Question 1

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen as an energy source. What processes are used to produce hydrogen for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Advantages include its high energy densi

Question 2

Which of the following correctly ranks lightbulb types from most to least efficient?

Accepted Answer

A)  incandescent > compact fluorescent > LED 
B)  compact fluorescent > LED > incandescent 
C)  LED > compact fluorescent > incandescent 
D)  LED > incandescent > compact fluorescent 
E)  compact fluorescent > incandescent > LED 
A)  incandescent > compact fluorescent > LED 
B)  compact fluorescent > LED > incandescent 
C)  LED > compact fluorescent > incandescent 
D)  LED > incandescent > compact fluorescent 
E)  compact fluorescent > incandescent > LED

Question 3

Smart Grids were developed to help solve what problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  low efficiency associated with long distance electricity transmission 
B)  variation in electricity demand 
C)  overconsumption of electricity 
D)  difficulty in trasmitting electricity to rural areas 
E)  irregular patterns of electricity generation 
A)  low efficiency associated with long distance electricity transmission 
B)  variation in electricity demand 
C)  overconsumption of electricity 
D)  difficulty in trasmitting electricity to rural areas 
E)  irregular patterns of electricity generation

Question 4

How do the types of energy used by people today differ from those used a few hundred years ago, and what are the immediate environmental consequences of this?

Accepted Answer

A few hundred years ago, energy used by

Question 5

Installation of energy-saving technologies in buildings can lag behind that of cars because:

Accepted Answer

A)  Buildings are much more expensive. 
B)  Buildings have a much longer lifespan. 
C)  Technology is changing faster for cars. 
D)  There is more "inertia" in public sentiment regarding building technology than car technology. 
E)  All of these answer choices are correct 
A)  Buildings are much more expensive. 
B)  Buildings have a much longer lifespan. 
C)  Technology is changing faster for cars. 
D)  There is more "inertia" in public sentiment regarding building technology than car technology. 
E)  All of these answer choices are correct

Question 6

Compared to development of new energy sources, energy efficiency and energy conservation:

Accepted Answer

A)  cost less 
B)  improve the economy's productivity 
C)  save energy for future use 
D)  all of these choices are correct 
E)  cost less and improve the economy's productivity 
A)  cost less 
B)  improve the economy's productivity 
C)  save energy for future use 
D)  all of these choices are correct 
E)  cost less and improve the economy's productivity

Question 7

Some of the factors that decrease efficiency of automobiles include:

Accepted Answer

A)  friction between tires and the road 
B)  Energy lost as heat during combustion inside the engine 
C)  their heavy weight relative to the weight of passengers 
D)  friction and energy lost as heat during combustion inside the engine 
E)  all of these answer choices are correct 
A)  friction between tires and the road 
B)  Energy lost as heat during combustion inside the engine 
C)  their heavy weight relative to the weight of passengers 
D)  friction and energy lost as heat during combustion inside the engine 
E)  all of these answer choices are correct

Question 8

Electric power plants do not operate efficiently because:

Accepted Answer

A)  A large amount of energy is lost as heat during generation. 
B)  Electricity is lost during transmission. 
C)  Energy often must be converted to supercooled hydrogen. 
D)  A large amount of energy is lost as heat during generation and electricity is lost during transmission 
A)  A large amount of energy is lost as heat during generation. 
B)  Electricity is lost during transmission. 
C)  Energy often must be converted to supercooled hydrogen. 
D)  A large amount of energy is lost as heat during generation and electricity is lost during transmission

Question 9

What are the recent trends in global energy use? How do these trends vary from place to place across the globe?

Accepted Answer

World energy consumption has increased e

Question 10

Which of the following is a true statement regarding sustainable building design?
1) Construction costs are usually less than traditional building practices.
2) There are currently no agreed-upon standards, making it difficult to learn what works and what does not.
3) Some benefits, such as reduced pollution from fossil fuel burning, are difficult to quantify.

Accepted Answer

A)  1 only 
B)  2 only 
C)  3 only 
D)  2 and 3 are true 
E)  1 and 3 are true 
A)  1 only 
B)  2 only 
C)  3 only 
D)  2 and 3 are true 
E)  1 and 3 are true

Question 11

Carbon sequestration is much easier at a large power plant than in thousands of small engines. Because of this, mitigation of climate change while still using fossil fuels for energy can be achieved by a switch to which type of technology?

