Question 1

The largest problem with adopting the new technologies of renewable resources is that .

Accepted Answer

A)  the startup costs may be high 
B)  energy production facilities are not located near consumers 
C)  long -term maintenance costs are much higher than those for fossil fuels 
D)  the energy sources are generally unavailable 
E)  technological advances have not been made in the last 30 years to meet our energy needs 
A)  the startup costs may be high 
B)  energy production facilities are not located near consumers 
C)  long -term maintenance costs are much higher than those for fossil fuels 
D)  the energy sources are generally unavailable 
E)  technological advances have not been made in the last 30 years to meet our energy needs A

Question 2

One benefit of offshore wind farms is that .

Accepted Answer

A)  unlike land -based wind farms, they do not interfere with bird migration routes 
B)  wind speeds are higher and turbulence is lower over water than over land 
C)  maintenance costs are less than they are on land 
D)  costs to erect the turbines are lower, and land does not need to be purchased 
E)  they are more aesthetically pleasing than wind farms on land 
A)  unlike land -based wind farms, they do not interfere with bird migration routes 
B)  wind speeds are higher and turbulence is lower over water than over land 
C)  maintenance costs are less than they are on land 
D)  costs to erect the turbines are lower, and land does not need to be purchased 
E)  they are more aesthetically pleasing than wind farms on land B

Question 3

Whether a hydrogen -based energy system is environmentally cleaner than a fossil fuel system depends on _.

Accepted Answer

A)  the amount of fossil fuels that are invested in long -term storage 
B)  governmental incentives for research 
C)  the source of energy used to produce the hydrogen 
D)  the source of oxygen used for the process 
E)  the car driven 
A)  the amount of fossil fuels that are invested in long -term storage 
B)  governmental incentives for research 
C)  the source of energy used to produce the hydrogen 
D)  the source of oxygen used for the process 
E)  the car driven C

Question 4

Compared to the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity, wind energy .

Accepted Answer

A)  produces no exhaust pollutants and contributes little to global climate change 
B)  requires very little investment 
C)  is more consistent 
D)  is less renewable 
E)  is more widely used in the United States 
A)  produces no exhaust pollutants and contributes little to global climate change 
B)  requires very little investment 
C)  is more consistent 
D)  is less renewable 
E)  is more widely used in the United States

Question 5

A potential energy source from oceans is .

Accepted Answer

A)  lightning strikes in salt water 
B)  ocean thermal energy 
C)  chemiluminescent bacteria 
D)  solar reflection 
E)  magnetic field generators 
A)  lightning strikes in salt water 
B)  ocean thermal energy 
C)  chemiluminescent bacteria 
D)  solar reflection 
E)  magnetic field generators

Question 6

An average household uses about 10,000 kilowatt -hours of electricity annually. The first two turbines installed at Humboldt Industrial Park provide enough electricity to completely provide for the needs of approximately how many households?

Accepted Answer

A)  20 
B)  200 
C)  2,000 
D)  20,000 
E)  200,000 
A)  20 
B)  200 
C)  2,000 
D)  20,000 
E)  200,000

Question 7

Using wind turbines to produce electricity avoids the production of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, which are the major pollutants .

Accepted Answer

A)  in acid rain 
B)  that trigger asthma and other respiratory ailments 
C)  in fertilizers 
D)  causing eutrophication of waterways 
E)  damaging the ozone layer 
A)  in acid rain 
B)  that trigger asthma and other respiratory ailments 
C)  in fertilizers 
D)  causing eutrophication of waterways 
E)  damaging the ozone layer

Question 8

The production and consumption of electricity are most commonly measured in kilowatt -hours (kWh). A kilowatt -hour is one kilowatt (1,000 watts) of electricity produced or consumed for one hour. A 10 -kW wind turbine can generate about 10,000 kWh annually (enough to power a typical household) at a site such as Spirit Lake, Iowa, with wind speeds averaging 12 miles per hour. The 250 -kW turbine installed at the elementary school in Spirit Lake provides about of electricity annually.

Accepted Answer

A)  250 kWh 
B)  250 mWh 
C)  2,500 kWh 
D)  25,000 kWh 
E)  250,000 kWh 
A)  250 kWh 
B)  250 mWh 
C)  2,500 kWh 
D)  25,000 kWh 
E)  250,000 kWh

Question 9

A major obstacle to the establishment of wind farms near populated and scenic areas is .

Accepted Answer

A)  not -in -my -backyard (NIMBY) syndrome 
B)  the lack of financial support for the construction of wind farms 
C)  the lack of infrastructure to support wind -generated electricity 
D)  the lack of large land areas needed to construct wind farms 
E)  we -want -solar -power (WASPY) syndrome 
A)  not -in -my -backyard (NIMBY) syndrome 
B)  the lack of financial support for the construction of wind farms 
C)  the lack of infrastructure to support wind -generated electricity 
D)  the lack of large land areas needed to construct wind farms 
E)  we -want -solar -power (WASPY) syndrome

Question 10

One difficulty with the process of using hydrogen as a power source is that it .

Accepted Answer

A)  requires a fuel that is a nonrenewable resource 
B)  has highly volatile and explosive components 
C)  first needs to be converted to helium through nuclear fission 
D)  is less efficient than fossil fuels 
E)  requires a substantial energy investment to produce the fuel 
A)  requires a fuel that is a nonrenewable resource 
B)  has highly volatile and explosive components 
C)  first needs to be converted to helium through nuclear fission 
D)  is less efficient than fossil fuels 
E)  requires a substantial energy investment to produce the fuel

Question 11

Electricity from hydropower composes approximately in the U.S. % of the total electricity produced

Accepted Answer

A)  13.6 
B)  6.0 
C)  24.7 
D)  2.4 
E)  44.2 
A)  13.6 
B)  6.0 
C)  24.7 
D)  2.4 
E)  44.2

Question 12

Every winter morning when the sun is shining bright, a man living in Montana pulls back the drapes on a large, south -facing window. In this way, he helps heat his home using .

