Additional for Final Exam Flashcards
Things like biological populations that grow at the constant rate, R, have _____ given by ln(2)/R = 0.693/R ≈ 70/R%.
doubling times
Things like radioactive isotopes that decay at the constant rate, R, have __________ given by ln(2)/R = 0.693/R ≈ 70/R%.
half lives
The rate at which we consume hydro-carbons (coal, oil, gas) has the doubling time of about 44 years. It has taken us about 6 doubling times to consume 50% of the earth’s hydrocarbons since the Industrial Revolution. At this rate, the remaining 50% will be gone in about _______ years.
44
Over 2013, the population will grow by an additional ________ people.
80 million
Approximate age of the Earth.
4.5 billion
The ______ provides the best estimate of the actual age of the earth.
radiometric dating
The Inca Snow Boy died about 60 years ago. Assuming the half-life of 14C is 6,000 years means that the Snow Boy died about (N = ____) half-lives ago.
0.01
The Inca Snow Boy’s age is known because his remains contain _____ times the atmosphere’s concentration of 14C.
99%
Because the 14C ⇒ 14N decay scheme forms a closed system, the amount of 14N in his remains is
0.01 / 1%
A tree excavated in a floodplain contains about 12.5% (= 1/8) of the atom-spheric 14C concentration. Thus, it has been dead for about _______ years.
18,000
Moai of the modern era.
us/ humans
What is the approximate maximum lifetime tmax in years for the US coal reserve of 918 qBTu if it is consumed at the current consumption level of 21 qBTu?
(1) 43 (2) 22 (3) 52 (4) 72
(1) 43
What is the approximate lifetime te in years for the US coal reserve of 918 qBTu if the annual consumption of 21 qBTu increases at 1.6% per year?
(1) 43 (2) 22 (3) 52 (4) 72
(2) 22
What is the approximate maximum lifetime tmax in years for the US petroleum reserve of 203 qBTu if it is consumed at the current consumption level of 38 qBTu?
(1) 5 (2) 10 (3) 20 (4) 40
(1) 5
What is the approximate lifetime te in years for the US petroleum reserve of 203 qBTu if the annual consumption of 38 qBTu increases at 1.6% per year?
(1) 5 (2) 10 (3) 20 (4) 40
(1) 5
What Ohio-birthed company colluded with GM (MI) and Mack Trucks (PA) to kill or replace US’ electric rail systems (ie., street cars) with motorized systems (ie., buses)?
(1) Firestone Tire (2) Phillips Petroleum (3) Standard Oil (4) all of above
(4) all of above
Suburbia was initially designed to help reward soldiers from the ____ War.
(1) First World (2) Second World (3) Korean (4) Vietnam
(2) Second World
Suburbia, motorized transport systems, market economies and other unsustainable human institutions as synonymous with the _______ of the Rapa Nui.
(1) porpoises (2) forests (3) Moai (4) volcanic tuff
(3) Moai
Ranchers grazing livestock on public lands sell their livestock at profit, but pay grazing fees that account for only about a third of the US Forest Service’s costs to maintain the land. From your (ie., the taxpayer’s) viewpoint, this is another example of the old _____ game.
(1) Double C-Double P (2) ASAP (3) free market (4) full-cost accounting
(1) Double C-Double P
Ranchers grazing livestock on public lands sell their livestock at profit, but pay grazing fees that account for only about a third of the US Forest Service’s costs to maintain the land. Who is sucking on the public teat here?
(1) taxpayers (2) ranchers (3) livestock (4) market
(2) ranchers
Ranchers grazing livestock on public lands sell their livestock at profit, but pay grazing fees that account for only about a third of the US Forest Service’s costs to maintain the land. Whose teat is being suckled here?
(1) taxpayers (2) ranchers (3) livestock (4) market
(1) taxpayers
The biggest fundamental challenge to attaining sustainability in the future is _____.
(1) overpopulation (2) fossil fuel emissions (3) new ideas for environmental protection (4) increases in the incidence of natural hazards
(1) overpopulation
