Modules 34-40 Test Flashcards
Within a developing nation, an increase in the use of subsistence energy sources would most likely be caused by
(a) a decrease in the availability of straw, sticks, animal dung, and other local sources of fuel
(b) an increase in the availability o foil
(c) an increase in the cost of oil
(d) the loss of forested land
an increase in the cost of oil
Based on a table: Which fuel is most likely the least expensive fuel to produce per MJ of fuel?
(a) biodiesel
(b) coal
(c) ethanol from corn
(d) ethanol from sugarcane
coal
Based on a table: How many kilograms of fuel will be consumed if someone travels 200 km in a car that uses 3 MJ of biodiesel per kilometer?
(a) 7.5 kg
(b) 15 kg
(c) 22 kg
(d) 66 kg
15 kg
Which is likely to reduce the efficiency of a power plant?
(a) Increasing the capacity factor of the plant
(b) Using anthracite coal instead of bituminous coal
(c) shutting off a turbine driven by exhaust gases
(d) pumping cold water from a nearby stream into the condenser
shutting off a turbine driven by exhaust gases
Which is a benefit of using petroleum instead of coal for energy?
I. Petroleum releases about 15 percent more CO2 than coal.
II. Petroleum flows more easily than coal.
III. Mining and transport of petroleum is less harmful to the environment.
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) III only
(d) I and II
(b) II only
Which is true regarding natural gas?
(a) extraction and combustion of natural gas have less effect on global warming than extraction and combustion of coal
(b) contamination of water during the extraction process is of little concern
(c) liquefied petroleum gas is slightly more energy dense than natural gas
(d) pipelines are the primary means of transporting natural gas
pipelines are the primary means of transporting natural gas
In 1969, M. King Hubbert calculated lower and upper estimates for the volume of total world petroleum reserves. Regardless of which estimate was used, he predicted that 80 percent of the total reserves would be used up in approximately 60 years. Which of the following likely explains why his predictions were the same for both estimates?
I. The lower and upper estimates were not different enough to cause a major significant shift in his predictions.
II. Per capita energy use will increase with available energy.
III. Availability and use of petroleum is inversely correlated with cost.
(b) I only
(c) II only
(d) III only
(e) II and III
II and III
In a nuclear power plant, control rods are used to
(a) control the placement of fuel rods
(b) increase the efficiency of nuclear reactions
(c) transfer heat energy from the fuel rods into water
(d) absorb excess neutrons emitted by fuel rods
absorb excess neutrons emitted by fuel rods, cools it down
One particularly large nuclear power plant produces about 400 kilocuries per year. Krypton has a half-life of 10 years. After 30 years, what will be the radioactivity of the krypton waste generated in a single year?
(a) 50 kilocuries
(b) 100 kilocuries
(c) 200 kilocuries
(d) 800 kilocuries
50 kilocuries
Which reduces the capacity factor of nuclear power plants?
(a) the need for long-term storage of radioactive waste
(b) government regulation of low-level radioactive waste
(c) competition with plants that use coal to produce energy
(d) the need to periodically replace fuel rods
(d) the need to periodically replace fuel rods
Which is a renewable energy source that does not originate from solar radiation?
(a) biomass
(b) geothermal
(c) nuclear
(d) wind
geothermal
A homeowner in the Northern Hemisphere wants to ave money and energy by using a passive solar design for heating. The homeowner could consider
(a) opening window blinds on southern exposure sunny winter days
(b) using only Energy Star appliances
(c) placing photovoltaic cells on the roof
(d) installing a ground source heat pump
opening window blinds on southern exposure sunny winter days
Suppose you own a diesel car and the current price of diesel gasoline is $3.00 per gallon. You pay $750 for parts that allow the engine to be converted so it can operate on straight vegetable oil (SVO), which costs $1.50 per gallon. The car gets 50 miles per gallon when running on either type of fuel. After how many miles will you recoup the cost of engine conversion?
(a) 1,500
(b) 5,000
(c) 10,000
(d) 25,000
25,000
Relative to burning fossil carbon, the use of modern carbon for energy
(a) rarely contributes to the removal of vegetation
(b) does not use energy that originates from the Sun
(c) is cheaper and more efficient
(d) is more likely to be carbon-neutral
is more likely to be carbon-neutral
Based on a table: In this depiction of a hydrogen powered fuel cell, components i, ii, iii, and iv refer to
(a) hydrogen, protons, neutrons, water
(b) hydrogen, protons, hydrogen ions, water
(c) hydrogen, protons, electrons, water
(d) hydrogen, electrons, protons, water
(c) hydrogen, protons, electrons, water
The combines use of concentrated solar thermal (CST) an fossil fuel energy generation can provide for greatest grid reliability when
(a) CST and fossil fuel plants are built near each other
(b) fossil fuels are able to be used when CST is unavailable
(c) CST and fossil fuel energy are equally distributed to the power grid
(d) fossil fuel plants are built in desert areas where there is consistent sunshine and plenty of open space
(b) fossil fuels are able to be used when CST is unavailable
Which sources of electricity employ the use of turbines?
(a) photovoltaic cells, windmills, run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants
(b) photovoltaic cells, windmills, water impoundment hydroelectric dams
(c) concentrated solar thermal plants, nuclear plants, windmills
(d) concentrated solar thermal plants, water impoundment hydroelectric dams, fuel cells
(c) concentrated solar thermal plants, nuclear plants, windmills
