbines to produce electricityd) alternative energy sourcese) pump-storage facilities

Ans: aLink to: A Closer Look 17.2Difficulty:

23. Refer to the Case Study in the textbook: “National energy policy.” What was the basic reason that California faced a serious energy crisis in 2001?a) California lawmakers refused to support hard path energy policiesb) several utility companies operating in the state went bankruptc) not enough oil and coal was availabled) energy demand rose because economic growth brought more people to the statee) all of the above

Ans: dLink to: Case StudyDifficulty: Medium

24. The two countries of Botkinlandia and Kellertopia share one single power plant with a maximum capacity of 10 gigawatts (10 billion watts = 10,000,000 kW). Kellertopia is small and prosperous, with a stable population of 500,000 and average energy use of 8 kW per capita. Botkinlandia is larger (pop.=1,000,000), less developed (per capita energy use = 1 kW), and growing fast (population and per capita energy use doubling every 20 years). Today, Kellertopia uses 80% of the electricity generated. What percent will it use in 40

years? a) 20%b) 25%c) 33%d) 50%e) 67%

Ans: bLink to: A Closer Look 17.1Difficulty: Hard

25. The two countries of Botkinlandia and Kellertopia share one single power plant with a maximum capacity of 10 gigawatts (10 billion watts = 10,000,000 kW). Kellertopia is small and prosperous, with a stable population of 500,000 and average energy use of 8 kW per capita. Botkinlandia is larger (pop.=1,000,000), less developed (per capita energy use = 1 kW), and growing fast (population and per capita energy use doubling every 20 years). For how long will the existing power plant be able to supply all of the demand for electricity of the two countries?a) the power plant is at its limit right nowb) the capacity will be exceeded in less than 5 yearsc) the capacity will be exceeded in less than 10 yearsd) the capacity will be exceeded in 20 yearse) capacity will never be exceeded

Ans: cLink to: A Closer Look 17.1Difficulty: Hard

26. Which energy transformation occurs as a book falls from the top of your book shelf towards the floor?a) the book’s potential energy and kinetic energy decreasesb) the book’s potential energy decreases and it’s kinetic energy increasesc) the book’s potential energy increases and it’s kinetic energy decreasesd) the book’s potential energy and kinetic energy increasee) according to the first law of thermodynamics, both energies stay the same


27. ________ are units of energy, and ________ are units of power:I. Exajoules; kilowatt-hoursII. Joules; wattsIII. BTUs; kilowatts

a) I onlyb) II onlyc) III onlyd) II and IIIe) I, II, and III

Ans: dLink to: A Closer Look 17.1Difficulty: Medium

28. The principal of the conservation of energy is known as:a) potential energyb) kinetic energyc) the first law of thermodynamicsd) thermometrye) the second law of efficiency


29. The biosphere continuously receives ______ from the Sun and radiates ______ into space.a) high-grade heat, low-grade energyb) low-grade energy, low-grade heatc) high-grade heat, no energyd) low-grade energy, high-grade heate) high-grade energy, low-grade energy


30. Water stored behind a dam is an example of:a) potential energyb) kinetic energyc) efficient energyd) inertial energye) momentum


31. Which of the following is the lowest quality energy form:a) sunlightb) electricityc) waterd) heate) biomass


32. Which of the following describes the term “cogeneration” best:a) generation of heat energy in a cycleb) using alternative and traditional power supplies togetherc) a more efficient production of heat energyd) the capture and use of waste heate) none of the above

Ans: dLink to: 17.5Difficulty: Medium

Essay

33. For each of the units below, state whether the unit measures:A) powerB) energyC) the unit electricity commonly is sold in

Joule _____British Thermal Unit _____Watt _____Quad _____Kilowatt-hour _____Exajoule _____

Ans: B, B, A, B, C, BLink to: A Closer Look 17.1Difficulty: Easy

34. In ancient Rome, a law was established to protect a person's right to unobstructed

sunlight. On what need was this law based on? Under what conditions might this law make sense today?

Ans: This law was based on energy scarcity. Wood supplies were insufficient to heat homes in winter, and they had to rely on passive solar energy.Link to: 17.1Difficulty: Medium

35. The textbook lists three general areas that should be targeted for greater energy efficiency. List these three areas and, for each, name one way in which efficiency could be improved.

Ans: building design – integral urban houses (also, increased insulation) industrial energy – use of cogenerationautomobile design – increased fuel efficiency (for example, by replacing

steel parts with lighter aluminum)Link to: 17.5Difficulty: Medium

36. The textbook lists (1) building design, (2) industrial energy, and (3) automobile design as general areas that should be targeted for greater energy efficiency. For each of these areas, name one way in which efficiency could be improved.

building design:industrial energy:automobile design:

Ans: building design – integral urban houses (also, increased insulation) industrial energy – use of cogenerationautomobile design – increased fuel efficiency (for example, by replacing

steel parts with lighter aluminum)Link to: 17.5Difficulty: Medium

37. Name three renewable energy resources.

Ans: water (hydropower)woodhydrothermal energysolar energy

Link to: 17.6Difficulty: Easy

38. According to the Environmental Science text, which areas of our socio-industrial complex should be targeted for the development of more energy efficiency? List three.

