Nonrenewable Energy (Ch.17)

What is acid mine drainage? A. pollution caused when rainwater seeps through iron sulfide minerals exposed in mine wastes B. photochemical reactions between particulates and water vapor C. residue from sulfur and nitrogen compounds found in coal dust D. acid precopiation caused by emissions from burning coal E. a low pH fuel that is synthesized from natural gas

Nuclear energy is released A) by splitting two electrons (wrong) B) by joining a proton with a neutron. C) by breaking a chemical bond between two atoms. D) by splitting an atomic nucleus into two smaller fragments. E) by combustion of uranium ore.

The greatest hurdle that must be overcome to fully embrace nuclear power to generate electricity is A) safe storage of radioactive waste. B) monitoring low-level radiation continuously being released into the surrounding region. C) filtering the release of CO2 contributing to greenhouse gasses. D) deactivating radioactive water flushed from cooling towers. E) increased safety measures to decrease the potential for nuclear explosion releasing radiation into the atmosphere.

Fluidized-bed combustion is a coal technology that _____. A) reduces acid and greenhouse gas emissions B) reduces overall heat extracted per kilo of coal C) reduces acidic exhaust, but increases particulates and flyash D) eliminates the need for scrubbers

What practice has caused filing of valleys and acidification of lakes in southern West Virginia? A. oil refining B. mountaintop removal C. subsurface mining D. acid precipitation

Which of the following best describes the change occurring to the Uranium-235 nucleus at #2 in the nuclear fission process? A. U-235 nucleus rearranges the configuration of its electrons, releasing energy B. the enrichment of U-235 into U-255 C. the combustion of U-235 into U-238 D. positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons are attracting each other E. U-235 nucleus splits into two smaller radioactive fragments and several free neutrons

Which of these is a downside of nuclear power generation, as opposed to burning coal for fuel? A) long term storage measures for wastes B) destruction of land due to mining C) production of acid precipitation D) production of flyash

Which of the following activities is mismatched with its environmental consequence? A. surface mining : acid mine drainage polluting rivers B. coal-burning electric plants : acid deposition destroying forests C. mountaintop removal mining : mine tailings and debris filing valleys D. strip mining : oil spills killing wildlife E. burning fossil fuels : release of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas

What major public concern about nuclear plants stems from A. use of fossil fuels to run the reactors B. the higher consumer costs for electricity C. fear of nuclear accidents D. excessive emissions of greenhouse gases E. size of real estate needed to house the nuclear power plant facility

Burning coal causes a more severe CO2 problem than burning other fossil fuels because A) coal is composed of C, H and O and other fossil fuels do not contain C, H, or O. B) coal is burned in a mass burn incinerator, which is open air, whereas other fossil fuels are burned in closed systems. C) the technology does not exists that would filter CO2 from the emissions, but it has been developed for other fossil fuels. D) it takes a greater volume of coal to produce one unit of heat energy than other fossil fuels. E) coal releases more CO2 per unit of heat energy produced than other fossil fuels

Which of these fossil fuel sources releases the least amounts of hydrocarbons and particulate matter when burned? A) oil B) natural gas C) biofuel D) coal

According to the data below, A) people in developing countries consume more commercial energy per person than people in developed countries. B) Egypt's population has the lowest per person commercial energy consumption. C) people in the United States use 25% less commercial energy than in Canada. D) people in Mexico use 50% less commercial energy than the United States. E) people in Nigeria and Mexico have the same levels of commercial energy consumption.

Which of these fuels causes the most carbon dioxide release per pound burned? A. gasoline B. oil C. natural gas D. coal

Which of these nuclear wastes would require the most secure and careful long-term storage? A) waste from nuclear medicine B) irradiated clothing C) spent fuel components D) reactor cooling water

Arguments supporting the development of oil exploration in the Arctic national Wildlife Refuge include all of the following except A. the U.S. imports more than half the oil it uses B. large oil deposits have already been tapped in this region C. the refuge is biologically rich and the tundra is a fragile ecosystem D. development of domestic oil would improve the balance of foreign trade E. oil companies are eager to develop this particular site

Usually subsurface mining is done if the coal to be extracted does not have an outcrop and is deeper than ____ . A) 5 meters B) 10 meters C) 20 meters D) 30 meters

Identify the plant illustrated by the schematic below A. fluidized bed combustion of coal B. an oil refinery C. a nuclear power plant D. a coal gasification palnt

Where are most the world's estimated reserves of oil and natural gas located? A. Southern and Central Africa B. the Persian Gulf C. Prudhoe Bay,Alaska D. the Gulf of Mexico

Natural gas is considered a "better" fossil fuel than oil because natural gas A. is easier to transport B. is renewable resource C. contains almost no sulfur and releases less CO2 when burned D. is less plentiful E. has no potential to cause explosions

Interpret the graph below to determine which of these countries would likely be decreasing their total usage of energy? A. a highly developed country with increasing technology B. a highly developed country with stable technology C. a developing country with increasing technology D. a developing country with stable technology

The principles of "Clean Coal" technologies adhere best to which of these practices? A) use of scrubbers B) recycling of materials C) source reduction D) reusing products

What is a critical difference between surface and subsurface mining? A) Surface mining is more expensive than subsurface mining B) Surface mining is above ground; subsurface mining is below ground C) Surface mining causes less environmental damage than subsurface mining D) Subsurface mining creates acid mine drainage; surface mining does not E) Subsurface mining has the potential for dangerous landslides; surface mining has the potential for cave-ins

What produces the heat during the extraction of nuclear energy? A) the combustion of uranium oxides during "enrichment" B) combustion of atoms of uranium C) shattering of uranium nuclei due to bombardment D) the fusion of high-speed uranium nuclei (wrong)

Which of these applies to the transport of natural gas? A) It is less expensive to transport than oil. B) It cannot be liquified for easier transport. C) It is often found far from the point where it will be used. D) It it almost always converted to another form of energy before transport.

What is the best long-term option for the storage of high-level radioactive waste in the U.S.? A) in compartments at the bottom of cooling towers at nuclear power plants. B) deep burial in steel waste canisters at distant sites from population centers C) injection underground between layers of clay in remote areas D) storage in concrete casks at the bottom of the ocean E) export it to foreign locations

Which of these is true regarding subsurface mining, as opposed to surface mining? A) It is safer for miners. B) It is less expensive. C) It allows more complete coal removal. D) It disrupts less land.

Where do highly developed countries use most of their energy? A) households B) industry C) heating and cooling of buildings D) transportation

Which aspect of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion exposed the most people to harmful radiation? A) airborne release of radioactive materials B) water leaching radioactive materials from the site C) radiation from the damaged buildings D) transport of the contaminated debris from the site

Consumptions of which of these types of fuels emits the fewest atmospheric pollutants? A. oil B. coal C. nuclear D. natural gas

Which is the greatest potential hazard from drilling oil on the continental shelves? A. unsightly oil rigs B. an explosion C. spilling oil D. displaced wildlife