Chapter 20

1. Most of our energy waste in North America results from 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

2. The quickest and easiest way to save money on energy bills is to A. Install a new water heater B. Modify your energy-using behavior C. Put new insulation in your home D. Buy a more efficient automobile E. Install a new furnace

3. Energy efficiency is a measure of A. Heat produced by a barrel of fuel B. Energy stored in a unit of fuel C. Energy produced compared to energy consumed D. Total energy consumed over a year divided by time spent E. Energy used per unit of time

4. How does eating locally grown food in season save energy? A. Locally grown food does not need to be transported far distances. B. Locally grown food does not use petroleum-based fertilizers. C. Locally grown food does not use petroleum-based pesticides. D. Locally grown food supports local farmers. E. All of these are ways that eating locally grown food in season saves energy.

5. The idea of cogeneration is to actively use ________ electricity generating plants. A. Solar as well as coal energy to produce electricity at B. Warm water as well as steam to produce electricity at C. Two kinds of fuel (e.g., coal and oil) at D. Both electricity and waste steam heat from E. Two different types of thermal conversion machines for increased efficiency at

6. A glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of A. Parabolic collection B. An active solar heating system C. Passive heat absorption D. Cogeneration E. Charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use

7. Which of the following solar energy uses has been used by people for thousands of years? A. Parabolic solar collection B. Active solar heating system C. Passive heat absorption D. Cogeneration E. All of these are correct.

8. 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 A. Parabolic collection B. An active solar heating system C. Passive heat absorption D. Cogeneration E. Charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use

9. The most effective technology developed so far to produce solar energy concentrated enough to run an industrial furnace or turbine is to use A. Parabolic mirrors B. Cogeneration C. Passive heat absorption D. Photovoltaic cells E. Cogeneration

10. Active solar energy systems involve A. Large volumes of massive heat absorbers B. Pumps and moving fluids C. Photovoltaic cells D. Cogeneration E. Stationary materials to gather and hold heat

11. Parabolic mirrors ________ sunlight on a collecting medium. A. selectively focus the brightest B. selectively reflect the brightest C. deflect the most D. diffuse intense E. focus intense

12. Photovoltaic cells work because solar energy striking their surface A. Causes the cells to liquefy as they heat B. Releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires C. Is collected in the form of photons and sent through attached wires D. Causes an uneven magnetic charge to develop E. Changes to chemical energy

13. Photovoltaic electricity costs are __________ coal or nuclear-powered electricity. A. substantially less than B. unlikely to become as cheap as C. incomparably more expensive than D. likely to be cheaper in the near future than E. the same as

14. Amorphous silicon collectors are currently being used in A. Lighthouses B. Watches C. Toys D. Roof tiles E. All of these

15. In the United States, windmills played a critical role in the settlement of A. Appalachia B. The Sierra Nevadas C. The Great Plains D. The Rocky Mountains E. The Northeast

16. Where does wind energy have the greatest potential to create electricity? A. the great plains and southeastern US B. shorelines and in valleys C. the great plains, shore lines, and mountain tops D. mountain tops and valleys

17. Which of the following is NOT a drawback of using windmills for energy? A. Windmills kill birds. B. Windmills are not always visually appealing. C. Windmills cannot be placed on shorelines. D. Wind is not always constant.

18. A drawback of lead-acid batteries being used to store large amounts of energy is A. They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass. B. The acid is corrosive. C. They require an operating temperature of almost 600o F. D. They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass and the acid is corrosive. E. They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass, the acid is corrosive, and they require an operating temperature of almost 600o F.

19. Which of the following is true regarding fuel cell technology? A. They were first designed by NASA. B. They must be recharged with an electrical current. C. They are only about 40-45% efficient. D. They must receive a constant supply of water and oxygen. E. A fuel cell stack providing all of the electricity for a typical home is not feasible because it would be too large.

20. A(n) __________________ is used to remove hydrogen from various fuels to be used in fuel cells. A. Transformer B. Electrolyte C. Reformer D. Catalyst E. Cathode

21. Which of the following is NOT normally considered a biomass fuel? A. Wood B. Bark C. Waste wood chips D. Branches E. All of these are biomass fuels.

22. In the United States and Canada, the MOST common problem with using wood as a major heat source is A. The cost B. Wood shortages C. That it separates people from the utility grid D. The production of pollutants E. None of these is correct

23. Very few living trees are cut down for fuel in ______________ because twigs, branches, and crop residues are used for fuel. However, in ________ the forests are nearly gone and even fruit trees are cut for fuel. A. Pakistan; India B. Pakistan; Haiti C. Haiti; Pakistan D. India; Haiti E. Haiti; China

24. ____________ is being used to produce ethanol and lessen the dependance on oil. A. Palm oil B. Corn C. Miscanthus grass D. Soybeans E. All of the above are being grown for ethanol production.

25. Jatropha is a good source for biodiesel because A. It's nuts have a high energy content B. It grows in most climate zones C. It will grow in sun or shade D. It's leaves are easily combustible E. It is readily available worldwide

26. Manure or dung makes a good fuel except that it is A. Scarce B. Not clean C. Needed to rebuild the soil D. Difficult to burn E. Commonly full of pathogens

27. Burning methane from dung A. Is more efficient than burning the dung directly B. Provides more heat than burning the dung directly C. Allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer D. Is more efficient than burning the dung directly and it allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer E. All of these are correct

28. Since the 1920s, hydropower production has A. Risen, but not as fast as fossil fuel use B. Fallen due to disinterest C. Fallen due to a lack of available sites D. Become our most important energy source E. Stayed at about the same level

29. Siltation and decreased water quality are especially significant problems with A. Micro-hydro dams B. Mini-hydro dams C. Huge dams on major rivers D. Low-head hydropower technology E. All of these equally

30. Low-head hydropower involves ___________ dams on ___________ rivers. A. Large; major B. Small; minor C. Large; minor D. Small; major E. Medium-sized; minor

31. Some highly efficient turbines can be submerged directly in a river and require only _______ to operate. A. Run-of-the-river flow B. Low-head dams C. A low, natural waterfall D. A slow trickle of water E. A high, natural waterfall

32. Geothermal energy uses ________ to produce usable heat or electricity. A. Naturally occurring hot groundwater B. Artificially heated water injected below ground C. Molten rock from below ground D. Underground radioactive decay E. Waste heat water from power plants that is stored underground

33. Tidal power stations operate by using A. The differential heat of inshore and offshore waters B. Electrolytic decomposition of saltwater C. Turbines that spin in the flow of tide water D. The energy from waves as they crash on the shore E. All of these together

34. Ocean thermal electric conversion (OTEC) uses _________ to produce usable energy. A. Warm surface water and cold deep seawater B. Hot water from below the seafloor C. Fossil fuel-heated seawater D. Heat from deep-ocean thermal vents E. Cold surface water and warm deep seawater

35. Ocean thermal electric conversion systems would operate best in A. Cold, deep polar seas B. Warm, deep tropical seas C. Cold, shallow temperate seas D. Warm, shallow freshwater lakes E. Warm, shallow tropical seas

36. Improving standards of living have been repeatedly demonstrated to require increased energy consumption.

37. Capturing waste heat in a thermal-electric plant can increase efficiency from 30 percent to 80 or 90 percent.

38. Mixing ethanol with gasoline makes the gasoline burn cleaner and is now required by most states.

39. United States companies currently dominate the $1 billion (US) per year market of wind technology.

40. Wind energy is an option that has few global supporters.

41. Most of North America's wind potential is located offshore.