Ans: building designindustrial energyautomobile design


39. Characterize nuclear energy in each of the following ways (Circle the correct answer for each):

a fossil fuel: (yes or no)a renewable resource: (yes or no)an “alternative” energy supply (yes or no)a __________ path energy source (soft or hard)

Ans: no, no, yes, hardLink to: 17.6Difficulty: Easy

40. Producing one unit of electrical energy from coal or oil requires three units of energy input (coal, oil). What happens to the rest?

Ans: becomes heatLink to: 17.4Difficulty: Easy

41. The following concepts are relevant to the Earth’s energy balance. Define each:(a) Albedo: (b) Electromagnetic Spectrum:(c) Earthshine:(d) Negative Feedback:

Ans: a. albedo – reflectivity of the planetary surfaceb. electromagnetic spectrum – the full range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic

spectrumc. earthshine – heat energy radiated from the Earth to spaced. negative feedback – a mechanism by which an initial stimulus tends to damp itself

out – a mechanism that tends to stabilize a systemLink to: Chap. 17Difficulty: Medium

42. Fundamental characteristics of energy are reflected in the first and second laws of thermodynamics (energy laws). Define these two laws.

Ans: conservation of energy, entropyLink to: 17.3Difficulty: Easy

43. Energy for most of the mechanisms of human society comes from heat engines of different types. Name three broad classes of environmental effects of heat engines.

Ans: acid rainthermal pollutionurban smogpotential global climate change

Link to: 17.3Difficulty: Medium

44. Give an example of cogeneration.

Ans: An example of cogeneration is a natural gas combined power plant that produces electricity in two ways: gas cycle and steam cycle. In the gas cycle gas is burned to produce electricity, while in the steam cycle, hot exhaust from the gas turbine is used to create steam which in turn is able to produce electricity.Link to: 17.5Difficulty: Medium

45. In ancient Rome and Greece energy problems were already well known. What was the solution discussed in the Environmental Science text?

Ans: passive solar energyLink to: 17.1Difficulty: Easy

46. Can a heat engine convert all of the energy input into work? Why or why not?

Ans: No – no heat engine is 100% efficient.Link to: 17.2Difficulty: Medium

47. List the three major fossil fuels we are presently dependent on in order of their

proportion of U.S. supply:

Ans: 1) coal2) oil3) gas


48. Name two reasons for the use of hard path energy and two reasons for the use of soft path energy.

Ans: hard path: - long history of success - it has produced the highest standard of living

soft path: - renewable- environmentally benign


49. The two countries of Botkinlandia and Kellertopia share one single power plant with a maximum capacity of 10 gigawatts (10 billion watts = 10,000,000 kW). Kellertopia is small and prosperous, with a stable population of 500,000 and average energy use of 8 kW per capita. Botkin-landia is larger (pop.=1,000,000), less developed (per capita energy use = 1 kW), and growing fast (population and per capita energy use doubling every 20 years). Instead of building additional power plants, propose population and energy-use goals for both countries that will allow them to manage with the electricity they have.

Ans: e.g., Botkinlandia: pop. stabilized at 2,000,000; energy use = 3.5 kWKellertopia: pop. = 500,000; energy use = 6.0 kW

Link to: A Closer Look 17.1Difficulty: Medium

Chapter 18Fossil Fuels and the Environment

1. Which of the following terms refers to recovery of petroleum by pumping from a well – without steam, lubricants, or other elaborate steps necessary to mobilize the oil:a) hydrocarbonb) strip miningc) allowance tradingd) primary productione) oil shale


2. An organic chemical organized in rings or chains, including petroleum and natural gas is called:a) hydrocarbonb) strip miningc) allowance tradingd) primary productione) oil shale


3. Which of the following is a method for reducing air pollution by mandating maximum industrial emissions for an entire region or country, not for individual polluters:a) hydrocarbonb) strip miningc) allowance tradingd) primary productione) oil shale


4. The Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has made headlines because of: a) it is the leading source of coal in North Americab) proposals to explore for oil there c) it is the proposed site for disposal of high-level nuclear wasted) the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred theree) further oil migration there is blocked by a trap

Ans: bLink to: A Closer Look 18.1Difficulty: Easy

7. All of the following correctly describe fossil fuels except:a) a form of stored solar energyb) created from incomplete biological decomposition of dead organic matterc) long-term energy reserves

d) a renewable energy resourcee) organic material, dead and buried


8. Which of the following is the strongest argument in favor of pollution allowance trading:a) it involves the greatest change in the existing marketplaceb) it is the best way to reduce or eliminate all local pollution problemsc) it is the option favored by the Sierra Club and other wilderness groupsd) individual businesses are given a range of options for complying with the lawe) allowance trading creates the greatest government control of pollution emissions


9. Oil production, refining, and transportation have been associated with all of the following environmental problems except: a) disturbance of the land surfaceb) land subsidence c) acid mine drainaged) release of harmful gasese) pollution of groundwater


11. Which of these sets of adjectives all describe the formation of oil, gas, and coal?a) inorganic, subducted, not oxidizedb) organic, buried, not oxidized c) inorganic, buried, oxidizedd) organic, eroded, reducede) acidic, subducted, oxidized

