Environmental Science Unit Test 9

Front 1

Tiered rate system

Back 1

Billing systems used by electric companies where customers pay higher rates as usage increases

Front 2

What are 3 examples of sustainable design?

Back 2

Passive solar, Green roof, thermal mass

Front 3

What is a passive solar design?

Back 3

Construction designed to take advantage of solar radiation w/out use of solar panels

Front 4

What is thermal mass?

Back 4

Property of building materials that allows to maintain cold/heat

Front 5

What is green roof?

Back 5

Cool and shade, improves air quality

Front 6

What are the 2 types of renewable energy?

Back 6

Potentially renewable/ non-depletable

Front 7

What is potentially renewable energy?

Back 7

Energy source that can be regenerated indefinitely as it is not overharvested

Front 8

What is a non-depletable energy source?

Back 8

An energy source that cannot be used up

Front 9

What % of global energy use do renewable resources make up?

Back 9

13% worldwide

Front 10

How much of energy use in the US consists of renewable resources?

Back 10

7%

Front 11

What does biomass energy include?

Back 11

Wood/charcoal, animal products/manure, plant remains, municipal solid waste, and biofuels like ethanol

Hint 11

5

Front 12

What is modern carbon (in relation to biomass)?

Back 12

Carbon in biomass that was recently released into atmosphere

Front 13

What is fossil carbon?

Back 13

Carbon in fossil fuels (lasts in atmosphere for millions of years)

Front 14

Does burning modern carbon result in a net increase in CO2?

Back 14

No, because it has just recently been released into the atmosphere

Front 15

What is carbon neutral?

Back 15

An activity that does not change the atmospheric CO2 concentrations

Front 16

How many people rely on firewood as a source of fuel worldwide?

Back 16

2-3 Billion

Front 17

Net removal

Back 17

Removing more than is replaced by growth - leading to CO2 increase

Front 18

What happens when you burn animal manure?

Back 18

Burning releases particulates and pollutants

Front 19

T/F Charcoal production sometimes strips land of all trees.

Back 19

True

Front 20

Who is the world leader in ethanol production?

Back 20

US

Front 21

T/F Ethonal is NOT usually mixed with gasoline.

Back 21

False, it is often. It is known as (gasohol 10% ethanol)

Front 22

E85

Back 22

Produced from Midwest corn 85%

Front 23

Flex fuel vehicle

Back 23

Runs on gasoline E-85

Front 24

What are the two disadvantages of ethanol biofuels?

Back 24

1) less efficient than gasoline (lower mpg) 2) growing corn to produce ethanol uses a lot of fossil fuels

Front 25

What is biodiesel?

Back 25

Direct substitute for petroleum based diesel fuel (20% biodiesel)

Front 26

What does most biodiesel come from?

Back 26

Soybean oil or processed vegetable oil

Front 27

T/F Any diesel vehicle can be modified to run on 100% straight vegetable oil (SVO)

Back 27

True

Front 28

T/F Algae has no potential in the biodiesel field of fuel.

Back 28

False

Front 29

What is the environmental carbon effects of biodiesel?

Back 29

Contains modern carbon (might have carbon transfer through soil in land requirements)

Front 30

What is hydroelectricity?

Back 30

Generated by the kinetic energy of moving water

Front 31

What is the 2nd most commonly used form of renewable energy?

Back 31

Hydroelectricity

Front 32

What % of electric power comes from hydroelectricity in the US?

Back 32

7%

Front 33

What % of electricity worldwide comes from hydroelectricity?

Back 33

20%

Front 34

How is hydroelectricity generated(run of river systems)?

Back 34

Water is held behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river

Front 35

How much can 8 bushels of corn give you? (biofuels)

Back 35

Feed a person for a year or 21.6 gallons of ethanol fuel

Front 36

What are advantages of hydroelectricity centered around generation w/out a reservoir and just looking at the natural flow of a river?

Back 36

1) little flooding upstream 2) seasonal flow is protected

Hint 36

2

Front 37

What are disadvantages of hydroelectricity centered around generation w/out a reservoir and just looking at the natural flow of a river?