Accepted Answer

A)  radioactive solar 
B)  active solar 
C)  passive solar 
D)  conductive solar 
E)  photovoltaic 
A)  radioactive solar 
B)  active solar 
C)  passive solar 
D)  conductive solar 
E)  photovoltaic

Question 13

Wind turbines are generally more productive if they are .

Accepted Answer

A)  higher, to minimize turbulence and maximize wind speed 
B)  smaller, to minimize the number of birds that interfere with blade turning 
C)  larger, to increase heat convection from the ground 
D)  lower, to minimize turbulence and maximize wind speed 
E)  smaller, to increase heat convection from the ground 
A)  higher, to minimize turbulence and maximize wind speed 
B)  smaller, to minimize the number of birds that interfere with blade turning 
C)  larger, to increase heat convection from the ground 
D)  lower, to minimize turbulence and maximize wind speed 
E)  smaller, to increase heat convection from the ground

Question 14

Using wind as a power source to do work .

Accepted Answer

A)  began in Europe over 800 years ago 
B)  has been discovered in Asian ruins over 5,000 years old 
C)  is something that has been developed only in the past 10 years 
D)  is a process that has been worked on for over 50 years 
E)  began over 40,000 years ago in Australia 
A)  began in Europe over 800 years ago 
B)  has been discovered in Asian ruins over 5,000 years old 
C)  is something that has been developed only in the past 10 years 
D)  is a process that has been worked on for over 50 years 
E)  began over 40,000 years ago in Australia

Question 15

A major advantage of solar power is that .

Accepted Answer

A)  solar systems provide local, decentralized control over power 
B)  all regions are sunny enough to provide adequate power with current technology 
C)  there is a lack of knowledge on long -term impacts 
D)  it is inexpensive compared to other renewable energy sources 
E)  the only emissions are carbon dioxide and water 
A)  solar systems provide local, decentralized control over power 
B)  all regions are sunny enough to provide adequate power with current technology 
C)  there is a lack of knowledge on long -term impacts 
D)  it is inexpensive compared to other renewable energy sources 
E)  the only emissions are carbon dioxide and water

Question 16

U.S. geothermal energy is most available in .

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas 
B)  the Northeast 
C)  the West 
D)  the Florida Keys 
E)  the Southeast 
A)  Texas 
B)  the Northeast 
C)  the West 
D)  the Florida Keys 
E)  the Southeast

Question 17

Solar represents a minuscule portion of U.S. energy production because of .

Accepted Answer

A)  technological limitations 
B)  air and water pollution from this source of energy 
C)  costs and lack of investment 
D)  lack of scientific interest 
E)  poor potential for this energy source 
A)  technological limitations 
B)  air and water pollution from this source of energy 
C)  costs and lack of investment 
D)  lack of scientific interest 
E)  poor potential for this energy source

Question 18

-According to the model depicted in this figure, in approximately what year are fossil fuels and nuclear power first expected to provide less than half of the energy consumed in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

A)  2025 
B)  2040 
C)  2045 
D)  2020 
E)  2030 
A)  2025 
B)  2040 
C)  2045 
D)  2020 
E)  2030

Question 19

The chemical product produced by a hydrogen fuel cells is .

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon monoxide 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  water 
D)  acid 
E)  nontoxic ash 
A)  carbon monoxide 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  water 
D)  acid 
E)  nontoxic ash

Question 20

Although photovoltaic electricity is considered a "clean" power source, one issue with this electricity is that it .

Accepted Answer

A)  will be replaced shortly with other sources of power for homes 
B)  is less efficient than fossil fuels 
C)  cannot be stored easily in large quantities 
D)  is not sufficiently understood 
E)  is dangerous if stored too long 
A)  will be replaced shortly with other sources of power for homes 
B)  is less efficient than fossil fuels 
C)  cannot be stored easily in large quantities 
D)  is not sufficiently understood 
E)  is dangerous if stored too long

Exam 21: How to Interpret Graphs

The largest problem with adopting the new technologies of renewable resources is that .

One benefit of offshore wind farms is that .

Whether a hydrogen -based energy system is environmentally cleaner than a fossil fuel system depends on _.

Compared to the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity, wind energy .

A potential energy source from oceans is .

An average household uses about 10,000 kilowatt -hours of electricity annually. The first two turbines installed at Humboldt Industrial Park provide enough electricity to completely provide for the needs of approximately how many households?

Using wind turbines to produce electricity avoids the production of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, which are the major pollutants .

A major obstacle to the establishment of wind farms near populated and scenic areas is .

One difficulty with the process of using hydrogen as a power source is that it .

Electricity from hydropower composes approximately in the U.S. % of the total electricity produced

Every winter morning when the sun is shining bright, a man living in Montana pulls back the drapes on a large, south -facing window. In this way, he helps heat his home using .

Wind turbines are generally more productive if they are .

Using wind as a power source to do work .

A major advantage of solar power is that .

U.S. geothermal energy is most available in .

Solar represents a minuscule portion of U.S. energy production because of .

-According to the model depicted in this figure, in approximately what year are fossil fuels and nuclear power first expected to provide less than half of the energy consumed in the U.S.?

The chemical product produced by a hydrogen fuel cells is .

Although photovoltaic electricity is considered a "clean" power source, one issue with this electricity is that it .

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Solutions

Answers to Data Analysis Questions

Metric System

Periodic Table of the Elements

Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

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