Accepted Answer

A)  electric cars 
B)  solar panels 
C)  wind energy 
D)  superconducting magnetic energy storage 
A)  electric cars 
B)  solar panels 
C)  wind energy 
D)  superconducting magnetic energy storage

Question 12

An example of an intermittent energy source is:

Accepted Answer

A)  wind 
B)  gasoline 
C)  hydroelectric 
D)  natural gas 
A)  wind 
B)  gasoline 
C)  hydroelectric 
D)  natural gas

Question 13

Commercial production of which of the following energy sources became practical only after large amounts of investment by the United States and other countries over the past half century?

Accepted Answer

A)  coal 
B)  nuclear 
C)  solar 
D)  wind 
A)  coal 
B)  nuclear 
C)  solar 
D)  wind

Question 14

Due to standards enacted by the National Appliance Energy Conservation:

Accepted Answer

A)  Annual electricity savings equivalent to the output of 32 nuclear power plants has been realized. 
B)  Annual consumer savings based on energy conservation average $135/year. 
C)  Modern refrigerators use much less energy than earlier models. 
D)  all of these choices are correct 
A)  Annual electricity savings equivalent to the output of 32 nuclear power plants has been realized. 
B)  Annual consumer savings based on energy conservation average $135/year. 
C)  Modern refrigerators use much less energy than earlier models. 
D)  all of these choices are correct

Question 15

A fuel cell differs from a battery because:

Accepted Answer

A)  A battery is an electrochemical cell, while a fuel cell is not. 
B)  Fuel cell reactants are contained within the fuel cell. 
C)  Fuel cells produce power as long as they are supplied with fuel. 
D)  Fuel cells provide a fixed amount of energy. 
A)  A battery is an electrochemical cell, while a fuel cell is not. 
B)  Fuel cell reactants are contained within the fuel cell. 
C)  Fuel cells produce power as long as they are supplied with fuel. 
D)  Fuel cells provide a fixed amount of energy.

Question 16

Define energy efficiency and energy conservation. How do they differ, and why should they both be included in the effort to solve our energy needs?

Accepted Answer

Energy efficiency is the amount of avail

Question 17

Which of the following gives the correct sequence of energy transfer during electricity generation?

Accepted Answer

A)  electrons » generator » turbines 
B)  electrons » turbines » generator 
C)  generator » electrons » turbines 
D)  turbines » generator » electrons 
E)  generator » turbines » electrons 
A)  electrons » generator » turbines 
B)  electrons » turbines » generator 
C)  generator » electrons » turbines 
D)  turbines » generator » electrons 
E)  generator » turbines » electrons

Question 18

Imagine that you are a scientist studying a mineral that occurs on a foreign planet. Preliminary analyses indicate that this mineral is combustible, and you have been asked to characterize this mineral's potential as an energy source for people on earth. What information would you need before you could characterize the potential advantages and disadvantages of the mineral as an energy source?

Accepted Answer

Advantages of a potential energy source

Question 19

Which of the following practices will increase energy efficiency?

Accepted Answer

A)  turning off lights when not in use 
B)  changing incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs 
C)  lighting fewer rooms in the house 
D)  turning off lights when not in use and lighting fewer rooms in the house 
A)  turning off lights when not in use 
B)  changing incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs 
C)  lighting fewer rooms in the house 
D)  turning off lights when not in use and lighting fewer rooms in the house

Question 20

What concerns exist about development of domestic fossil fuels as part of a comprehensive national energy strategy?

Accepted Answer

Three primary concerns include security,

Exam 10: Energy Consumption

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen as an energy source. What processes are used to produce hydrogen for this purpose?

Which of the following correctly ranks lightbulb types from most to least efficient?

Smart Grids were developed to help solve what problem?

How do the types of energy used by people today differ from those used a few hundred years ago, and what are the immediate environmental consequences of this?

Installation of energy-saving technologies in buildings can lag behind that of cars because:

Compared to development of new energy sources, energy efficiency and energy conservation:

Some of the factors that decrease efficiency of automobiles include:

Electric power plants do not operate efficiently because:

What are the recent trends in global energy use? How do these trends vary from place to place across the globe?

Carbon sequestration is much easier at a large power plant than in thousands of small engines. Because of this, mitigation of climate change while still using fossil fuels for energy can be achieved by a switch to which type of technology?

An example of an intermittent energy source is:

Commercial production of which of the following energy sources became practical only after large amounts of investment by the United States and other countries over the past half century?

Due to standards enacted by the National Appliance Energy Conservation:

A fuel cell differs from a battery because:

Define energy efficiency and energy conservation. How do they differ, and why should they both be included in the effort to solve our energy needs?

Which of the following gives the correct sequence of energy transfer during electricity generation?

Which of the following practices will increase energy efficiency?

What concerns exist about development of domestic fossil fuels as part of a comprehensive national energy strategy?

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

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

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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