Back 37

1) slow 2) unreliable flow during times of low river flow

Front 38

What are water impoundment systems?

Back 38

storing water in a reservoir behind a dam this is most common and on the rise

Front 39

What is the largest dam in the US?

Back 39

The Grand Coulee Dam in WA

Front 40

What is the largest dam in the world?

Back 40

The 3 Gorges Dam in China

Front 41

What is the tidal systems for of electric generation?

Back 41

Electricity driven by the movement of water caused by thegravitational pull of the moon

Front 42

T/F Tidal systems could become a major energy source.

Back 42

False, because it requires significant water level difference btwn low & high tide

Front 43

What are advantages of hydroelectricity?

Back 43

1) Minimal amount of fossil fuel torun 2) No air pollution, CO2, wasteduring energy production 3) Less expensive for consumer 4) Reservoir provides recreation,economic opportunities, floodcontrol

Hint 43

4

Front 44

What are disadvantages of hydroelectricity?

Back 44

1) $$$ to build 2) Flooding to create reservoir 3) Relocation/displacement 4) Alter species diversity 5) Impact fish migration 6) Construction of dam releasesgreenhouses gases 7) Anaerobic decomposition offlooded organic materialreleases methane 8) Accumulation of sediment

Hint 44

8

Front 45

What is active solar energy?

Back 45

capture energy from the sun using tech

Front 46

What is solar water heating?

Back 46

capture energy from the sun asheat

Heating water in homes/businesses, swimming pools

Front 47

What are photovoltaic systems?

Back 47

Capture energy from the sun as light not heat and directlyconverts to electricity (ex. solar panels)

Front 48

What is CST?

Back 48

Concentrating Solar Thermal Electricity Generation or Large scale application of solar energy

Front 49

What is a disadvantage of CST?

Back 49

Disadvantage: large amount of land, no electricity generated atnight.

Front 50

What are advantages of active solar energy?

Back 50

1) No CO2 production or airpollution produced 2) Produce electricity at peak need(hot/sunny days), reduces needto build more fossil fuel plantsto meet demand 3) More economic for homes thatare not close to a grid 4) Tax breaks/rebates make it moreaffordable

Hint 50

4

Front 51

What are disadvantages of active solar energy?

Back 51

1) $$ to manufacture and install 2) Manufacturing photovoltaic cellsrequires a lot of energy & water 3) Manufacturing photovoltaic cellsrequires toxic metals andindustrial chemicals 4) Some systems use batteries forstorage- disposal/recycling? 5) End of lifereclamation/recycling is apossible source onenvironmental contamination

Hint 51

5

Front 52

What is wind energy?

Back 52

energy generated from the kineticenergy of moving air

Front 53

What is the fastest growing major source of electricity in theworld?

Back 53

wind energy

Front 54

What % of US electricity comes from wind?

Back 54

6

Front 55

Fastest growing source of electricity in the US?

Back 55

wind

Front 56

What is 26% of electricity in Denmark generated from?

Back 56

Wind

Front 57

What are wind turbines?

Back 57

convert kinetic energy of moving airinto electricity

Front 58

What are advantages of wind energy?

Back 58

1) Nondepletable resource 2) Clean 3) No fossil fuels required afterturbines are built 4) No pollution of greenhouse gases 5) Land can be shared whileproducing electricity (ex. cattle)

Hint 58

5

Front 59

What are disadvantages of wind energy?

Back 59

1) Relies on batteries to storeelectricity, $$ and hard todispose of/recycle 2) Bird/bat death from collisionwith blades 3) Possible habitat fragmentation 4) Noise pollution 5) Aesthetic concern

Hint 59

5

Front 60

What is geothermal energy?

Back 60

Heat energy that comes from the radioactive decay ofelements within the Earth

Front 61

What are the largest geothermal energy producers?

Back 61

US, China, Iceland

Front 62

What are ground source heat pumps?

Back 62

transferheat from the ground to a building

Front 63

What are advantages of geothermal energy?

