Question 1

Is it possible for a nuclear fission power plant to blow up like an atomic bomb?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes, if there is a collision between two fuel rods. 
B) No, the worst case scenario is a "meltdown" not a nuclear explosion. 
C) Yes, if the meltdown by-products reach the water table. 
D) No, there are too many safeguards to prevent such an event. 
A) Yes, if there is a collision between two fuel rods. 
B) No, the worst case scenario is a "meltdown" not a nuclear explosion. 
C) Yes, if the meltdown by-products reach the water table. 
D) No, there are too many safeguards to prevent such an event. B

Question 2

Why are fossil fuels so widely used?

Accepted Answer

A) There are numerous, inexpensive sources. 
B) They can be easily transported. 
C) They have a large amount of energy stored in them compared to biomass. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) There are numerous, inexpensive sources. 
B) They can be easily transported. 
C) They have a large amount of energy stored in them compared to biomass. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above A

Question 3

Why do many environmental groups oppose building more hydroelectric dams when these dams produce virtually no chemical pollutants as they create electric power?

Accepted Answer

A) Because they increase the rate of evaporation, hence more fresh water is lost. 
B) Because these dams are very expensive to build. 
C) Environmental groups tend to reject all new technological advancements. 
D) Dams can radically alter ecosystems. 
A) Because they increase the rate of evaporation, hence more fresh water is lost. 
B) Because these dams are very expensive to build. 
C) Environmental groups tend to reject all new technological advancements. 
D) Dams can radically alter ecosystems. D

Question 4

Why are airplanes flown by the power of electricity rather than the power of gasoline fuel so impractical?

Accepted Answer

A) The wires connecting it to the ground would have to be impractically long. 
B) Electricity driven airplanes are only impractical when required to lift heavy loads. 
C) Electricity driven airplanes would be prone to lightning strikes. 
D) all of the above 
A) The wires connecting it to the ground would have to be impractically long. 
B) Electricity driven airplanes are only impractical when required to lift heavy loads. 
C) Electricity driven airplanes would be prone to lightning strikes. 
D) all of the above

Question 5

Which of the following fossil fuels is the cleanest and contains the most energy?

Accepted Answer

A) petroleum 
B) coal 
C) natural gas 
D) methane hydrate 
E) All of the above have the same utility. 
A) petroleum 
B) coal 
C) natural gas 
D) methane hydrate 
E) All of the above have the same utility.

Question 6

Where does the chemical energy in living plants ultimately come from?

Accepted Answer

A) solar radiation 
B) the soil 
C) wind energy 
D) nuclear fission 
E) none of the above 
A) solar radiation 
B) the soil 
C) wind energy 
D) nuclear fission 
E) none of the above

Question 7

What is one drawback of dams?

Accepted Answer

A) They prevent fish from spawning. 
B) They soften the shells on avian eggs. 
C) Because they are pollution free, the electricity is more expensive. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) They prevent fish from spawning. 
B) They soften the shells on avian eggs. 
C) Because they are pollution free, the electricity is more expensive. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 8

Rank these fossil fuels on the ease of transportation once extracted from where they are found in nature (hardest to easiest). 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Accepted Answer

A) 3, 2, 1 
B) 2, 3, 1 
C) 1, 3, 2 
D) 1, 2, 3 
E) 3, 1, 2 
A) 3, 2, 1 
B) 2, 3, 1 
C) 1, 3, 2 
D) 1, 2, 3 
E) 3, 1, 2

Question 9

Rank these fossil fuels on their cleanliness (cleanest to dirtiest). 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Accepted Answer

A) 3, 2, 1 
B) 2, 3, 1 
C) 1, 3, 2 
D) 1, 2, 3 
E) 3, 1, 2 
A) 3, 2, 1 
B) 2, 3, 1 
C) 1, 3, 2 
D) 1, 2, 3 
E) 3, 1, 2

Question 10

Which of the following fossil fuels can be used most readily as a feedstock for industry?

