Question 1

The main problem with energy from nuclear fusion power is:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is dependent upon hydrogen, a limited fuel resource. 
B)  fusion only occurs in the sun, and we don't know how the sun's energy is produced. 
C)  fusion technology requires vast quantities of uranium. 
D)  fusion power still remains to be proven practical to control 
E)  None of these 
A)  it is dependent upon hydrogen, a limited fuel resource. 
B)  fusion only occurs in the sun, and we don't know how the sun's energy is produced. 
C)  fusion technology requires vast quantities of uranium. 
D)  fusion power still remains to be proven practical to control 
E)  None of these

Question 2

Which of the following is part of a home designed with passive solar heating?

Accepted Answer

A)  south facing windows 
B)  mirrors and lenses 
C)  use of solar collectors on the roof 
D)  little insulation 
E)  a greenhouse 
A)  south facing windows 
B)  mirrors and lenses 
C)  use of solar collectors on the roof 
D)  little insulation 
E)  a greenhouse

Question 3

Which of the following is a major advantage of breeder nuclear fission?

Accepted Answer

A)  Breeder nuclear fission is responsible for 30% of the electricity needed worldwide. 
B)  Nonfissionable U-238 is converted to fissionable Pu-239 
C)  It uses sodium as a coolant, which is safer than using water. 
D)  It uses uranium-235 as a main energy source. 
E)  It neither uses nor produces weapons-grade materials. 
A)  Breeder nuclear fission is responsible for 30% of the electricity needed worldwide. 
B)  Nonfissionable U-238 is converted to fissionable Pu-239 
C)  It uses sodium as a coolant, which is safer than using water. 
D)  It uses uranium-235 as a main energy source. 
E)  It neither uses nor produces weapons-grade materials.

Question 4

Forms of a single element that differ in atomic mass are called:

Accepted Answer

A)  atoms. 
B)  radioactive. 
C)  compounds. 
D)  isotopes. 
E)  molecules. 
A)  atoms. 
B)  radioactive. 
C)  compounds. 
D)  isotopes. 
E)  molecules.

Question 5

Growing crops specifically for alcohol production would probably result in:

Accepted Answer

A)  increased desertification. 
B)  increased soil erosion. 
C)  reduced food production. 
D)  increased pollution by fertilizers and pesticides. 
E)  All of these 
A)  increased desertification. 
B)  increased soil erosion. 
C)  reduced food production. 
D)  increased pollution by fertilizers and pesticides. 
E)  All of these

Question 6

The worst nuclear accident ever to happen at a nuclear power plant occurred at:

Accepted Answer

A)  Bristol, England. 
B)  Chornobyl, Ukraine. 
C)  Normandy, France. 
D)  Savanna River, GA. 
E)  Three Mile Island, PA. 
A)  Bristol, England. 
B)  Chornobyl, Ukraine. 
C)  Normandy, France. 
D)  Savanna River, GA. 
E)  Three Mile Island, PA.

Question 7

The use of photovoltaic cells is limited by all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  high cost 
B)  low efficiency 
C)  inability to directly generate electricity 
D)  cells incorporate hazardous materials 
E)  large output requires large areas of land 
A)  high cost 
B)  low efficiency 
C)  inability to directly generate electricity 
D)  cells incorporate hazardous materials 
E)  large output requires large areas of land

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT among the potential adverse environmental impacts of generating geothermal energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  emission of gases such as hydrogen sulfide 
B)  water depletion 
C)  induced seismicity 
D)  increase in carbon dioxide emissions 
E)  land subsidence 
A)  emission of gases such as hydrogen sulfide 
B)  water depletion 
C)  induced seismicity 
D)  increase in carbon dioxide emissions 
E)  land subsidence

Question 9

In breeder nuclear fission reactors:

Accepted Answer

A)  uranium U-235 is converted into plutonium Pu-239. 
B)  U-238 fission produces heat that is used to generate electricity. 
C)  protons produced from the fission of Pu-239 produce additional Pu-239 from U-238. 
D)  Pu-239 fission produces heat that is used to produce electricity. 
E)  uranium U-238 is converted to U-235. 
A)  uranium U-235 is converted into plutonium Pu-239. 
B)  U-238 fission produces heat that is used to generate electricity. 
C)  protons produced from the fission of Pu-239 produce additional Pu-239 from U-238. 
D)  Pu-239 fission produces heat that is used to produce electricity. 
E)  uranium U-238 is converted to U-235.

Question 10

Joining two lightweight atomic nuclei into a single heavier nucleus is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  enrichment. 
B)  fusion. 
C)  fission. 
D)  atom exchange. 
E)  the nuclear fuel cycle. 
A)  enrichment. 
B)  fusion. 
C)  fission. 
D)  atom exchange. 
E)  the nuclear fuel cycle.

Question 11

Nuclear energy:

Accepted Answer

A)  is released when the chemical bonds that hold atoms together are changed. 
B)  involves changes within the nuclei of atoms. 
C)  involves converting a large amount of matter from the nucleus into a small amount of energy. 
D)  results in the production of greater mass at the end of the energy process. 
E)  All of these. 
A)  is released when the chemical bonds that hold atoms together are changed. 
B)  involves changes within the nuclei of atoms. 
C)  involves converting a large amount of matter from the nucleus into a small amount of energy. 
D)  results in the production of greater mass at the end of the energy process. 
E)  All of these.

