Arizona State University BIO 130 Intro to Environm BIO 130 Exam 3.

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• Question 1 Because nuclear energy requires so few mineral inputs to create a lot of energy, it is considered to be a renewable form of energy. Fals e Fals e • Question 2 After... many years of debate, the U.S. now has a permanent disposal facility that is accepting and storing nuclear waste in an underground geologic repository in Nevada. Fals e Fals e • Question 3 Choose 2 answers. What are the 2 major concerns about nuclear energy? disposal of nuclear waste a "meltdown" or power plant accident Answers: disposal of nuclear waste a "meltdown" or power plant accident • Question 4 Medical scans (like CT scans and x-rays) are a major source of radiation for the "average" U.S. citizen. Tru e Tru e • Question 5 Nuclear power plants can "meltdown" and possibly explode (releasing radioactive materials) IF the moderator/cooling water is lost from the reactor vessels. Tru e Tru e Yes, this was the main issue with the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan after the tsunami in Spring 2011. • Question 6 Which of the following is NOT a primary concern of nuclear power? Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions It was greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear power produces some terrible waste, but not greenhouse gasses (like CO2 and methane)! • Question 7 The Chernobyl power plant accident took place in what year? 198 6 198 6 • Question 8 China is the largest producer of nuclear energy (in terms of total production) out of all countries in the world. Fals e Fals e • Question 9 Globally speaking, some countries (like France and Belgium) use nuclear power to supply more than half of their energy needs. Tru e Tru e • Question 10 What type of cancer was elevated among children who drank milk that contained radioactive iodine from the area around Chernobyl after the nuclear disaster there? thyroi d thyroi d • Question 11 Petroleum and natural gas formed from the same ancient decaying critters, but natural gas formed lower underground such that it was subjected to higher pressures and temperatures. Tru e Tru e • Question 12 In the mountain regions of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, more than 470 mountains have been "affected" by surface coal mining (which means they were dug up and deposited in stream valleys in order to get to coal). Tru e Tru e No, this is true. They move the entire top of the mountain to get to the underlying coal. • Question 13 Which of the following is NOT an example of a type of fossil fuel? uranium uranium • Question 14 0 out of 3 points The burning of fossil fuels only releases CO2, which is a harmful greenhouse gas, but it does not impact human health. True Fals e No, this is false. Burning fossil fuels releases many other compounds, in addition to CO2, and many of these are very harmful to human health. • Question 15 "Production" of oil/petroleum refers to _____________. pumping oil out of the ground pumping oil out of the ground No, this is just pumping oil out of the ground. • Question 16 Which of the following is a fossil fuel derived from swamp plant remains that have been compressed underground? coal coal • Question 17 0 out of 3 points Which of the following is NOT true about tar sands mining? Extracting tar sands oil is more energy intensive than extracting oil from a traditional well. Tar sands oil is extracted by fracking, which opens up tunnels underground to allow the oils to escape. Fracking is used with natural gas, not tar sands oil. • Question 18 Which of the following is NOT an option for reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuels for energy? drive by yourself to work, instead of carpooling or riding your bike drive by yourself to work, instead of carpooling or riding your bike • Question 19 Most petroleum in the U.S. is used ___________. as a fuel for transportation (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel) as a fuel for transportation (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel) • Question 20 The burning of fossil fuels has been tied to global warming. Tru e Tru e • Question 21 0 out of 3 points In the concentrating solar power technologies of the power tower and dish system, fluids are heated to power a turbine that converts that energy into electricity. Fals e True This is absolutely true. These systems still create electricity, but using a more "traditional" technology than photovoltaic cells. • Question 22 Which of the following is a disadvantage of ethanol (a biofuel) for fuel? a lot of land, fuel and fertilizer goes into growing a crop that could be used as a food source instead a lot of land, fuel and fertilizer goes into growing a crop that could be used as a food source instead • Question 23 Biodiesel can be made from recycled vegetable oils (like the used stuff in fast food fryers). Tru e Tru e • Question 24 Firewood is still a primary source for heat and cooking for many people across the world. Tru e Tru e This is true. Mostly it is used by people in developing countries, but even in the U.S., some people use it to heat their homes. • Question 25 Hydropower supplies approximately what % of the U.S. ELECTRICITY that is from a renewable source? about half (48%) about half (48%) • Question 26 0 out of 3 points Solar power accounts for a larger share of electricity (and overall energy) production in the U.S. than hydropower. True Fals e No. Although this power source is becoming more efficient and is becoming much more popular, hydropower is still a much bigger provider of energy in the U.S. • Question 27 Which of the following is the largest source of renewable energy, overall, in the U.S.? bioma ss bioma ss • Question 28 Which of the following is NOT a