Energy Unit Review
What phrase do we use to refer to conservation of resources? Reduce, reuse, recycle
Ethanol is classified as what kind of energy resource? Biomass
What do we call energy resources which can be replaced over time? Renewable resources
Is coal a renewable or a non-renewable energy resource? Non-renewable
Making machines more efficient would be an example what aspect of energy resources? Conservation, Stewardship, reduction
The fact that their use is sustainable over time is a characteristic of what kind of energy resource category? Renewable energy resources
When one action causes several other actions, what do we call that? A chain reaction
What do many saw and paper mills do to improve their energy efficiency? Send sawdust and wood scraps to be turned into electricity
Name 3 ways of generating electricity that involve using steam to turn a turbine which then spins a generator? Coal, Natural Gas, Geothermal, Nuclear, Biomass
An atom with a different number of neutrons than normal is called what? isotope
In electric power plants that use steam to generate electricity, what device makes the generators spin? turbines
What pushes electrons in photovoltaic cells which starts the flow of electricity? photons
Name a common, everyday part of the national Oil Infrastructure. Gas Station
Over time, the trend for energy consumption by humans continues to go up. How does that compare to the possible production of fossil fuels to meet those energy consumption needs? Sooner or later, non renewable resources will run out
What kind of energy is most often produced using the movement of water? electricity
How does the distance between where the energy source is obtained and where the energy source is utilized affect the efficiency of the process? The farther apart, the more energy is lost
Natural gas is considered what kind of energy source? Non-renewable, fossil fuel
How is mechanical energy changed into electrical energy? By the spinning of a generator
What is the name of the power plant that was the site of the worst nuclear power accident in US history? Three Mile Island
How does a simple generator work? By moving a magnet around a wire coil, an electric current is produced
Nuclear energy is used mostly for what? electricity
Having good insulation in your home is what part of the energy usage picture? Conservation, reduce
Name a source of energy that is non-renewable and NOT a fossil fuel. Nuclear energy
Geothermal home heating systems use the heat from the ground to help improve the ____________ of the system efficiency
Name two renewable forms of energy resources. Wind, Solar, Hydroelectric, Geothermal, Biomass
What is wind energy used for the most? Electricity
How does the burning of fossil fuels impact the carbon footprint? Fossil fuel use increases the carbon footprint and contributes to climate change
What gas is harvested from landfills that can be used to generate electricity? methane
What do we use petroleum energy for the most? Vehicles for transportation
How is electricity produced from water? By turning a turbine which spins a generator
Name two sources of energy which we obtain from mining. Coal, petroleum, oil, natural gas, nuclear
What biomass energy source is produced through fermentation of plant sugars? Ethanol
What source of energy contributes most to the development of acid rain? Burning coal to make electricity
Coal is used to make what kind of energy? electricity
What element has the largest nucleus of any naturally occurring element? uranium
What contaminant of coal is primarily responsible for the development of acid rain? sulfur
Coal fired electric plants in the Midwestern part of the US contribute heavily to what pollution problem in western North Carolina? Acid precipitation
Coal is used to make what kind of energy? electricity
Name one of the major challenges associated with Nuclear Power generation. Working with radioactivity, radioactive waste, reactor meltdown and clean-up
Where on the Earth’s surface would you most likely find Geothermal power plants? Tectonic plate boundaries and volcanic hot spots
What specific material is responsible for the most biomass energy production each year? wood
What is the primary focus of the operation of a nuclear reactor? Keeping the nuclear fission chain reactions under control
How long might it take to finish the clean-up at the Fukushima nuclear power plant? Over 40 years