Question 1

The most likely disaster in a nuclear power plant is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the plant would explode like a nuclear bomb. 
B)  cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating. 
C)  fuel rods could fail to maintain chain reactions. 
D)  nuclear fusion would get out of control and cause explosions. 
E)  All of these are equally likely. 
A)  the plant would explode like a nuclear bomb. 
B)  cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating. 
C)  fuel rods could fail to maintain chain reactions. 
D)  nuclear fusion would get out of control and cause explosions. 
E)  All of these are equally likely.

Question 2

In terms of generating electricity, fuel cells are _________ than thermal-conversion machines because the chemical energy of a fuel is _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  less efficient; converted into electricity with an intermediate combustion cycle. 
B)  less efficient; converted directly into electricity without an intermediate combustion cycle. 
C)  more efficient; converted into electricity with an intermediate combustion cycle. 
D)  more efficient; converted directly into electricity without an intermediate combustion cycle. 
E)  about the same in terms of efficiency; converted into electricity with an intermediate combustion cycle. 
A)  less efficient; converted into electricity with an intermediate combustion cycle. 
B)  less efficient; converted directly into electricity without an intermediate combustion cycle. 
C)  more efficient; converted into electricity with an intermediate combustion cycle. 
D)  more efficient; converted directly into electricity without an intermediate combustion cycle. 
E)  about the same in terms of efficiency; converted into electricity with an intermediate combustion cycle.

Question 3

Most of our energy waste in North America results from

Accepted Answer

A)  a failure to turn off lights. 
B)  technological inefficiency. 
C)  the fact that more efficient energy conversion is not possible. 
D)  overwhelming public ignorance of conservation issues. 
E)  the fact that energy conservation techniques are quite expensive. 
A)  a failure to turn off lights. 
B)  technological inefficiency. 
C)  the fact that more efficient energy conversion is not possible. 
D)  overwhelming public ignorance of conservation issues. 
E)  the fact that energy conservation techniques are quite expensive.

Question 4

_____________________ can easily be moved across land in pipelines, but must be transported in special refrigerated ships to move across oceans.

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural gas 
B)  Anthracite 
C)  Light oil 
D)  Methanol 
E)  Heavy crude 
A)  Natural gas 
B)  Anthracite 
C)  Light oil 
D)  Methanol 
E)  Heavy crude

Question 5

A system of pipes painted black that have water circulating on the wall in a glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  parabolic collection. 
B)  an active solar heating system. 
C)  passive heat absorption. 
D)  eutectic heat exchange. 
E)  charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use. 
A)  parabolic collection. 
B)  an active solar heating system. 
C)  passive heat absorption. 
D)  eutectic heat exchange. 
E)  charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  World coal reserves are substantially smaller than petroleum reserves. 
B)  The fossil fuel most readily available and abundant in the United States and Canada is petroleum. 
C)  The United States has only enough proven oil supplies to last 4 years at current rates of consumption. 
D)  World coal reserves are only large enough to provide power for about 100 years. 
E)  Under normal operating conditions, you are likely to get a higher dose of radiation living next to a nuclear plant than a coal-burning plant. 
A)  World coal reserves are substantially smaller than petroleum reserves. 
B)  The fossil fuel most readily available and abundant in the United States and Canada is petroleum. 
C)  The United States has only enough proven oil supplies to last 4 years at current rates of consumption. 
D)  World coal reserves are only large enough to provide power for about 100 years. 
E)  Under normal operating conditions, you are likely to get a higher dose of radiation living next to a nuclear plant than a coal-burning plant.

Question 7

Fossil fuels currently supply about ____ percent of all world commercial energy supplies.

Accepted Answer

A)  95 
B)  87 
C)  75 
D)  50 
E)  33 
A)  95 
B)  87 
C)  75 
D)  50 
E)  33

Question 8

Energy is the capacity to do work.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

A major factor in the conversion from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy is

Accepted Answer

A)  money. 
B)  infrastructure. 
C)  access to renewable forms. 
D)  a lack of technology to develop renewable forms. 
A)  money. 
B)  infrastructure. 
C)  access to renewable forms. 
D)  a lack of technology to develop renewable forms.

Question 10

Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have higher standards of living by most measures than Americans or Canadians

Accepted Answer

A)  because their energy consumption is much greater. 
B)  because they are closer to energy supplies. 
C)  even though their energy use is about equal to ours. 
D)  even though their energy use is much less than ours. 
E)  None of these. Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland do not have higher standards of living compared to Americans or Canadians. 
A)  because their energy consumption is much greater. 
B)  because they are closer to energy supplies. 
C)  even though their energy use is about equal to ours. 
D)  even though their energy use is much less than ours. 
E)  None of these. Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland do not have higher standards of living compared to Americans or Canadians.

Question 11

In the poorest countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh, biomass represents ______ percent of their energy consumption.

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  30 
C)  45 
D)  70 
E)  90 
A)  10 
B)  30 
C)  45 
D)  70 
E)  90

The most likely disaster in a nuclear power plant is that

In terms of generating electricity, fuel cells are ___ than thermal-conversion machines because the chemical energy of a fuel is _.

Most of our energy waste in North America results from

_____________________ can easily be moved across land in pipelines, but must be transported in special refrigerated ships to move across oceans.

A system of pipes painted black that have water circulating on the wall in a glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of

Which of the following statements is true?

Fossil fuels currently supply about ____ percent of all world commercial energy supplies.

Energy is the capacity to do work.

A major factor in the conversion from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy is

Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have higher standards of living by most measures than Americans or Canadians

In the poorest countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh, biomass represents ______ percent of their energy consumption.

Understanding Our Environment

Environmental Systems: Connections, Cycles, Flows and Feedback Loops

Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities

Human Populations

Biomes and Biodiversity

Environmental Conservation: Forests Grasslands Parks and Nature Preserves

Food and Agriculture

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Air: Climate and Pollution

Water: Resources and Pollution

Environmental Geology and Earth Resources

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Economics and Urbanization

Environmental Policy and Sustainability

Filters

Exam 12: Energy

The most likely disaster in a nuclear power plant is that

In terms of generating electricity, fuel cells are _________ than thermal-conversion machines because the chemical energy of a fuel is _______.

Most of our energy waste in North America results from

_____________________ can easily be moved across land in pipelines, but must be transported in special refrigerated ships to move across oceans.

A system of pipes painted black that have water circulating on the wall in a glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of

Which of the following statements is true?

Fossil fuels currently supply about ____ percent of all world commercial energy supplies.

Energy is the capacity to do work.

A major factor in the conversion from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy is

Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have higher standards of living by most measures than Americans or Canadians

In the poorest countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh, biomass represents ______ percent of their energy consumption.

Understanding Our Environment

Environmental Systems: Connections, Cycles, Flows and Feedback Loops

Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities

Human Populations

Biomes and Biodiversity

Environmental Conservation: Forests Grasslands Parks and Nature Preserves

Food and Agriculture

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Air: Climate and Pollution

Water: Resources and Pollution

Environmental Geology and Earth Resources

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Economics and Urbanization

Environmental Policy and Sustainability

Filters

In terms of generating electricity, fuel cells are ___ than thermal-conversion machines because the chemical energy of a fuel is _.