form of renewable energy? nuclear nuclear Nuclear power uses Uranium, which is a mined mineral. Scientists estimate that we have about 100 years worth of this fuel available on Earth (at current consumption rates). • Question 29 Geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity. Tru e Tru e This is true, using the heat to create steam that powers a turbogenerator. It can also be used to directly heat (or even cool) a house/building. • Question 30 Death to birds by spinning turbines is a disadvantage to which renewable energy source? wind wind This is a critique of wind technology. Right now, many more birds are killed by cats, cars and windows than by wind turbines. • Question 31 Climate oscillations, which include ice ages and warm periods, have a documented pattern called ____________ Cycles. Milankovitch Milankovitch • Question 32 One of the most recent reports of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) stated that the global warming of air and water systems is "unequivocal." Tru e Tru e • Question 33 2.01 out of 3 points What types of data are scientists examining to determine climates of the past, in an effort to better understand current climate conditions? Check all that apply. Answers: ice cores from Antarctica and Greenland tree rings Answers: ice cores from Antarctica and Greenland cores from ocean sediments (bottom of the ocean) tree rings They use ocean sediment cores, ice cores, tree rings, coral reef cores... • Question 34 As more ice melts in the Arctic exposing more water surfaces, what will happen to the rate of melting of the remaining ice? it will speed up, because the water absorbs more energy than ice, causing the remaining ice to melt faster it will speed up, because the water absorbs more energy than ice, causing the remaining ice to melt faster it will speed up, because the water absorbs more energy than ice, causing the remaining ice to melt faster. This is called a feedback loop. • Question 35 Mathematical climate models include many variables, but there is 1 variable that causes the largest difference in the temperature increases predicted in the future. This variable is _______. the amount of greenhouse gasses (including CO2) that are emitted into the atmosphere the amount of greenhouse gasses (including CO2) that are emitted into the atmosphere • Question 36 Even if we stopped emitting carbon dioxide (and other GHGs) today, global temperatures would continue to rise due to GHGs already in the atmosphere. Tru e Tru e Unfortunately, this is true. • Question 37 How is global climate change influencing precipitation events? more drought in some areas potential for more flooding events, and greater floods Answers: more drought in some areas potential for more flooding events, and greater floods • Question 38 There have always been bad hurricanes (also called typhoons or cyclones) on Earth, and so global climate change does not play a factor in the strength of these storms. Fals e Fals e • Question 39 The extent of Arctic sea ice has started to shrink, while sea level has already started to rise around the world, as a result of global warming. Tru e Tru e • Question 40 Polar bears are literally drowning due to low levels of Arctic summer sea ice, as they depend on this ice to rest when they are out hunting. Tru e Tru e • Question 41 A large piece of equipment in power plants (coal, petroleum, nuclear and geothermal) that converts mechanical energy into an electric current is called a _____________. turbogenerator turbogenerator • Question 42 Which of the following (pick 1) is a secondary source of energy (i.e., an energy carrier)? electrici ty electrici ty • Question 43 Which of the following is/are a form(s) of kinetic energy? Select all that apply. Answers: motion energy (for example, a moving car) electrical energy Answers: motion energy (for example, a moving car) electrical energy Chemical and nuclear are both forms of potential energy, whereas electrical and motion are both forms of kinetic energy. • Question 44 The Law of Conservation of Energy basically states that ____________________________. energy is neither created nor destroyed energy is neither created nor destroyed energy is neither created nor destroyed • Question 45 When electric power plants return used water to a stream, after using it in their steam turbines and condensers, this used water can lead to ____________ pollution. thermal thermal • Question 46 The "turbo" part of the word "turbogenerator" refers to the part of the generator that ____________. spins around, due to mechanical force from steam, water or wind spins around, due to mechanical force from steam, water or wind • Question 47 Which energy source from the list below supplies the largest percentage of energy for all of the U.S. demand sectors combined (including transportation, industrial, residential and commercial, and electricity production)? petroleum/ oil petroleum/ oil Petroleum supplies about 36% of all the U.S. energy needs and is the largest energy supplier. • Question 48 Energy consumption per household, has not changed by more than 1 or 2% since 1980. Fals e Fals e This value dropped from 114 million BTUs to 90 million BTUs from 1980 to 2009. This is a 21% decrease. So, even though homes are getting bigger, they are also more energy efficient. • Question 49 Which energy use sector consumes the most energy in the U.S. (i.e., has the most demand for energy)? generation of electric power generation of electric power • Question 50 Which of the following is NOT a form of renewable energy? nuclear nuclear Nuclear power uses Uranium, which is a mined mineral. Scientists estimate that we have about 100 years worth of this fuel available on Earth (at current consumption rates). [Show More]

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