Question 12

Discuss the positive and negative aspects of using direct solar energy, and suggest ways to encourage research and development in this form of alternative energy.

Accepted Answer

On the positive side, solar energy is re

Question 13

Describe the improvements that have been made in designing the next generation of nuclear reactors. What problems remain?

Accepted Answer

The vision is to design nuclear reactors

Question 14

All of the following are issues that have limited the building of breeder nuclear reactors except:

Accepted Answer

A)  a breeder reactor makes more fissionable fuel than it uses 
B)  a breeder reactor uses liquid sodium, a highly reactive metal, rather than water as a coolant posing more safety risks 
C)  a breeder nuclear fission use of plutonium as fuel is associated with plutonium use in nuclear weapons 
D)  public opposition, technical problems, and accidents 
E)  uranium, used for conventional nuclear fission, is more plentiful and cheaper than originally thought 
A)  a breeder reactor makes more fissionable fuel than it uses 
B)  a breeder reactor uses liquid sodium, a highly reactive metal, rather than water as a coolant posing more safety risks 
C)  a breeder nuclear fission use of plutonium as fuel is associated with plutonium use in nuclear weapons 
D)  public opposition, technical problems, and accidents 
E)  uranium, used for conventional nuclear fission, is more plentiful and cheaper than originally thought

Question 15

Which of the following vocabulary is mis-matched with its definition?

Accepted Answer

A)  fission - splitting atoms into smaller fragments 
B)  fusion - combining atomic nuclei into larger nuclei 
C)  high-level nuclear waste - spent fuel elements from commercial reactors 
D)  low-level nuclear waste - any slightly contaminated material 
E)  meltdown - process by which uranium ore is refined after mining to increase the concentration of fissionable U-235 
A)  fission - splitting atoms into smaller fragments 
B)  fusion - combining atomic nuclei into larger nuclei 
C)  high-level nuclear waste - spent fuel elements from commercial reactors 
D)  low-level nuclear waste - any slightly contaminated material 
E)  meltdown - process by which uranium ore is refined after mining to increase the concentration of fissionable U-235

Question 16

Which of the following does not involve solar energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  geothermal energy 
B)  photovoltaic cells 
C)  solar power towers 
D)  wind farms 
E)  solar thermal collectors 
A)  geothermal energy 
B)  photovoltaic cells 
C)  solar power towers 
D)  wind farms 
E)  solar thermal collectors

Question 17

One unique aspect of solar energy as a source of global power is:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is currently the only renewable energy resource. 
B)  it contributes to the greenhouse effect. 
C)  it is dispersed over the Earth's entire surface rather than being concentrated in highly localized areas. 
D)  its reserves will last well into the next millennium. 
E)  that it is not dependent on technology for collection or utilization. 
A)  it is currently the only renewable energy resource. 
B)  it contributes to the greenhouse effect. 
C)  it is dispersed over the Earth's entire surface rather than being concentrated in highly localized areas. 
D)  its reserves will last well into the next millennium. 
E)  that it is not dependent on technology for collection or utilization.

Question 18

The production of "glass logs" to store high-level liquid radioactive wastes in the United States is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  vitrification. 
B)  "wet cask storage" 
C)  spent fuel pools. 
D)  fuel assemblies. 
E)  logification 
A)  vitrification. 
B)  "wet cask storage" 
C)  spent fuel pools. 
D)  fuel assemblies. 
E)  logification

Question 19

Which of the following is not a component of a regular nuclear power plant?

Accepted Answer

A)  combustion engine 
B)  fuel rods 
C)  reactor core 
D)  steam generator 
E)  control rods 
A)  combustion engine 
B)  fuel rods 
C)  reactor core 
D)  steam generator 
E)  control rods

Question 20

The greatest problem with the use of nuclear power to generate electricity is its production of:

Accepted Answer

A)  air pollutants. 
B)  water pollution. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  radiation that is released into the surrounding region. 
E)  radioactive waste that requires waste storage. 
A)  air pollutants. 
B)  water pollution. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  radiation that is released into the surrounding region. 
E)  radioactive waste that requires waste storage.

Exam 12: Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

The main problem with energy from nuclear fusion power is:

Which of the following is part of a home designed with passive solar heating?

Which of the following is a major advantage of breeder nuclear fission?

Forms of a single element that differ in atomic mass are called:

Growing crops specifically for alcohol production would probably result in:

The worst nuclear accident ever to happen at a nuclear power plant occurred at:

The use of photovoltaic cells is limited by all of the following except:

Which of the following is NOT among the potential adverse environmental impacts of generating geothermal energy?

In breeder nuclear fission reactors:

Joining two lightweight atomic nuclei into a single heavier nucleus is called:

Nuclear energy:

Discuss the positive and negative aspects of using direct solar energy, and suggest ways to encourage research and development in this form of alternative energy.

Describe the improvements that have been made in designing the next generation of nuclear reactors. What problems remain?

All of the following are issues that have limited the building of breeder nuclear reactors except:

Which of the following vocabulary is mis-matched with its definition?

Which of the following does not involve solar energy?

One unique aspect of solar energy as a source of global power is:

The production of "glass logs" to store high-level liquid radioactive wastes in the United States is called:

Which of the following is not a component of a regular nuclear power plant?

The greatest problem with the use of nuclear power to generate electricity is its production of:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

Food Resources

Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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