Question 1

Which of the following is the most significant environmental advantage of deriving energy from nuclear fission?

Accepted Answer

A) There are almost no atmospheric pollutants. 
B) Nuclear bombs can be made from fuel by-products. 
C) Waters surrounding each nuclear power plant are warmed. 
D) The uranium fuel supply is virtually unlimited. 
A) There are almost no atmospheric pollutants. 
B) Nuclear bombs can be made from fuel by-products. 
C) Waters surrounding each nuclear power plant are warmed. 
D) The uranium fuel supply is virtually unlimited.

Question 2

Which of the following has a typical peak power output of about 500 megawatts?

Accepted Answer

A) a coal-fired power plant 
B) a hydroelectric dam 
C) a nuclear reactor 
D) a fusion reactor 
E) All of the above have the same capacity. 
A) a coal-fired power plant 
B) a hydroelectric dam 
C) a nuclear reactor 
D) a fusion reactor 
E) All of the above have the same capacity.

Question 3

What is the utility of south-facing windows in northern climates?

Accepted Answer

A) It keeps the house cool in the summer. 
B) The north side of the house faces the sun. 
C) Wind currents won't blow directly into the house. 
D) It allows the sun's rays to pass into the house. 
A) It keeps the house cool in the summer. 
B) The north side of the house faces the sun. 
C) Wind currents won't blow directly into the house. 
D) It allows the sun's rays to pass into the house.

Question 4

How much money would you save per hour by replacing a 100-watt incandescent light bulb with an equally bright 20-watt fluorescent bulb? Assume the cost for electricity to be 15 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Accepted Answer

A) 1.5 cents per hour 
B) 1.2 cents per hour 
C) 0.3 cent per hour 
D) It's not possible to save only a fraction of a cent. 
A) 1.5 cents per hour 
B) 1.2 cents per hour 
C) 0.3 cent per hour 
D) It's not possible to save only a fraction of a cent.

Question 5

Which of the following has a typical peak power output of about 10,000 megawatts?

Accepted Answer

A) a coal-fired power plant 
B) a hydroelectric dam 
C) a nuclear reactor 
D) a fusion reactor 
E) All of the above have the same capacity. 
A) a coal-fired power plant 
B) a hydroelectric dam 
C) a nuclear reactor 
D) a fusion reactor 
E) All of the above have the same capacity.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a way of getting energy out of biomass?

Accepted Answer

A) petrification 
B) fermentation 
C) combustion 
D) gasification 
E) consumption 
A) petrification 
B) fermentation 
C) combustion 
D) gasification 
E) consumption

Question 7

When an electrical power transmission line goes down, adjacent lines immediately experience ________.

Accepted Answer

A) a loss of power 
B) a surge in power 
C) a drop in power 
D) minimal effects 
A) a loss of power 
B) a surge in power 
C) a drop in power 
D) minimal effects

Question 8

What is one difficulty associated with hydrogen based fuels?

Accepted Answer

A) They are gases. 
B) They are difficult to store safely. 
C) Hydrogen sources are often obtained from fossil fuels. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) They are gases. 
B) They are difficult to store safely. 
C) Hydrogen sources are often obtained from fossil fuels. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 9

Electric cars are advantageous because they ________.

Accepted Answer

A) can be charged at home at night when electricity rates are cheaper 
B) have fewer moving parts hence fewer repairs compared to gasoline powered cars 
C) can be powered by sustainable energy sources, such as photovoltaics or wind turbines 
D) provide greater acceleration than gasoline powered cars 
E) all of the above 
A) can be charged at home at night when electricity rates are cheaper 
B) have fewer moving parts hence fewer repairs compared to gasoline powered cars 
C) can be powered by sustainable energy sources, such as photovoltaics or wind turbines 
D) provide greater acceleration than gasoline powered cars 
E) all of the above

Question 10

In 2009, most electrical power worldwide came from ________.

Accepted Answer

A) coal 
B) oil 
C) hydroelectric 
D) nuclear fission 
E) nuclear fusion 
A) coal 
B) oil 
C) hydroelectric 
D) nuclear fission 
E) nuclear fusion

Question 11

How is most of the stored chemical energy in fuel sources currently utilized?

Accepted Answer

A) It is converted to heat energy and then kinetic energy and then into electrical energy. 
B) It is converted into electrical energy directly. 
C) It is converted to kinetic energy and then heat energy and then into electrical energy. 
D) It is converted into electrical energy and then kinetic energy. 
E) none of the above 
A) It is converted to heat energy and then kinetic energy and then into electrical energy. 
B) It is converted into electrical energy directly. 
C) It is converted to kinetic energy and then heat energy and then into electrical energy. 
D) It is converted into electrical energy and then kinetic energy. 
E) none of the above

Question 12

Even though fossil fuels were created by geologic conversion of biomass, how come they are considered nonrenewable?

Accepted Answer

A) It takes millions of years for the fuels to form. 
B) The fuels are not produced via photosynthesis. 
C) Nonrenewable is synonymous for inexpensive. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) It takes millions of years for the fuels to form. 
B) The fuels are not produced via photosynthesis. 
C) Nonrenewable is synonymous for inexpensive. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 13

What is a the main difficulty in storing radioactive waste?

Accepted Answer

A) The half-life of the material is so long it will take over 10,000 years until it is safe. 
B) No one wants to keep the waste in their backyard. 
C) The materials give off so much radiation that there are engineering difficulties. 
D) Water seepage into the waste could lead to radioactive leachate. 
E) all of the above 
A) The half-life of the material is so long it will take over 10,000 years until it is safe. 
B) No one wants to keep the waste in their backyard. 
C) The materials give off so much radiation that there are engineering difficulties. 
D) Water seepage into the waste could lead to radioactive leachate. 
E) all of the above

Question 14

What is the main drawback of ocean thermal energy conversion?

