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35 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are alternative energy sources?
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Any source of energy not from fossil fuels.
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What is the difference between renewable ands nonrenewable energy sources?
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The nonrenewable is extracted faster than it is naturally replenished. Renewable derived from biomass.
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Which of the alternative energy sources discussed in this chapter are renewable or nonrenewable?
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Renewable: solar, hydro, wind, hydrogen from water, and energy from biomass.
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How are water and biomass are fundamentally different from solar and wind energy?
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They can be depleted if the enviroment that renews them is not sustained.
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Why are renewable energy sources not used as much as fossil fuels?
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Fossil fuels are higher quality energy and not intermitent.
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What renewable energy technology has the most promise for meeting US energy needs?
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Solar energy
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What is the difference between direct and indirect solar energy?
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Direct are energy straight from the sun. Indirect are energy sources caused by the sun.
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What is the difference between passive and active solar energy?
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Passive: Using or adjusting natural changes by solar energy without mechanical power.
Active: Require mechanical power to utilize solar energy. |
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How does passive solar design work?
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Heat asorbing walls are heated by low angle winter sun by overhangs prevent high angle summer sun.
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What are the environmental costs and benefits of passive solar?
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x
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How does active solar water heating work?
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Heat is asorbed heating a cirulating fluid.
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What are the costs and benefits of active solar heating systems?
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No use of electricity, but can't use at night.
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What are photovoltaics (PV)?
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Technology that coverts sunlight directly into electricity.
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What are the environmental costs and benefits of photovoltaic systems?
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x
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What is solar thermal electric power?
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Collects solar heat and delivers as steam to turbines.
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What are the environmental costs and benefits ?
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Hazzards of materials used, Pros: no burning.
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Briefly describe the systems set up in Barstow, CA and the Luz project in the Mojave Desert.
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Power tower surrounded by mirrors. 9 desert solar farms.
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Where in the US is solar energy potential the greatest?
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The Southwest
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What is ocean thermal conversion and what are the environmental costs and benefits of its use?
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Uses expanding vapor to turn turbine.
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What is hydrogen fuel?
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high-quality clean fuel
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What are fuel cells and how do they work?
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Battery like Hydrogen storage devices.
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What is water power?
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Form of stored solar energy.
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How much of the US electric supply is generated by hydroelectric power?
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10%
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of using hydro power?
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Pro: Clean power Cons: Migratory, water already has use.
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What are micro-hydropower systems?
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Hydropower systems with output less than 100kW
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What is tidal power?
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type of water power derived from ocean tides.
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What is wind power?
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use of wind currents to produce electricity.
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What conditions are necessary for wind power generation?
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Constant wind. Open space.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind power?
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Clean energy. Cons: Take up lots of space, kills birds, aesthetic appeal.
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What is biomass fuel?
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organic matter used to make energy.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of biomass fuel?
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abundant. Cons: Waste from burning.
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What is geothermal energy?
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Natural heat from the interior of the earth.
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How does a geothermal groundwater heat pump work?
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x
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy?
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x
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What are the environmental costs and benefits ?
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x
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