Question 1

Which of the following is not a source of biomass energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  uranium 
B)  wood 
C)  peat 
D)  animal dung 
E)  charcoal 
A)  uranium 
B)  wood 
C)  peat 
D)  animal dung 
E)  charcoal

Question 2

Discuss the mechanisms and consequences of radiation for living organisms. Include the likely sources of radiation and specific impacts in your discussion.

Accepted Answer

Radiation comes in three forms: alpha pa

Question 3

You are planning on converting your "typical home" into one with passive solar heating. List five modifications that you are considering.

Accepted Answer

First I will add a solar sunspace to my

Question 4

An electric company approaches you with a proposition to allow a wind farm installation on your available property in the Great Plains. Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of agreeing to a "wind farm" on your property. Suggest three alternative geographic places suitable for wind farm development.

Accepted Answer

A wind farm in the Great Plains would be

Question 5

Utility companies:

Accepted Answer

A)  have no interest in solar power because it is universally available. 
B)  cannot utilize solar power due to limitations of the current technology. 
C)  cannot use photovoltaic cells because it would significantly increase their production of greenhouse gases. 
D)  can purchase photovoltaic devices in small modular units to increase their power generating capacity. 
E)  will not use photovoltaic cells because they will never be competitive with conventional energy sources. 
A)  have no interest in solar power because it is universally available. 
B)  cannot utilize solar power due to limitations of the current technology. 
C)  cannot use photovoltaic cells because it would significantly increase their production of greenhouse gases. 
D)  can purchase photovoltaic devices in small modular units to increase their power generating capacity. 
E)  will not use photovoltaic cells because they will never be competitive with conventional energy sources.

Question 6

Above each fuel assembly is a control rod that regulates the nuclear reaction by absorbing:

Accepted Answer

A)  energy. 
B)  heat. 
C)  neutrons. 
D)  radioactive wastes. 
E)  uranium. 
A)  energy. 
B)  heat. 
C)  neutrons. 
D)  radioactive wastes. 
E)  uranium.

Question 7

Plant material used for food is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydromass. 
B)  tidalmass. 
C)  biomass. 
D)  cogeneration. 
E)  fertilizer. 
A)  hydromass. 
B)  tidalmass. 
C)  biomass. 
D)  cogeneration. 
E)  fertilizer.

Question 8

All of the following materials are examples of biomass fuels except:

Accepted Answer

A)  wood 
B)  oil 
C)  animal waste 
D)  crop wastes 
E)  sawdust 
A)  wood 
B)  oil 
C)  animal waste 
D)  crop wastes 
E)  sawdust

Question 9

Nuclear fusion:

Accepted Answer

A)  produces a product with a larger mass than the starting material. 
B)  is a form of combustion. 
C)  involves splitting a large atom into two smaller atoms of different elements. 
D)  is the rearrangement of electrons that occurs during a chemical reaction. 
E)  is the process that powers the sun and other stars. 
A)  produces a product with a larger mass than the starting material. 
B)  is a form of combustion. 
C)  involves splitting a large atom into two smaller atoms of different elements. 
D)  is the rearrangement of electrons that occurs during a chemical reaction. 
E)  is the process that powers the sun and other stars.

Question 10

High level radioactive wastes:

Accepted Answer

A)  are produced by nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities. 
B)  can be safely and permanently disposed of 
C)  do not include spent fuel rods and tailings from uranium mining. 
D)  have very short half-lives. 
E)  All of these 
A)  are produced by nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities. 
B)  can be safely and permanently disposed of 
C)  do not include spent fuel rods and tailings from uranium mining. 
D)  have very short half-lives. 
E)  All of these

Question 11

The direct cause of air warming via passive solar heating is:

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared radiation. 
B)  visible light. 
C)  ultraviolet radiation. 
D)  microwave radiation. 
E)  double-paned glass. 
A)  infrared radiation. 
B)  visible light. 
C)  ultraviolet radiation. 
D)  microwave radiation. 
E)  double-paned glass.

Question 12

Hydropower is an indirect form of solar energy.
(a) Explain the connection between water and solar power.
(b) Identify the major benefits of hydropower
(c) Briefly discuss the environmental issues associated with hydropower

Accepted Answer

(a) The sun's energy drives the hydrolog

Question 13

Which of the following does not apply to wind power?