Ans: bLink to: 18.2 and 18.3Difficulty: Easy

12. Problems with exploiting oil shale and tar sand deposits as an alternative to crude oil include all of the following except:a) the deposits are usually deeply buried and difficult to extractb) the conversion process to fuel requires a lot of energy c) the mining and conversion process requires a lot of waterd) mining would involve widespread disruption of the land surfacee) large volumes of the deposit yield small volumes of liquid fuel


13. The purpose of enhanced (or “secondary) production of petroleum is to:a) refine crude oil into gasoline, plastics, and petrochemicalsb) recover natural gas from oil wells c) drill for oil in deeper water than conventional production allowsd) recover heavier and denser oil than flows to the surface under natural pressure or pumpinge) mitigate the environmental effects of primary production


15. The cap rock which helps to form a trap for natural gas and oil is usually:a) coarse-grained sandstoneb) fine silt or clayc) limestoned) basalte) organic-rich


16. A petroleum source rock generally is:a) coarse-grained and organic richb) a fractured limestonec) highly porousd) rich in organic material and densely cementede) fine-grained and organic-rich


17. Oil shale and tar sands are promising alternatives to crude oil because: a) oil shale and tar sand combustion is cleaner than oilb) these resources exceed proven global reserves of oil c) these resources are higher quality energy sources than oild) oil shale and tar sand production is more environmentally benign than crude oil productione) production of known oil shale and tar sand deposits would do less environmental damage than exploration for new petroleum reserves


18. One problem with petroleum as an energy source is that the resource is not distributed evenly about the Earth. The largest proven reserves of oil are located in:a) the North Seab) the Gulf of Mexico c) South Americad) the Middle Easte) the Far East and Australia


20. In what environment did most of the Earth’s coal deposits originally form?a) ocean trenchb) desert c) swampd) mountain peakse) river


22. All of the following are options to reduce the air pollution caused by coal combustion except:a) scrubbingb) boiler designs that allow combustion at lower temperatures c) cleaning coal prior to combustiond) consumer education about energy conservation and efficiencye) use of more high-sulfur coals


23. Which of the following is usually associated with the most intense disruption of the surface environment?a) strip miningb) scrubbing c) natural gas productiond) allowance tradinge) petroleum combustion


25. Where are methane hydrates (a white, ice like compound) found:a) in permafrost areasb) beneath the sea floorc) in Africa and Australiad) in formerly glaciated valleyse) a and b


26. The total estimated resource of oil shale could yield approximately 2 to 5 trillion barrels of oil worldwide. This tremendous resource currently is not exploited because:a) current technology cannot separate the useful energy product from the rockb) the cost of extraction is not presently competitive with the cost of crude oil or other conventional fossil fuels.

c) the oil from oil shale is very low graded) the oil shale resource is too widespread to make extraction attractivee) the extraction process uses up all the energy in the oil and makes it useless


27. What is coal-bed methane:a) a gas associated with petroleum reservesb) a gas stored on the surfaces of organic matter in the coal c) a gas stored in structural coal bed trapsd) a white solid associated with coal bedse) a gas associated with cattle ranching


28. Oil is:a) organic matter transformed into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbonsb) inorganic matter transformed into liquid hydrocarbonsc) bituminous coals transformed into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbonsd) a variety of natural gases compressed by pressuree) organic particles in water


29. According to the Environmental Science text, coal is classified according to its:a) energy and nitrogen contentb) energy and hydrogen contentc) energy and oxygen contentd) energy and sulfur contente) energy content


30. What is the major environmental benefit from burning coal-bed methane:

a) methane releases a greater amount of energy than conventional fossil fuelsb) the combustion produces a lot less CO2 than conventional fossil fuelsc) CO is not producedd) coal bed methane wells are drilled in shallow depthe) nitrogen oxides (NOx) are chemically bound to soot


33. Geopressured gas is:I. natural gas buried deeply into the earthII. dissolved in pore watersIII. under great pressure

a) I onlyb) II onlyc) I and IIId) II and IIIe) I, II, and III


34. The source rocks for natural gas and crude oil are:I. organic-richII. volcanicIII. coarse-grained sediment

a) I onlyb) I and IIc) I and IIId) I, II and IIIe) I, II or III


35. A petroleum reservoir rock generally is:a) fine-grained and foldedb) overlain by a rich source rock

c) coarse-grained and highly porousd) organic rich and densely cementede) a large open cavity in the crust


36. 'Slurry pipelines' are pipelines for the transport of:a) raw sewage to wastewater treatment plantsb) oil to refineriesc) coal over a limestone bed in a furnaced) pulverized coal by watere) water to keep oil wells under production pressure

Ans: dLink: 18.3Difficulty: Medium

Essay

37. List three arguments that have been raised in favor of exploration and petroleum production in Alaska

Ans: the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).the U.S. needs the oildrilling in the ANWR would stimulate the Alaskan economyexploration can be done with few wellsroads can be constructed on winter iceelevated pipelines allow animal migrationproduction can be done with a few, centralized wellsoil well brines can be re-injected in to the subsurface

Link to: A Closer Look 18.1Difficulty: Medium

38. List three arguments that have been raised against of exploration and petroleum production in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Ans: some wilderness should remain wildernessany oil activity would have some impactsvehicular traffic may scar the surfaceoil production would bring large populations to the region