Back 63

1) non-depletable 2) after initial investment no cost to harvest 3) can be installed anywhere (ground source heat pump)

Front 64

What are disadvantages of geothermal energy?

Back 64

1) emits hazardous gases and steam 2) geographically limited

Front 65

What is true about energy use country by country?

Back 65

Every country uses energy at different rates and uses different sourcesdepending on availability, affordability and environmental impact

Front 66

T/F Fossil fuels supply most of the world's energy.

Back 66

True

Front 67

What are the fastest growing energy sources by projection?

Back 67

nuclear and renewable

Front 68

T/F 20% of world pop uses 70% of the energy

Back 68

True

Front 69

What is the world use of energy?

Back 69

World = 75 GJ per person per year

Front 70

What is the US use of energy per person compared to the world?

Back 70

5X more

Front 71

What are the top 3 sources of energy in the US?

Back 71

1) Oil 2) Nat Gas 3) Coal

Front 72

What are the top used energy sources based on location in the US?

Back 72

MW and S = coal W & NE = nuclear, nat gas, hydro

Front 73

What is energy efficiency?

Back 73

The efficiency of the process we use to obtain the fuel and the efficiency ofthe process that converts it into work that is needed

Front 74

What is the 2nd law of thermodynamics?

Back 74

when energy is transformed some energy is lost

Front 75

T/F Not every energy source requires an expenditure of energy to be used

Back 75

False

Front 76

What is EROEI?

Back 76

(EnergyReturnOnEnergy Investment) : the amount of energy we get out of anenergy source, ERoEI= energy gathered/energy invested

Front 77

T/F A smaller EROEI is more efficient energy use.

Back 77

False

Front 78

How energy use in the US is for electricity?

Back 78

about 40%

Front 79

What are the the steps of the electric generation process?

Back 79

1) Fuel is delivered to a boiler and burned 2) Heats water to steam 3) Steam turns the blades of a turbine 4) Turbine turns a generator 5) Generator generates electricity 6) Electricity is transported along the electrical grid

Hint 79

6

Front 80

What is a coal-fired plant?

Back 80

Energy from coal combustion converts water intosteam, which turns a turbine. The turbine turns a generator, whichproduces electricity.

Front 81

What is capacity (when talking about electric plants)?

Back 81

max electrical output

Front 82

What is capacity factor (electric plants)?

Back 82

The fraction of time a plant is operating in a year

Front 83

What is cogeneration?

Back 83

Combined Heat and Power: The use of a fuel to generate heatand electricity

Front 84

What is coal?

Back 84

Formed from the remains of organic material that was preserved 280-360 mya

Front 85

What is the most commonly used source of electric power in the US?

Back 85

coal

Front 86

What is the precursor to usable coal?

Back 86

peat

Front 87

What are the 3 types of coal?

Back 87

1) lignite (brown coal): low heat content, low sulfur, limited supply 2) Bituminous (soft coal): high heat, high sulfur, high supply and most commonly used 3) Anthracite (hard coal) high heat, low sulfur, low supply

Front 88

Where are the largest coal reserves?

Back 88

US, Russia, China, India

Front 89

Who produces the most coal?

Back 89

China, US, India, Australia

Front 90

What are advantages of coal?

Back 90

1) Energy dense 2) Plentiful 3) Usually easy to access• Inexpensive to mine 4) Not much refining needed 5) Many ways to transport

Hint 90

5

Front 91

What are disadvantages of coal?

Back 91

1) Env. consequence of tailings 2) Subsurface mining requiresmore technology & isdangerous 3) Burning of impurities lead to airpollution 4) Chemical compounds neededto wash coal can leak 5) Coal ash 6) C02 pollution from combustion

Hint 91

6

Front 92

What is petroleum?

Back 92

Crude Oil is a mixture ofhydrocarbons along withimpurities like sulfur andnitrogen, Formed from remains ofphytoplankton (microscopicalgae) that died 50-150 mya

Front 93

What is crude oil?

Back 93

petroleum that is removed from the ground

Front 94

What are some examples of compounds petroleum can be refined into?