Accepted Answer

A)  is a clean source of energy 
B)  is most profitable in areas that have fairly continual winds 
C)  is the least competitive of all forms of renewable energy, in terms of cost 
D)  causes no air pollution 
E)  wind machines detract from the esthetics of the region 
A)  is a clean source of energy 
B)  is most profitable in areas that have fairly continual winds 
C)  is the least competitive of all forms of renewable energy, in terms of cost 
D)  causes no air pollution 
E)  wind machines detract from the esthetics of the region

Question 14

Photovoltaic solar cells are:

Accepted Answer

A)  single-celled organisms that are used to collect solar radiation, which they turn into heat. 
B)  wafers of crystalline silicon treated with metals that absorb solar radiation and generate electricity. 
C)  cheap to produce, but contribute to atmospheric pollution, including CO2. 
D)  highly efficient in converting solar energy to electricity. 
E)  unable to function at all on rainy or cloudy days. 
A)  single-celled organisms that are used to collect solar radiation, which they turn into heat. 
B)  wafers of crystalline silicon treated with metals that absorb solar radiation and generate electricity. 
C)  cheap to produce, but contribute to atmospheric pollution, including CO2. 
D)  highly efficient in converting solar energy to electricity. 
E)  unable to function at all on rainy or cloudy days.

Question 15

When high temperatures begin to melt the metal encasing the uranium fuel pellets, this is called a:

Accepted Answer

A)  breeder reaction. 
B)  fission reaction. 
C)  fusion reaction. 
D)  meltdown. 
E)  flame out. 
A)  breeder reaction. 
B)  fission reaction. 
C)  fusion reaction. 
D)  meltdown. 
E)  flame out.

Question 16

Which of the following can be used to store the heat from passive solar heating?

Accepted Answer

A)  containers of water 
B)  reflective glass windows 
C)  solar panels 
D)  photovoltaic solar cells 
E)  wooden roof beams 
A)  containers of water 
B)  reflective glass windows 
C)  solar panels 
D)  photovoltaic solar cells 
E)  wooden roof beams

Question 17

The formation of a mixed oxide (MOX) containing plutonium:

Accepted Answer

A)  produces an essential component of nuclear weapons. 
B)  is a means of disposing of weapons-grade plutonium. 
C)  allows for the safe transport of radioactive liquid. 
D)  occurs during a meltdown. 
E)  can only be applied to low-level radioactive waste. 
A)  produces an essential component of nuclear weapons. 
B)  is a means of disposing of weapons-grade plutonium. 
C)  allows for the safe transport of radioactive liquid. 
D)  occurs during a meltdown. 
E)  can only be applied to low-level radioactive waste.

Question 18

Low levels of radioactive wastes:

Accepted Answer

A)  give off small amounts of ionizing radiation. 
B)  are produced only by nuclear power plants. 
C)  are safely stored in local landfills. 
D)  are in solid form only. 
E)  are not a serious problem for disposal. 
A)  give off small amounts of ionizing radiation. 
B)  are produced only by nuclear power plants. 
C)  are safely stored in local landfills. 
D)  are in solid form only. 
E)  are not a serious problem for disposal.

Question 19

What is the role of the reactor core in a nuclear power plant?

Accepted Answer

A)  it provides heat to superheat water into steam under pressure, which is used to generate electricity 
B)  it restricts atomic fallout to reduce contamination 
C)  it breaks large radioisotopes into smaller radioisotopes 
D)  it reacts chemically with high-energy particles rendering them inert 
E)  it maintains one radioactive decay per second 
A)  it provides heat to superheat water into steam under pressure, which is used to generate electricity 
B)  it restricts atomic fallout to reduce contamination 
C)  it breaks large radioisotopes into smaller radioisotopes 
D)  it reacts chemically with high-energy particles rendering them inert 
E)  it maintains one radioactive decay per second

Question 20

The amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth depends on:

Accepted Answer

A)  the amount of cloud cover. 
B)  the distance from the equator. 
C)  the time of day. 
D)  the season of the year. 
E)  All of these 
A)  the amount of cloud cover. 
B)  the distance from the equator. 
C)  the time of day. 
D)  the season of the year. 
E)  All of these

Exam 12: Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Which of the following is not a source of biomass energy?

Discuss the mechanisms and consequences of radiation for living organisms. Include the likely sources of radiation and specific impacts in your discussion.

You are planning on converting your "typical home" into one with passive solar heating. List five modifications that you are considering.

Utility companies:

Above each fuel assembly is a control rod that regulates the nuclear reaction by absorbing:

Plant material used for food is called:

All of the following materials are examples of biomass fuels except:

Nuclear fusion:

High level radioactive wastes:

The direct cause of air warming via passive solar heating is:

Hydropower is an indirect form of solar energy. (a) Explain the connection between water and solar power. (b) Identify the major benefits of hydropower (c) Briefly discuss the environmental issues associated with hydropower

Which of the following does not apply to wind power?

Photovoltaic solar cells are:

When high temperatures begin to melt the metal encasing the uranium fuel pellets, this is called a:

Which of the following can be used to store the heat from passive solar heating?

The formation of a mixed oxide (MOX) containing plutonium:

Low levels of radioactive wastes:

What is the role of the reactor core in a nuclear power plant?

The amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth depends on:

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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