Link to: A Closer Look 18.1

Difficulty: Medium

39. Describe the properties of a petroleum reservoir rock.

Ans: Reservoir rocks are coarse-grained rocks with open spaces between the grains (e.g. coarse-grained sandstone, fissured limestone), where gas and oil can accumulate. Link to: 18.2Difficulty: Easy

40. Put the names of the four types of coal in the correct blanks in the table below.

Energy Content Sulfur Content (%)Type of coal (kJ/kg) Low Med High

a) _________________________ 20,100-25,500 99.6 0.4 0.0b) _________________________ 31,300-34,800 97.1 2.9 0.0c) _________________________ 13,900-17,400 90.7 9.3 0.0d) _________________________ 25,500-32,800 29.8 26.8 43.4

Ans: (a) subbituminous, (b) anthracite, (c) lignite, (d) bituminousLink to: 18.3Difficulty: Medium

41. Next to water, what is the most abundant fluid in the upper part of the earth's crust?

Ans: crude oilLink to: 18.2Difficulty: Easy

42. List four proposals for reducing gasoline consumption in the U.S.

Ans: increased gasoline taxesincreased vehicle fuel efficiencymore use of alternative fuels (alcohol, natural gas, etc.)more use of alternative means of transportation (bicycles, mass transit)improving roads


43. High sulfur coal is considered to be more environmentally damaging than the low sulfur varieties. Name one specific problem associated with high sulfur coal at the mine site and

another problem associated with combustion of high sulfur coal.

Ans: acid mine drainage; acid rainLink to: 18.3Difficulty: Easy

44. List the four different coal types in order from high energy capacity to low energy capacity.

Ans: anthracite | high energy capacitybituminous coal |subbituminous coal |lignite \/ low energy capacity


45. Describe the properties of a petroleum source rock.

Ans: Source rocks are fine-grained, organic rich sediment buried to a depth of at least several hundred meters.Link to: 18.2Difficulty: Easy

46. Why is the sulfur content of coal of so much environmental concern?

Ans: Low-sulfur coal causes less air pollution because of its low sulfur content.Link to: 18.3Difficulty: Medium

47. Why are natural gas and crude oil not commonly found in geological very old rocks?

Ans: The light (compared to water) hydrocarbons have had ample time to migrate to the surface and volatilize, or be eroded away.Link to: 18.2Difficulty: Medium

48. What are the different threats posed by strip-mining in a wet climate versus the same process in an arid climate?

Ans: wet - acid mine drainage, erosion, sediment pollution

arid - dust, thin soils are easily disturbed, difficult to reestablish vegetation


49. Underground mining has a different range of environmental effects than strip mining. List three effects of underground mining.

Ans: spoil piles at surface, mine collapse, mine firesLink to: 18.3Difficulty: Easy

50. List four proposals for reducing gasoline consumption in the United States.

Ans: increase gasoline taxesproduce more fuel-efficient vehiclesmore use of alternative fuelsalternative modes of transportation (e.g. bicycles and mass transit) improving roads


51. Why is methane considered one of the main transitional fuels from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources.

Ans: methane produces a lot less carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas production of methane gas prior to mining coal reduces the amount of methane that

would be released into the atmosphereLink to: 18.2Difficulty: Medium

52. Why is combustion of natural gas cleaner than burning oil?

Ans: Gas emits much less CO2 into the air.Link to: 18.2Difficulty: Easy

53. Are tar sands and oil shales economic resources? Explain

Ans: No - not at current prices, but as crude oil production reaches its peak and oil prices soar, oil shales and tar sands will become economical in the future

Link to: 18.4Difficulty: Hard

54. It has been said that almost all forms of energy on Earth are forms of solar energy. Is this the case for fossil fuels? Why or why not?

Ans: yes – All the energy in fossil fuels is originally derived from the sun.Link to: 18.1Difficulty: Medium

55. Coal mines abandoned before about 1960 generally pose a greater threat to the surrounding environment than more recent mines. Why?

Ans: The mines generally were not reclaimed.Link to: 18.3Difficulty: Medium

56. Name several environmental concerns associated with coal-bed methane.

Ans: disposal of water which is produced with the methane recoverymigration of methane that may contaminate groundwater or migrate into residential

areasLink to: 18.3Difficulty: Medium

Chapter 19Alternative Energy and the

Environment

1. Which of the following terms refers to centralized collection device for generating power from the Sun is called (a)n:a) power towerb) alternative energyc) fuel celld) biofuele) renewable energy

Ans: a


3. Which of the following terms refers to energy produced from any source other than fossil fuels:a) power towerb) alternative energyc) fuel celld) biofuele) renewable energy


4. Fuel cells produce __________ using __________.a) electricity; hydrogen or methaneb) heat; electricityc) carbon dioxide; biofueld) light; heate) electricity; light

Ans: aLink to: 19.3, A Closer Look 19.1Difficulty: Easy

6. The Spirit Lake Community School District in Iowa (Case Study in Chap. 19 in your textbook) “made a decision in 1991 to act locally to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels.” What local energy source was the school district able to profitably access?a) geothermal energyb) wind energyc) nuclear energyd) solar energye) hydropower