Back 94

Tar, Asphalt, Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene

Hint 94

5

Front 95

What are advantages of Petroleum?

Back 95

1) Easy and convenient totransport 2) Energy dense 3) Cleaner burning than coal 4) Releases 85% as much CO2as coal when burned

Front 96

What are disadvantages of petroleum?

Back 96

1) Contains toxic metals that arereleased when burned 2) Potential for leak from well orspill during transport 3) Exxon, Deepwater Horizon 4) Habitat destruction (ANWR) 5) Human health?

Front 97

What is natural gas?

Back 97

Exists as a component of petroleumand in separate gaseous deposits, 80-95% methane (CH4), Mainly used for electricity generationand industrial processes

Front 98

What is LPG?

Back 98

liquified petroleum gas (Able to be transported by train/truck andstored & used in place of natural gas)

Front 99

What are advantages of natural gas?

Back 99

1) Contains fewer impurities thancoal and oil 2) Emits almost no sulfur dioxideduring combustion 3) Emits less CO2 than coal 4) Easy to transport (pipeline) orLPG

Hint 99

4

Front 100

What are disadvantages of natural gas?

Back 100

3) Unburned natural gas (methane)that escapes into the atmosphereis a potent greenhouse gas (25xmore so than CO2 2) Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

Hint 100

2

Front 101

What is hydraulic fracking?

Back 101

a process that involvesblasting high-pressure jets of water intounderground oil and gas deposits so wecan flush out more of Earth’s resourceslocated in hard to reach places.

Front 102

What do meltdowns at nuclear power plants do?

Back 102

prevent overheating

Front 103

What is the biggest fuel source for nuclear energy?

Back 103

Uranium 235

Front 104

What is nuclear fission?

Back 104

a nuclear reaction where a neutron hits anucleus which then splits that atom, releasing moreneutrons and energy (heat)→ chain reaction

Front 105

How much of US electricity comes from nuclear?

Back 105

20%

Front 106

What are fuel rods?

Back 106

A containment structure encloses the fuel, which iscontained in fuel rods, and the steam generator (uranium converted into pellets and put inside fuel rods)

Front 107

What are control rods?

Back 107

device used to slow/stop the fission reaction, used during meltdown and maintence

Front 108

What are advantages of nuclear energy?

Back 108

1) No air pollution (“clean energy”) 2) Independence from foreign oil

Hint 108

2

Front 109

What are disadvantages of nuclear energy?

Back 109

1) Construction of plants is $$ 2) Public concerns 3) Radioactive waste disposal 4) Nuclear accidents 5) Nuclear weapons?

Front 110

What are the 3 types of radioactive waste?

Back 110

1) High level = used fuel rods 2) Low level = contaminated clothing, tools, etc. 3) Mine tailings

Front 111

What is a commercial energy source?

Back 111

an energy source that is bought & sold

Front 112

What is a subsistence energy source?

Back 112

an energy source gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs

Front 113

What is bitumen?

Back 113

A degraded petroleum that forms when petroleum migrates to the surface of Earth and is modified by bacteria.

Front 114

What is CTL (coal to liquid)?

Back 114

the process of converting coal into liquid fuel

Front 115

What is energy intensity?

Back 115

energy use per unit of GDP

Front 116

What is the Hubbert curve?

Back 116

A bell-shaped curve representing oil use and projecting both when world oil production will reach a maximum and when the world will run out of oil.

Front 117

What is Bq?

Back 117

Unit that measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays; 1 Bq = decay of 1 atom or nucleus per second.

Front 118

What is peak oil?

Back 118

The point at which half the total known oil supply is used up.

Front 119

What is a Curie?

Back 119

A unit of measure for radiation; 1 curie = 37 billion decays per second

Front 120

What is nuclear fusion?

Back 120

A reaction that occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei.

Front 121

What is water impoundment?

Back 121

The storage of water in a reservoir behind a dam.

Front 122

What is electrolysis?

Back 122

The application of an electric current to water molecules to split them into hydrogen and oxygen.

Front 123

What is Smart grid?

Back 123

An efficient, self-regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.