Accepted Answer

A) petroleum 
B) coal 
C) natural gas 
D) methane hydrate 
E) All of the above have the same utility. 
A) petroleum 
B) coal 
C) natural gas 
D) methane hydrate 
E) All of the above have the same utility.

Question 11

What is the main biomass-derived fuel used in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

A) ethanol 
B) methanol 
C) methane 
D) ethane 
E) octane 
A) ethanol 
B) methanol 
C) methane 
D) ethane 
E) octane

Question 12

Where does the electric energy from geothermal harvesting ultimately come from?

Accepted Answer

A) solar radiation 
B) the soil 
C) wind energy 
D) nuclear fission 
E) none of the above 
A) solar radiation 
B) the soil 
C) wind energy 
D) nuclear fission 
E) none of the above

Question 13

What are some disadvantages of producing ethanol by fermenting food biomass?

Accepted Answer

A) It is a waste of good food. 
B) It could destabilize the world oil market. 
C) It is a rather costly process. 
D) all of the above 
A) It is a waste of good food. 
B) It could destabilize the world oil market. 
C) It is a rather costly process. 
D) all of the above

Question 14

How are geothermal power and ocean thermal power similar?

Accepted Answer

A) They are restricted to selected locations. 
B) They take advantage of temperature differences between layers of water. 
C) They both rely on solar energy. 
D) They can be used directly to heat buildings. 
E) all of the above 
A) They are restricted to selected locations. 
B) They take advantage of temperature differences between layers of water. 
C) They both rely on solar energy. 
D) They can be used directly to heat buildings. 
E) all of the above

Question 15

One megawatt (1.0 MW)of electricity is sufficient to meet the needs of about 350 households within a developed nation. Europe expects to have a wind energy capacity of 180,000 MW by 2020. How many households is this?

Accepted Answer

A) 6.3 million households 
B) 63 million households 
C) 630 million households 
D) 95 million households 
A) 6.3 million households 
B) 63 million households 
C) 630 million households 
D) 95 million households

Question 16

Which of the following conventional power plants most closely resembles an ocean thermal energy converter?

Accepted Answer

A) a fusion reactor 
B) a coal-fired power plant 
C) a dam 
D) all of the above 
E) only a or b 
A) a fusion reactor 
B) a coal-fired power plant 
C) a dam 
D) all of the above 
E) only a or b

Question 17

Why would a chain-reaction control substance that loses neutron-absorbing power as its temperature increases be dangerous?

Accepted Answer

A) Because it would start to emit protons. 
B) Neutrons would start to collide with each other and that would be bad. 
C) It would be unusually radioactive. 
D) Unhindered neutrons would cause a meltdown. 
A) Because it would start to emit protons. 
B) Neutrons would start to collide with each other and that would be bad. 
C) It would be unusually radioactive. 
D) Unhindered neutrons would cause a meltdown.

Question 18

Why is it impractical to burn any fuel in such a way that no nitrogen oxides are formed as combustion products?

Accepted Answer

A) All fuels contain nitrogen. 
B) Nitrogen oxides form wherever air is exposed to high temperatures. 
C) Much of the energy of combustion comes from the formation of nitrogen oxides. 
D) Plants have come to depend on the nitrogen oxides produced from combustion. 
A) All fuels contain nitrogen. 
B) Nitrogen oxides form wherever air is exposed to high temperatures. 
C) Much of the energy of combustion comes from the formation of nitrogen oxides. 
D) Plants have come to depend on the nitrogen oxides produced from combustion.

Question 19

What is an advantage of using hydrogen as a fuel?

Accepted Answer

A) It burns cleanly. 
B) It is easy to handle. 
C) It does not take much energy to produce. 
D) It is less flammable than natural gas. 
E) all of the above 
A) It burns cleanly. 
B) It is easy to handle. 
C) It does not take much energy to produce. 
D) It is less flammable than natural gas. 
E) all of the above

Question 20

In 1973 the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries stopped exporting their oil for a time. What effect do you suppose this embargo had on the nuclear power industry?