Ans: bLink to: Case StudyDifficulty: Easy

8. All of the following are renewable energy sources except: a) nuclear fissionb) windc) solard) biofuele) hydroelectric


10. Wind power is a clean energy source, but according to its detractors in some locations, it is associated with __________ pollution. a) thermalb) noisec) aird) particulatee) water


11. What is geothermal energy?a) a thermal springb) heat energy in the core of the earthc) the rate of temperature increase with depth in the Earthd) heat derived from a geothermal power plante) useful conversion of natural heat from the interior of the Earth


12. Use of overhangs that block sunlight in summer but allow the sunlight in winter to warm up the building is an example of:

a) solar pond technologyb) passive solar energyc) Greek and Roman temple architectured) photovoltaicse) power tower systems


13. Heating and cooling buildings by exchange with shallow groundwater systems is considered a form of __________ energy.a) solarb) kineticc) tidald) potentiale) geothermal


14. The future growth of large-scale hydropower plants in the developed world probably will be limited because:a) the release of impounded water alters streamflow patternsb) most economical sites are already usedc) reservoirs eventually fill with sedimentd) the addition of reservoirs mean that more water is lost to evaporation e) all of the above


15. “Biodiesel” is a biofuel sometimes used to power cars and trucks. One potential source of biodiesel is:a) used engine oilb) the seafood industryc) dairy farmsd) urban landfill runoffe) waste frying oil from restaurant kitchens

Ans: dLink to: 19.7, Critical Thinking Issue

Difficulty:

17. All of the following are factors that limit expanded use of photovoltaic cells except: a) high costb) limited efficiencyc) direct generation of electricity is not yet technologically possibled) cells incorporate hazardous materialse) large output requires large areas of land


18. The primary sources of biofuel in India, an example of a developing country, are:a) wood and coalb) oil and coalc) methanol and cattle dungd) nuclear and woode) wood and cattle dung


20. Photovoltaic systems utilize solar energy by: a) heating water with solar radiationb) mirrors focus sunlight on a central collector unitc) generating electricity directly from sunlightd) heating water which runs a steam turbinee) electrolyzing water into its component hydrogen and oxygen


21. Wind velocity increases over mountains because of:a) turbulenceb) horizontal convergence of the windc) decreasing pressure with increasing temperatured) vertical convergence of the winde) decreasing moisture content with increasing temperature


22. How does a fuel cell generate power?a) by combining fuel and oxygen in an electrochemical reactionb) by producing electricityc) by splitting uraniumd) by combining hydrogen atomse) by combusting gasoline

Ans: aLink to: 19.3, A Closer Look 19.1Difficulty: Medium

23. What one factor, more than others, determines the suitability of tidal power for a coastal site?a) the cost of building the plantb) sediment supply and transportc) the frequency of tidesd) large tidal rangee) size and frequency of storm events


24. Groundwater geothermal systems and heat pumps operate by taking advantage of:a) hot, shallow waterb) water colder than the surrounding environmentc) relative temperature differencesd) shallow magma bodiese) geopressured water

Ans: cLink to: 19.8Difficulty: Medium

25. Wind velocity in mountain passes decreases because of:a) horizontal turbulenceb) horizontal convergence of the moving airc) narrowness of the pass

d) heights of the surrounding hillse) wind velocity increases in mountain passes, not decreases


26. Which of the following is a good use of low-temperature geothermal sources:a) generating electricity for individual homesb) heating swimming poolsc) powering cars and trucksd) agricultural pest controle) low-T geothermal energy cannot be utilized economically


27. All the following materials are generally considered examples of biofuels except:a) woodb) coalc) cattle dungd) peate) methane


28. Which of the following is not among the potential adverse environmental impacts of generating geothermal energy?a) emission of gasesb) thermal water pollutionc) induced seismicityd) depletion of 235U resourcese) land subsidence


29. All of the following are environmental problems associated with geothermal energy

except?a) on-site noiseb) emissions of gasc) disturbance of the land at the drilling sited) pipelinese) radiation threat


30. Wind velocity generally increases: I. over hilltops and mountainsII. in mountain passesIII. over sea cliffs

a) I onlyb) II onlyc) I and IId) II and IIIe) I, II and III


31. All of the following are environmental problems associated with wind power except:a) wind mills kill birdsb) noise pollutionc) large extend of the area needed to generate powerd) degradation of an area’s scenic resourcese) release of harmful electromagnetic resonance


32. “Power tower” systems generate electricity by:a) mirrors that focus sunlight on a central collector and generatorb) producing hydrogen from waterc) an array of cells transform sunlight directly into electricityd) mirrors that heat oil which circulates and drives a turbine generatore) heating water for pools and household use

Ans: a


33. Tidal power systems are designed to generate electricity during:I. high tidesII. low tidesIII. rising and falling tides

a) I onlyb) II onlyc) III onlyd) I and IIIe) II and III


34. A tidal power station is constructed at the location shown in the figure on the left. Using the tide chart in the figure on the right, this facility would be generating power at _________ and would be idle at _________?

a) 6 am; noonb) noon; 3 pmc) noon; 6 amd) noon; midnighte) 3 pm; 9 am


Essay

35. A tidal power station is constructed at the location shown in the figure above. Using the

.

