Deck 21: How to Interpret Graphs

Question 1

Which of the following methods is considered a type of passive solar energy collection?

A) ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
B) rooftop flat -plate solar collectors
C) photovoltaic cells
D) using heat -absorbing construction materials
E) rooftop solar panels

Answer 1

D

Question 2

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

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

Answer 2

B

Question 3

A solar cooker is an example of .

A) OTEC technology
B) passive solar technology
C) active solar technology
D) concentrated solar power
E) a hydrogen fuel cell

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Wind turbines kill more birds than which of the other major causes of bird mortality?

A) cats
B) pesticides
C) towers
D) collisions with windows
E) All of these kill more birds than are killed by wind turbines.

Question 5

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

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 6

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

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

Question 7

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.?

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

Question 8

Wind turbines are generally more productive if they are .

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 9

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

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

Question 10

The data in the figure reflect energy use in the U.S. in 2015. In 2012, renewable energy composed 9.3% of total energy consumed in the U.S. If the trend from 2012 to 2015 continues, in approximately what year will renewable energy account for 20% of total energy consumed in the U.S.?

A) 2081
B) 2050
C) 2115
D) 2065
E) 2097

Question 11

The current practice of geothermal power generation may not always provide a practical renewable energy source because _ _.

A) in some cases, the heated groundwater is used much faster than it is recharged
B) power plants have high maintenance costs
C) geologically heated groundwater is unsuitable for these plants and must be purified first
D) in some instances, pollution emissions can be very high
E) in many cases, the magma is used faster than it is recharged

Question 12

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

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 13

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

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

Question 14

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

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 15

Given the fact that all of the nuclear energy shown in the figure is used for producing electricity, approximately what portion of the energy consumed in the U.S. is used for producing electricity?

A) 34%
B) 44%
C) 19%
D) 62%
E) 8.6

Question 16

A potential energy source from oceans is .

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

Question 17

One benefit of offshore wind farms is that .

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

Question 18

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

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 19

A major advantage of solar power is that .

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 20

A major disadvantage of solar power is _.

A) the uneven distribution of sunshine around the world
B) antiquated and unreliable technology
C) lack of knowledge about long -term economic impacts
D) its efficiency level compared to other types of power
E) decentralization of control of electrical energy

Question 21

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.

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

Question 22

An average household uses about 10,000 kilowatt -hours of electricity annually. How many tons of carbon dioxide would be produced if the household's electricity were generated using only conventional energy sources?

A) 2,800,000
B) 1,400,000
C) 700
D) 70
E) 7

Question 23

The chemical product produced by a hydrogen fuel cells is .

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

Question 24

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?

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

Question 25

Using wind as a power source to do work .

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 26

U.S. geothermal energy is most available in .

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

Question 27

Wind energy has been harnessed for hundreds of years to .

A) heat and cool houses
B) drain water from land so it can be farmed
C) generate electricity
D) regulate climate
E) pump water and grind grain

Question 28

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 .

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

Question 29

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

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 30

Which two nations account for almost half of the global production of wind power?

A) U.S. and China
B) Bangladesh and Swaziland
C) U.S. and Canada
D) U.S. and Germany
E) China and Russia