Question 1

Which of the following fossil fuels can be used most readily as a feedstock for industry?

Accepted Answer

A)  petroleum
B)  coal
C)  natural gas
D)  methane hydrate
E)  All of the above have the same utility.

Question 2

What is an advantage of using hydrogen as a fuel?

Accepted Answer

A)  It burns cleanly.
B)  It is easy to handle.
C)  It does not take much energy to produce.
D)  It is less flammable than natural gas.
E)  all of the above

Question 3

What is the main biomass-derived fuel used in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

A)  ethanol
B)  methanol
C)  methane
D)  ethane
E)  octane

Question 4

In 1973 the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries stopped exporting their oil for a time. What effect do you suppose this embargo had on the nuclear power industry?

Accepted Answer

A)  There was little effect as most experts in the industry knew that the 1973 oil embargo was going to be short-lived.
B)  This embargo boosted the support for building of many new nuclear power plants.
C)  It lowered the price of electricity generated from nuclear power plants, which then held a greater share of the market.
D)  Any positive effect of this embargo could have had on the nuclear power industry was promptly negated by the Chernobyl disaster.

Question 5

Where does the chemical energy in living plants ultimately come from?

Accepted Answer

A)  solar radiation
B)  the soil
C)  wind energy
D)  nuclear fission
E)  none of the above

Question 6

What are some disadvantages of producing ethanol by fermenting food biomass?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a waste of good food.
B)  It could destabilize the world oil market.
C)  It is a rather costly process.
D)  all of the above

Question 7

Is it possible for a nuclear fission power plant to blow up like an atomic bomb?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, if there is a collision between two fuel rods.
B)  No, the worst case scenario is a "meltdown" not a nuclear explosion.
C)  Yes, if the meltdown by-products reach the water table.
D)  No, there are too many safeguards to prevent such an event. B

Question 8

Why would a chain-reaction control substance that loses neutron-absorbing power as its temperature increases be dangerous?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because it would start to emit protons.
B)  Neutrons would start to collide with each other and that would be bad.
C)  It would be unusually radioactive.
D)  Unhindered neutrons would cause a meltdown.

Question 9

How are geothermal power and ocean thermal power similar?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are restricted to selected locations.
B)  They take advantage of temperature differences between layers of water.
C)  They both rely on solar energy.
D)  They can be used directly to heat buildings.
E)  all of the above

Question 10

One megawatt (1.0 MW) of electricity is sufficient to meet the needs of about 350 households within a developed nation. Europe expects to have a wind energy capacity of 180,000 MW by 2020. How many households is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  6.3 million households
B)  63 million households
C)  630 million households
D)  95 million households

Question 11

Why is it impractical to burn any fuel in such a way that no nitrogen oxides are formed as combustion products?

Accepted Answer

A)  All fuels contain nitrogen.
B)  Nitrogen oxides form wherever air is exposed to high temperatures.
C)  Much of the energy of combustion comes from the formation of nitrogen oxides.
D)  Plants have come to depend on the nitrogen oxides produced from combustion.

Question 12

Why do many environmental groups oppose building more hydroelectric dams when these dams produce virtually no chemical pollutants as they create electric power?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because they increase the rate of evaporation, hence more fresh water is lost.
B)  Because these dams are very expensive to build.
C)  Environmental groups tend to reject all new technological advancements.
D)  Dams can radically alter ecosystems. D

Question 13

Rank these fossil fuels on their cleanliness (cleanest to dirtiest) . 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Accepted Answer

A)  3, 2, 1
B)  2, 3, 1
C)  1, 3, 2
D)  1, 2, 3
E)  3, 1, 2

Question 14

Why are airplanes flown by the power of electricity rather than the power of gasoline fuel so impractical?

Accepted Answer

A)  The wires connecting it to the ground would have to be impractically long.
B)  Electricity driven airplanes are only impractical when required to lift heavy loads.
C)  Electricity driven airplanes would be prone to lightning strikes.
D)  all of the above

Question 15

Rank these fossil fuels on the ease of transportation once extracted from where they are found in nature (hardest to easiest) . 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Accepted Answer

A)  3, 2, 1
B)  2, 3, 1
C)  1, 3, 2
D)  1, 2, 3
E)  3, 1, 2

Question 16

Where does the electric energy from geothermal harvesting ultimately come from?

Accepted Answer

A)  solar radiation
B)  the soil
C)  wind energy
D)  nuclear fission
E)  none of the above

Question 17

Which of the following conventional power plants most closely resembles an ocean thermal energy converter?

Accepted Answer

A)  a fusion reactor
B)  a coal-fired power plant
C)  a dam
D)  all of the above
E)  only a or b

Question 18

Why are fossil fuels so widely used?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are numerous, inexpensive sources.
B)  They can be easily transported.
C)  They have a large amount of energy stored in them compared to biomass.
D)  all of the above
E)  none of the above A

Question 19

Which of the following fossil fuels is the cleanest and contains the most energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  petroleum
B)  coal
C)  natural gas
D)  methane hydrate
E)  All of the above have the same utility.

Question 20

What is one drawback of dams?

Accepted Answer

A)  They prevent fish from spawning.
B)  They soften the shells on avian eggs.
C)  Because they are pollution free, the electricity is more expensive.
D)  all of the above
E)  none of the above

Exam 17: Capturing Energy

Which of the following fossil fuels can be used most readily as a feedstock for industry?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is an advantage of using hydrogen as a fuel?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the main biomass-derived fuel used in the U.S.?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In 1973 the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries stopped exporting their oil for a time. What effect do you suppose this embargo had on the nuclear power industry?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where does the chemical energy in living plants ultimately come from?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are some disadvantages of producing ethanol by fermenting food biomass?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Is it possible for a nuclear fission power plant to blow up like an atomic bomb?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Why would a chain-reaction control substance that loses neutron-absorbing power as its temperature increases be dangerous?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How are geothermal power and ocean thermal power similar?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One megawatt (1.0 MW) of electricity is sufficient to meet the needs of about 350 households within a developed nation. Europe expects to have a wind energy capacity of 180,000 MW by 2020. How many households is this?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is it impractical to burn any fuel in such a way that no nitrogen oxides are formed as combustion products?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do many environmental groups oppose building more hydroelectric dams when these dams produce virtually no chemical pollutants as they create electric power?

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Rank these fossil fuels on their cleanliness (cleanest to dirtiest) . 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are airplanes flown by the power of electricity rather than the power of gasoline fuel so impractical?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Rank these fossil fuels on the ease of transportation once extracted from where they are found in nature (hardest to easiest) . 1. coal 2. petroleum 3. natural gas

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where does the electric energy from geothermal harvesting ultimately come from?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following conventional power plants most closely resembles an ocean thermal energy converter?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are fossil fuels so widely used?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Which of the following fossil fuels is the cleanest and contains the most energy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is one drawback of dams?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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B

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D

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A

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