Energy Concepts

Question 1

Energy units

Answer 1

joule, calorie, british thermal unit, kilowatt hour

Question 2

Power units

Answer 2

Watt, horsepower

Question 3

Laws of Thermodynamics

Answer 3

1. Energy can not be created or destroyed, only transformed

2. Entropy (chaos) increases because energy lost as heat or other forms in transformations

Question 4

Energy

Answer 4

capacity to do work

Question 5

Potential energy

Answer 5

energy at rest

Question 6

Kinetic energy

Answer 6

energy in motion

Question 7

Radiant energy

Answer 7

sunlight

Question 8

Convection

Answer 8

transfer of heat by movement of heated matter

Question 9

Conduction

Answer 9

transfer of energy through matter

Question 10

Fossil fuels provide ___ of the world’s electricity.

Answer 10

64%

Question 11

____ energy provides 17% of the world’s electricity.

Answer 11

Nuclear

Question 12

Renewable energy sources provide ___.

Answer 12

19% of the world’s electricity.

Question 13

Coal

Answer 13

purest- anthracite, then bituminous, then sub-bituminous, worst is lignite
scrubbers remove sulfur dioxide
fly ash and boiler residue are waste products
(found on land)

Question 14

Oil

Answer 14

crude oil is what is pumped out
most environmental damage is from transporting thousands of miles
(found in water)

Question 15

Natural Gas

Answer 15

mostly methane, but also pentane, butane, etc
comes from wetlands and livestock
transported in gas tanks as liquefied natural gas, compressed

Question 16

Nuclear Energy

Answer 16

nonrenewable, non-fossil fuel
use uranium-238 with a 3% uranium-235
isotopes are split with fission
two types of reactors- boiling water and pressurized water

Question 17

Hydroelectric Power (dams)

Answer 17

moving water turns a turbine which generates electricity
production releases no pollutants
does produce thermal pollution and dams rivers, which destroys habitats
Bad: huge buildup of sediment behind dam
Fish can’t spawn unless they have fish ladders to go upriver

Question 18

Energy Conservation

Answer 18

biofuel- fuel made of something other than fossil fuels, such as cooking oil
important to find alternative fuel sources
CAFE, Corporate Average Fuel Economy, set standards for mile per gallon for cars
hybrid vehicles run on electricity and gasoline only for starting and stopping car

Question 19

Renewable Energy

Answer 19

Hydroelectric, solar, wind, geothermal, ocean tides, hydrogen cells

Question 20

Solar

Answer 20

passive solar energy collection- collect sunlight with windows and building placement
active collection- solar panels
photovoltaic cells- collects solar energy, produce electricity to store in batteries

Question 21

Wind

Answer 21

turbine- wind turns blades, main part of wind turbine
nacelle- gearbox and generator to control turbine
wind farms- wind turbines put in groups

Question 22

Geothermal

Answer 22

energy from within earth, takes earth’s internal heat from heated water and steam