Accepted Answer

A) The system only works where there is a big temperature difference in the water. 
B) The low boiling refrigerant causes ozone depletion. 
C) The amount of energy produced is very low. 
D) The waste water suffers from algal blooms. 
E) all of the above 
A) The system only works where there is a big temperature difference in the water. 
B) The low boiling refrigerant causes ozone depletion. 
C) The amount of energy produced is very low. 
D) The waste water suffers from algal blooms. 
E) all of the above

Question 15

Why is it in a country's best national security interests to invest in sustainable energy sources?

Accepted Answer

A) The costs of nonsustainable energy sources are guaranteed to rise as these sources become more scarce. 
B) They could profit by selling their developed technologies to other countries. 
C) It allows a nation to be energy independent. 
D) all of the above 
A) The costs of nonsustainable energy sources are guaranteed to rise as these sources become more scarce. 
B) They could profit by selling their developed technologies to other countries. 
C) It allows a nation to be energy independent. 
D) all of the above

Question 16

At atmospheric pressure, water has a boiling point too high to allow it to be used as the turbine-pushing fluid in an OTEC electric generator. How might the generator be modified to overcome this problem?

Accepted Answer

A) Raise the temperature of the water. 
B) Operate the generator only in warm climates. 
C) Reduce the pressure above the water. 
D) Use a relatively large generator. 
A) Raise the temperature of the water. 
B) Operate the generator only in warm climates. 
C) Reduce the pressure above the water. 
D) Use a relatively large generator.

Question 17

What feature makes fusion energy more attractive than fission?

Accepted Answer

A) There is no radioactive waste generated. 
B) The cost of the reactors is less than fission reactors. 
C) Less shielding from high energy neutrons is needed. 
D) It will be able to supply energy to developing countries. 
E) none of the above 
A) There is no radioactive waste generated. 
B) The cost of the reactors is less than fission reactors. 
C) Less shielding from high energy neutrons is needed. 
D) It will be able to supply energy to developing countries. 
E) none of the above

Question 18

The natural partner to sustainable energy is ________.

Accepted Answer

A) the United Nations 
B) shale natural gas 
C) energy conservation 
D) artificial photosynthesis 
A) the United Nations 
B) shale natural gas 
C) energy conservation 
D) artificial photosynthesis

Question 19

Which of the following fossil fuels is the easiest to handle?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

What if Mars were inhabitable by humans and we had developed the technology to transport and settle half the world's population there? At present birth rates, how long would it be before we were faced with not one but two world populations of 6 billion? (Hint: In what year did the world population hit 3 billion?)

Accepted Answer

A) millions of years 
B) thousands of years 
C) hundreds of years 
D) tens of years 
A) millions of years 
B) thousands of years 
C) hundreds of years 
D) tens of years

Which of the following is the most significant environmental advantage of deriving energy from nuclear fission?

Which of the following has a typical peak power output of about 500 megawatts?

What is the utility of south-facing windows in northern climates?

How much money would you save per hour by replacing a 100-watt incandescent light bulb with an equally bright 20-watt fluorescent bulb? Assume the cost for electricity to be 15 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Which of the following has a typical peak power output of about 10,000 megawatts?

Which of the following is not a way of getting energy out of biomass?

When an electrical power transmission line goes down, adjacent lines immediately experience ________.

What is one difficulty associated with hydrogen based fuels?

Electric cars are advantageous because they ________.

In 2009, most electrical power worldwide came from ________.

How is most of the stored chemical energy in fuel sources currently utilized?

Even though fossil fuels were created by geologic conversion of biomass, how come they are considered nonrenewable?

What is a the main difficulty in storing radioactive waste?

What is the main drawback of ocean thermal energy conversion?

Why is it in a country's best national security interests to invest in sustainable energy sources?

At atmospheric pressure, water has a boiling point too high to allow it to be used as the turbine-pushing fluid in an OTEC electric generator. How might the generator be modified to overcome this problem?

What feature makes fusion energy more attractive than fission?

The natural partner to sustainable energy is ________.

Which of the following fossil fuels is the easiest to handle?

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

Exam 17: Capturing Energy

Which of the following is the most significant environmental advantage of deriving energy from nuclear fission?

Which of the following has a typical peak power output of about 500 megawatts?

What is the utility of south-facing windows in northern climates?

How much money would you save per hour by replacing a 100-watt incandescent light bulb with an equally bright 20-watt fluorescent bulb? Assume the cost for electricity to be 15 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Which of the following has a typical peak power output of about 10,000 megawatts?

Which of the following is not a way of getting energy out of biomass?

When an electrical power transmission line goes down, adjacent lines immediately experience ________.

What is one difficulty associated with hydrogen based fuels?

Electric cars are advantageous because they ________.

In 2009, most electrical power worldwide came from ________.

How is most of the stored chemical energy in fuel sources currently utilized?

Even though fossil fuels were created by geologic conversion of biomass, how come they are considered nonrenewable?

What is a the main difficulty in storing radioactive waste?

What is the main drawback of ocean thermal energy conversion?

Why is it in a country's best national security interests to invest in sustainable energy sources?

At atmospheric pressure, water has a boiling point too high to allow it to be used as the turbine-pushing fluid in an OTEC electric generator. How might the generator be modified to overcome this problem?

What feature makes fusion energy more attractive than fission?

The natural partner to sustainable energy is ________.

Which of the following fossil fuels is the easiest to handle?

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