Accepted Answer

A) There was little effect as most experts in the industry knew that the 1973 oil embargo was going to be short-lived. 
B) This embargo boosted the support for building of many new nuclear power plants. 
C) It lowered the price of electricity generated from nuclear power plants, which then held a greater share of the market. 
D) Any positive effect of this embargo could have had on the nuclear power industry was promptly negated by the Chernobyl disaster. 
A) There was little effect as most experts in the industry knew that the 1973 oil embargo was going to be short-lived. 
B) This embargo boosted the support for building of many new nuclear power plants. 
C) It lowered the price of electricity generated from nuclear power plants, which then held a greater share of the market. 
D) Any positive effect of this embargo could have had on the nuclear power industry was promptly negated by the Chernobyl disaster.

Is it possible for a nuclear fission power plant to blow up like an atomic bomb?

Why are fossil fuels so widely used?

Why do many environmental groups oppose building more hydroelectric dams when these dams produce virtually no chemical pollutants as they create electric power?

Why are airplanes flown by the power of electricity rather than the power of gasoline fuel so impractical?

Which of the following fossil fuels is the cleanest and contains the most energy?

Where does the chemical energy in living plants ultimately come from?

What is one drawback of dams?

Rank these fossil fuels on the ease of transportation once extracted from where they are found in nature (hardest to easiest). 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Rank these fossil fuels on their cleanliness (cleanest to dirtiest). 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Which of the following fossil fuels can be used most readily as a feedstock for industry?

What is the main biomass-derived fuel used in the U.S.?

Where does the electric energy from geothermal harvesting ultimately come from?

What are some disadvantages of producing ethanol by fermenting food biomass?

How are geothermal power and ocean thermal power similar?

One megawatt (1.0 MW)of electricity is sufficient to meet the needs of about 350 households within a developed nation. Europe expects to have a wind energy capacity of 180,000 MW by 2020. How many households is this?

Which of the following conventional power plants most closely resembles an ocean thermal energy converter?

Why would a chain-reaction control substance that loses neutron-absorbing power as its temperature increases be dangerous?

Why is it impractical to burn any fuel in such a way that no nitrogen oxides are formed as combustion products?

What is an advantage of using hydrogen as a fuel?

In 1973 the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries stopped exporting their oil for a time. What effect do you suppose this embargo had on the nuclear power industry?

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

The Atomic Nucleus

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Medicinal Chemistry

Optimizing Food Production

Protection Water and Air Resources

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Exam 17: Capturing Energy

Is it possible for a nuclear fission power plant to blow up like an atomic bomb?

Why are fossil fuels so widely used?

Why do many environmental groups oppose building more hydroelectric dams when these dams produce virtually no chemical pollutants as they create electric power?

Why are airplanes flown by the power of electricity rather than the power of gasoline fuel so impractical?

Which of the following fossil fuels is the cleanest and contains the most energy?

Where does the chemical energy in living plants ultimately come from?

What is one drawback of dams?

Rank these fossil fuels on the ease of transportation once extracted from where they are found in nature (hardest to easiest). 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Rank these fossil fuels on their cleanliness (cleanest to dirtiest). 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Which of the following fossil fuels can be used most readily as a feedstock for industry?

What is the main biomass-derived fuel used in the U.S.?

Where does the electric energy from geothermal harvesting ultimately come from?

What are some disadvantages of producing ethanol by fermenting food biomass?

How are geothermal power and ocean thermal power similar?

One megawatt (1.0 MW)of electricity is sufficient to meet the needs of about 350 households within a developed nation. Europe expects to have a wind energy capacity of 180,000 MW by 2020. How many households is this?

Which of the following conventional power plants most closely resembles an ocean thermal energy converter?

Why would a chain-reaction control substance that loses neutron-absorbing power as its temperature increases be dangerous?

Why is it impractical to burn any fuel in such a way that no nitrogen oxides are formed as combustion products?

What is an advantage of using hydrogen as a fuel?

In 1973 the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries stopped exporting their oil for a time. What effect do you suppose this embargo had on the nuclear power industry?

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

The Atomic Nucleus

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Medicinal Chemistry

Optimizing Food Production

Protection Water and Air Resources

Filters