OCEAN

DamLagoon

LAND

GeneratingStation

midnight 6 am noon 6 pm midnight

High

Low

Tide

tide chart in the figure, name two times of day when the facility would be generating power and two times when it would be idle.

Ans: generating: during both rising and falling tidesidle: 3 am, 9 am, 3 pm, 9 pm


36. Chapter 17 introduced the concepts of hard path and soft path energy strategies. For each of the energy sources listed below, name one example of the hard path and one example of the soft path. Follow the example given.

energy source hard path example soft path example wind power wind farm backyard windmillswater power _______________________ ______________________solar power _______________________ ______________________

Ans: energy source hard path example soft path example water power large dam like Hoover dam micro-hydro power stationssolar power power tower rooftop hot water systems

Link to: 19.1, 19.4, 19.6, Chap. 17Difficulty: Hard

37. What are the basic elements of a power tower system for generating electricity? Make a sketch.

Ans: reflecting mirrorscentral collectorturbine generator

Link to: 19.2Difficulty: Hard

38. How do groundwater geothermal systems work, and where are these geothermal energy sources effective?

.

OCEAN

DamLagoon

LAND

GeneratingStation

midnight 6 am noon 6 pm midnight

High

Low

Tide

Ans: by utilizing contrasts in temperature – useful in areas with large temperature variationsLink to: 19.8Difficulty: Medium

39. What are the major limitations on widespread reliance on solar energy?

Ans: Solar energy is dispersed, and a large area of land is required to generate large amounts of electricity. On cloudy days it is not possible to collect solar energyLink to: 19.2Difficulty: Medium

40. List three potential economic uses of low-temperature geothermal sources.

Ans: space heating of buildingsheating swimming poolsheating soil to assist crop production


41. What factors would make one site more suitable for generating wind power than another site?

Ans: topographyclimate (e.g., prevailing winds)surrounding human land use (effects of noise, aesthetics)


42. List the primary sources of biofuels in North America.

Ans: forest products, agricultural products, combustible urban wasteLink to: 19.7Difficulty: Easy

43. Passive solar is one general class of solar energy systems. Name three other solar systems

Ans: discussed in the Environmental Science text that utilize solar energy. active solar (e.g. water heaters)photovoltaic cells

power towers[hydrogen conversion]


44. Name three specific features that can be designed into houses to help them utilize passive solar energy.

Ans: overhangs to block high summer suntake advantage of deciduous shade treesuse walls to capture solar heat and warm the interior


45. List the major alternative energy sources. Identify each one as renewable or nonrenewable.

Ans: renewable: solar energy, wind power, water power, energy derived from biofuelnonrenewable: nuclear energy and arguable geothermal energy


46. List the potential adverse impacts associated with generating geothermal energy.

Ans: on-site noiseemission of gasesdisruption of surface at plant sitethermal water pollutioninduced seismicity possibleland subsidence


47. According to the Environmental Science text, where will future development of hydroelectric potential in the United States occur?

Ans: small-scale, local sites – “micro-hydro”Link to: 19.4Difficulty: Medium

48. Select three sources of energy – one conventional (e.g. coal, petroleum, etc.) and two alternative – and list two advantages and two disadvantages of each in terms of cost, jobs lost or gained, environmental impact, or potential for supplying energy. Of the three, which energy source do you believe is the most desirable.

Ans: e.g., coal nuclear windplentiful high-quality energy renewablecheap no carbon emissions cheappolluting nonrenewable low-quality energy

Link to: Chap. 18, 19.1, 19.6, etc.Difficulty: Hard

Chapter 20Nuclear Energy and the Environment

1. Which of the terms below refers to the energy absorbed by an organism due to radiation exposure:a) curieb) fissionc) becquereld) breeder reactore) radiation absorbed dose

Ans: eLink to: A Closer Look 20.2Difficulty: Easy

3. Which of the terms below refers to a unit that signifies one radioactive decay per second:a) curieb) fissionc) becquereld) breeder reactore) radiation absorbed dose

Ans: cLink to: A Closer Look 20.2Difficulty: Easy

4. Which of the following is an example of transuranic waste:a) plutonium

b) carbon-14c) mercuryd) cryptosporidiume) uranium-238

Ans: aLink to: 20.3, A Closer Look 20.1Difficulty:

Question 5 refers to the figure below:

5. The sequence shown above illustrates:a) a radioactive decay chainb) the nuclear fuel cyclec) the half-life of uraniumd) beta decaye) passive stability


6. The worst accident in the history of commercial nuclear power happened in 1986 at Chernobyl, where a uranium fuel meltdown occurred. According to the Environmental Science text, in the next 20 to 30 years, there will be an increase in cancer:a) worldwideb) in the northern hemispherec) in northern Europed) within 100-200 km of the reactor sidee) in workers at the plant the day of the accident


7. Which of the following is the most common fuel for nuclear fission?a) radiumb) magnesiumc) hydrogend) sodiume) uranium

mining enrichment use reprocessing disposal


8. As a result of the Chernobyl accident, measurable amounts of radiation were detected: a) up to 30 km from the siteb) up to 1000 km from the sitec) over all of Europe and Asiad) over the Northern Hemispheree) over the entire Earth


