Chapter 18 Flashcards
Any natural material that is used by humans is a….
Natural Resource
What is a pollutant?
any harmful or unwanted substance that is released into the environment, such as CO2 or greenhouse gases
How can we reduce air pollution? (5 things)
By burning less fossil fuels(conserving them),
recycling
switching to renewable resources
planting crops that don’t need fertilizers
Contour plowing - plowing on the sides of hills to prevent soil erosion
What happens when fertilizers enter streams?
the chemicals in there can harm a large variety of animals in the ecosystem and cause the algae population to grow, harming the fish population.
What is thought to cause Global Warming?
an increase of greenhouse gases/CO2 in the atmosphere
Name 3 renewable resources.
air, sunlight, animals, trees.
a liquid of complex hydrocarbon compounds is…
petroleum
all living things are made up of the element…
carbon
how is natural gas/petroleum formed?
the remains of organisms become buried under sediment, transforming it through high pressures.
Natural resources that humans use to generate energy are called…
energy resources
a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived long ago is a…
fossil fuel
Why is it important to conserve fossil fuels?
it is a nonrenewable resource; once it’s gone, we can’t get it back.
How do microscopic sea organisms form petroleum and natural gas?
When they die, their remains settle on the ocean floor and are are buried by sediments. Over time, the organism will compact enough to transform into natural gas/ petroleum
Rocks through which fluids, such as petroleum or gas, can move are…
permeable rocks
How are petroleum and natural gas obtained?
by drilling wells
How is coal obtained?
through strip mining or surface mining
why are fossil fuels dangerous to our environment?
it releases greenhouse gases when burned, which causes Global Warming
The joining of two or more nuclei to form a larger nucleus is…
fusion
the process by which the nuclei of radioactive atoms are split into two or more smaller nuclei are called…
fission
How are nuclear power plants dangerous to the environment?
fission and fusion creates radioactive waste
What is conserving energy?
Not using a resource when you don’t need to (E.G: turning lights off when you aren’t in the room)
What is recycling?
recovering useful materials from waste or reusing them
Where does fusion happen naturally?
the sun
The energy released when a chemical compound reacts to produce new compounds is…
chemical energy
Is Biomass a renewable resource?
Yes; it comes from plants
Does geothermal energy cause pollution?
yes?
the most common way to release biomass energy is to…
burn it
alcohol can be mixed with gasoline to make a fuel called…
gasohol
Explain the process of obtaining geothermal energy.
liquid is sent down into the Earth where it is heated up and turns into steam and hot water, which can drive electric turbines or heat a building
how is hydroelectric energy obtained?
falling water spins a turbine, generating electrical energy
how is hydroelectric energy harmful to the environment?
building dams can destroy wildlife habitats and other resource. It can also decrease water quality and create soil erosion.
What is a disadvantage of solar energy?
some areas don’t get enough sunlight year-round, making it hard to obtain solar energy in those areas.
the use of a windmill to drive an electric generator is…
wind power
What 2 kinds of light bulbs reduce the amount of electricity used?
LED and CFL
what is an unintended negative consequence of using ethanol instead of gasoline?
Ethanol uses corn to make, so the price of corn increases because of the large demand.
What practice increases the amount of soil that is washed away from an area?
Deforestation: cutting down many trees
A mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons
Natural gas
A liquid mixture of complex hydrocarbon compounds.
Petroleum
Organic matter that contains stored energy
Biomass
Most fuels contain…
Petroleum
What is produced when sunlight acts on exhaust?
Smog
Why should we recycle plastics?
It reduces the amount of waste in landfills