10. One concern in the U.S. regarding increased use of nuclear energy throughout the world, including in a broad range of developing countries is:a) lower prices for U.S. exports of electricityb) decreased reliance on fossil fuelsc) increased greenhouse emissionsd) loss of biodiversitye) proliferation of nuclear material that may end up in nuclear weapons


12. At the present time, the method for handling high-level nuclear waste in the U.S. is:a) dilute and disperseb) temporary storage, pending completion of a permanent disposal sitec) long-term disposal in salt minesd) export to France or Britaine) ocean-bottom disposal


13. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5570 years. A woolly mammoth tusk was discovered, and laboratory analysis shows that it has one-eighth as much carbon-14 as modern organic material does. How old is the tusk? a) 8,355 years

b) 11,140 yearsc) 16,710 yearsd) 44,560 yearse) 89,120 years

Ans: cLink to: A Closer Look 20.1Difficulty: Medium

14. All of the following are explanations of why nuclear energy has declined in the U.S. since the 1970s except: a) concerns over nuclear power plant safetyb) decelerating electricity demand over the same intervalc) growing concern over CO2 emissions and global warmingd) spiraling costs of constructing nuclear power plantse) continued low costs of fossil fuels


15. Hazardous radioactive materials produced by fission reactors include all of the following except:a) cesium-137b) krypton- 85c) strontium-90d) plutonium-239e) helium-3


17. Which of the following is the most common fuel for nuclear fusion?a) radiumb) magnesiumc) hydrogend) sodiume) uranium


18. The fuel for nuclear fission in commercial burner reactors is:a) radiumb) uraniumc) poloniumd) hydrogene) plutonium


19. A radioactive isotope is a chemical element that undergoes:a) radioactive decay initiated by a catalystb) spontaneous heat transmissionc) spontaneous radioactive decayd) fusion under conditions of great temperature and pressuree) breakup into subatomic particles

Ans: cLink to: A Closer Look 20.1Difficulty: Easy

20. All of the following are problems or objections to building breeder nuclear reactors except: a) breeder reactors are more expensive to buildb) breeder reactors are more expensive to runc) breeder reactors produce ingredients necessary for construction of nuclear weaponsd) the breeder fuel, plutonium-239, will also eventually become depletede) the current technology does not make commercial breeder plants economical


21. The energy retained by living tissue that has been exposed to radiation is called:a) radiation absorbed doseb) body burdenc) Roentgens d) falloute) bioluminescent energy

Ans: aLink to: A Closer Look 20.2Difficulty: Easy

22. Commercial nuclear reactors produce energy through the process of:a) incinerationb) transmutationc) fusiond) breedinge) fission


23. A gas-cooled reactor, known as pebble-bed reactor is being developed right now and may be available as early as 2006. What is special about this particular reactor?a) the reactor is able to breed its own fuelb) the core contains always just the right amount of fuel for optimal energy productionc) the reactor uses water as a moderatord) the reactor uses hydrogen as fuele) a and b


24. What role does water serve within the core of a commercial nuclear reactor?a) water is the fuelb) water speeds the nuclear reactions, making chain reactions possiblec) water amplifies the nuclear radiationsd) water “moderates” or slows down neutrons emitted by radioactive decaye) water reacts chemically with high-energy particles, rendering them inert


26. When radioactive uranium decays, it passes through a series of decay steps and ends up as:a) a stable radioactive isotope of uraniumb) a stable non-radioactive isotope of leadc) hydrogen

d) subatomic particlese) energy

Ans: bLink to: A Closer Look 20.1Difficulty: Hard

27. Nuclear fission promises to be a virtually limitless supply of energy. However at present, it is not used to produce any electricity at all, because:a) environmental sentiment has put nuclear power into disfavorb) scarcity of appropriate fuelc) current technology is insufficientd) there are no safe sites to store the highly toxic waste produced by fissione) fusion is not a natural process; a sustained reaction may never be possible


28. Since the 1990s nuclear power plants in the U.S. have added over 23,000 mW of power. This increase is the result of: a) adding new power plants to the existing ones in the U.S.b) the invention of the pebble-bed reactorc) using hydrogen as a fuel source d) more efficient use of existing power plantse) centralization of nuclear power


29. In addition to spent fuel, waste material associated with nuclear energy includes: a) leachateb) slagc) medical wasted) uranium mine tailingse) heavy water


30. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 considered the role of nuclear power in the U.S. energy mix. Its recommendation was to:a) resume building new nuclear power plants in the U.S.b) halt to construction of all new nuclear power plants in the U.S.c) temporarily hold construction of new nuclear power plants until the Yucca Mountain site is operationald) transition from fission to fusion powere) replace all existing nuclear reactors in the U.S. by pebble-bed reactors by 2010

Ans: aLink to: Case StudyDifficulty: Easy

31. What is the role of the reactor within a nuclear power plant?a) it converts mass directly into electricityb) it releases high energy particles which turn turbinesc) it provides heatd) it condenses steam into liquid watere) it breaks large radioisotopes into water, which turns turbines


32. Isotopes are atoms of an element that:a) vary in atomic numberb) have a higher number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus than other elementsc) have a different number of electrons than other elementsd) have the same atomic number but vary in the atomic mass numbere) have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus

Ans: dLink to: A Closer Look 20.1Difficulty: Easy

33. Uranium-238 and Uranium-235 are two different:a) isotopes of uraniumb) radioactive elementsc) ions of the same elementd) types of radioactive decaye) types of fuel for fusion reactors

Ans: aLink to: A Closer Look 20.1

Difficulty: Easy

34. The joining of light atoms to form heavier nuclei is known as:a) fissionb) fusionc) isotopesd) radioactivitye) alchemy


35. The series of different forms that a radioisotope takes during its lifetime is known as its:a) half-lifeb) radioactive decayc) chain reactionsd) chain linkse) decay chain

Ans: eLink to: A Closer Look 20.1Difficulty: Easy

Essay

36. Name the two best known commercial nuclear accidents. Of the two, circle the one that was more severe.

Ans: Three Mile IslandChernobyl: much more severe – breach of containment vessel, 31 fatalities


37. Some of the transuranic waste material generated in the U.S. is being stored at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) near Carlsbad, NM in geological salt deposits. List at least two advantages of disposal of nuclear waste at this site or in salt in general.

Ans: site is geologically stablesalt is easily mined

salt is impermeable and has little or no groundwater flowsalt experiences ductile flow, sealing voids or fissures


38. What role does nuclear energy play in debates about acid rain and global warming?

Ans: Nuclear energy contributes little or nothing to either problem. It is an alternative to fossil fuels, which are direct contributors to both problems. Link to: 20.2Difficulty: Easy

39. Name the important steps in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Ans: miningenrichmentelectrical generationreprocessing of spent fuelwaste disposaldecommissioning of worn-out reactors


40. The two major accidents to strike nuclear power facilities were the Three Mile Island and the Chernobyl accidents. Look at each of the following statements and determine whether the statement applies to Three Mile Island or Chernobyl.

Circle the correct responseRadiation exposure was in the vicinity of the power plant only. 3-Mile Island Chernobyl

There were at least 31 fatalities. 3-Mile Island Chernobyl

The reactor was graphite-moderated, and the fuel ignited and burned. 3-Mile Island Chernobyl

The accident occurred in 1979. 3-Mile Island Chernobyl

Ans: TMI, C, C, TMILink to: 20.3Difficulty: Medium

41. Nuclear energy has been called a “nonrenewable alternative energy source.” Is this a

contradiction in terms?

Ans: It is nonrenewable because it requires uranium as a fuel. It is a geologic resource that took millions of years to form deposits of sufficient concentration. However, it is an alternative to fossil fuels.Link to: 20.1Difficulty: Medium

42. One of the main public concerns about nuclear energy is the potential for exposure to radiation. List three or more natural sources of radiation in the environment.

Ans: the Sunuranium in rocks (granite is a rock rich in uranium)radioisotopes in the atmosphere, like radon and carbon-14


43. What is meant by 'half life' of a radioactive atom?

Ans: The half life of a radioactive atom is the time required for one-half of a given amount of the isotopes to decay to a subsequent form. Link to: A Closer Look 20.1Difficulty: Easy

44. Why are small reactors with a cooling system that works under influence of gravity thought to be much safer than big reactors with a pump cooling system?

Ans: Reactors with a cooling system that works under gravity influence do not rely on technology which might fail during electric power loss or accidental shut-offs. .Link to: 20.1Difficulty: Medium

45. Explain how a pebble-bed reactor functions.

Ans: a pebble-bed reactor is analog to a gum ball machine. Fuel pebbles are fed into the core of the reactor continuously refueling the nuclear reaction. With this safety feature the core has just the right amount of fuel at any given time.Link to: 20.1Difficulty: Medium

46. Why is the natural background dose of radiation variable in different locations?

Ans: The natural background radiation depends on the bedrock geology and the elevation. Link to: A Closer Look 20.2Difficulty: Medium

47. What are the problems with or objections to building breeder nuclear reactors?

Ans: more expensive to build than burner reactorsmore expensive to runproduce ingredients necessary to construction of nuclear weapons

Link to: 20.1, 20.2Difficulty: Medium

48. At the present time, how is high-level nuclear waste being disposed of in the United States?

Ans: At the present time, most of it is not disposed. It is being stored, pending completion of a safe, permanent disposal site. Link to: 20.3Difficulty: Easy

49. What are the two ways that radioisotopes threaten the environment?Ans: by emitting radiation directlyby entering the normal pathways of mineral cycling and the ecological food chain


50. What happens during a core meltdown in a radioactive power plant?

Ans: A core meltdown is a nuclear accident in which the nuclear fuel becomes so hot that it forms a molten mass that breaches the containment of the reactor and contaminates the surrounding environment.Link to: 20.1Difficulty: Easy

51. What are the two nuclear processes that can be used to release energy? Define each one.

Ans: fission - splitting atoms into smaller fragmentsfusion - combining atomic nuclei into larger nuclei


52. Describe briefly the difference between high-level nuclear waste and low-level nuclear waste

Ans: high-level nuclear waste: spent fuel elements from commercial rectorslow-level nuclear waste: any slightly contaminated material


chapter 17, energy: some basics · web view48. what are the different threats posed by strip-mining...

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