Deck 6: Energy From Alternative Sources

Question 1

Fission is the process of creating energy by

A)combining small nuclei to form a larger,more stable nucleus.
B)combining small nuclei to form a larger,less stable nucleus.
C)splitting large nuclei to form smaller,more stable nuclei.
D)splitting large nuclei to form smaller,less stable nuclei.

Answer 1

splitting large nuclei to form smaller,more stable nuclei.

Question 2

If you have 200.0 g of radioisotope with a half-life of 5 days,how much isotope would remain after 15 days?

A)12.5 g
B)13.3 g
C)25.0 g
D)40.0 g

Answer 2

25.0 g

Question 3

What type of radiation is given off in this nuclear reaction?

A)Alpha
B)Beta
C)Gamma
D)Neutron

Answer 3

Alpha

Question 4

In the famous equation E = mc2,the symbols represent

A)E = Einstein,m = matter,c = speed of light.
B)E = energy,m = mass,c = characteristic of the particle.
C)E = Einstein,m = meters,c = conversion.
D)E = energy,m = mass,c = speed of light.

Question 5

Which of these is not a realistic risk associated with nuclear power plants?

A)Release of radioactivity from spent fuel rods
B)A nuclear explosion
C)A meltdown from loss of coolant
D)Thermal pollution of nearby body of water

Question 6

Which is the balanced equation for the fission of U-235?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 7

Which is not a benefit associated with nuclear power plants?

A)Efficient production of electricity
B)Reduction of CO₂ in the atmosphere
C)Inexpensive to operate
D)Helps reduce the levels of acid rain

Question 8

How much energy is equivalent to 1.0 *. 10¯⁴ kg of matter? (Speed of light = 3.0 * 10⁸ m/s)

A)3.0 * 10⁴ J
B)3.0 * 10⁷ J
C)9.0 * 10¹² J
D)9.0 * 10¹⁵ J

Question 9

Which is a common characteristic of both nuclear and conventional electric power plants?

A)Smoke stacks
B)Fuel rods
C)Control rods
D)Steam turbines

Question 10

Which is not true of radioactive half-life? Radioactive half-life is

A)the time required for the level of radioactivity in a sample to be cut in half.
B)independent of the amount of radioactive material present.
C)increased by heating the isotope.
D)independent of the physical or chemical form of the isotope.

Question 11

If 1.8 * 10¹⁴ J is released in a nuclear reaction,how much matter was lost?

A)2.0 * 10¯³ kg
B)7.2 * 10² kg
C)6.0 * 10⁵ kg
D)1.6 * 10³¹ kg

Question 12

Which naturally occurring radioactive particles are negatively charged?

A)Alpha particles
B)Beta particles
C)Gamma radiation
D)Neutrons

Question 13

What percentage of a radioactive isotope would remain after three half-lives?

A)6.3 percent
B)12.5 percent
C)25.0 percent
D)50.0 percent

Question 14

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years.If you started with 100.0 g of carbon-14,how much would remain after 4 half-lives?

A)25.0 g
B)12.5 g
C)6.25 g
D)57.3 g

Question 15

Which naturally occurring radioactive particles are the largest?

A)Alpha particles
B)Beta particles
C)Gamma radiation
D)Neutrons

Question 16

Which feature or process is unique to nuclear power plants when compared to conventional coal-burning power plants?

A)Formation of steam
B)Smoke stacks
C)Steam turbines
D)Control rods

Question 17

Smokestacks at these plants release sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide into the air.

A)Coal-burning plants
B)Nuclear plants
C)Coal-burning and nuclear plants
D)None of these choices are correct

Question 18

What type of radiation is given off in this nuclear reaction?

A)Alpha
B)Beta
C)Gamma
D)Neutron

Question 19

Waste created at these power plants must be stored indefinitely.

A)Coal-burning plants
B)Nuclear plants
C)Coal-burning and nuclear plants
D)None of these choices are correct

Question 20

Which naturally occurring radioactive particles are the size of a helium nucleus?

A)Alpha particles
B)Beta particles
C)Gamma radiation
D)Neutrons

Question 21

Semiconductors,such as the element silicon,may be used in cells that convert solar radiation to electricity.One of the major difficulties encountered in using silicon is that it

A)is one of the rarest of all elements and therefore difficult to find on earth.
B)is expensive to produce large quantities of extremely pure silicon.
C)quickly evaporates when isolated in a pure state.
D)is the most active of all the elements,so it cannot be prepared in a pure state.

Question 22

Which example is both a type of nuclear radiation and electromagnetic radiation?

A)Microwave radiation
B)Gamma radiation
C)Alpha rays
D)Ultraviolet radiation

Question 23

Sunlight (solar radiation) may be turned directly into electricity using ________ cells.

A)fuel
B)photovoltaic
C)electrolytic
D)lead-acid

Question 24

How is wind energy related to the Sun?

A)It has no relation
B)Wind turbines need solar panels to operate correctly
C)The heat of the Sun drives large-scale movements of air
D)Wind turbines only operate during daylight hours

Question 25

Semiconductors are more effective than metals as converters of solar radiation into electricity because

A)it is easier for the atoms of a semiconductor to absorb solar energy and to move from place to place within the solid,thereby conducting electricity.
B)the energy contained in sunlight gives the valence electrons in the semiconductor atoms the extra energy they need to "flow" throughout the solid.
C)metals melt much too easily under direct sunlight and,as liquids,lose their ability to conduct electricity.
D)solar radiation has sufficient energy to knock electrons completely off the metal surface,making it impossible for the electrons to "flow" from atom to atom and conduct electricity.

Question 26

Rank the forms of nuclear radiation from highest to lowest mass.

A)Gamma,alpha,beta
B)Beta,gamma,alpha
C)Alpha,gamma,beta
D)Alpha,beta,gamma

Question 27

Silicon has four electrons in its outer energy level,gallium has three.Adding small amounts of gallium to pure silicon

A)destroys the ability of the silicon to act as a semiconductor.
B)provides the basis for using the silicon as a fuel cell.
C)creates a p-type semiconductor.
D)creates an n-type semiconductor.

Question 28

As of 2007,what is the maximum efficiency of a multijunction solar cell?

A)15 percent
B)80 percent
C)22 percent
D)40 percent

Question 29

In a solar cell,semiconductors of the p-type and n-type are placed in contact with each other via a conducting wire.In order to generate an electric current,which of the following must be true?

A)An external battery must be attached
B)Light shining on the system will cause oxidation to occur
C)Light shining on the system must have enough energy to set electrons in motion from the n-type semiconductors to the p-type
D)Light shining on the system must have enough energy to set electrons in motion from the p-type semiconductors to the n-type

Question 30

What metal is used to dope an n-type semiconductor?

A)Arsenic
B)Cadmium
C)Gallium
D)Silicon

Question 31

The "doping" of a semiconductor to improve its performance means

A)slightly raising the temperature of a pure semiconductor to improve the ability of its electrons to flow from atom to atom.
B)fusing layers of two different pure semiconductors together to give the electrons that absorb the solar radiation characteristics of the electrons of both semiconductors.
C)mixing large amounts of a metal with small amounts of a semiconductor so that the metal itself becomes a semiconductor.
D)adding small amounts of other elements to the pure semiconductor to change the freedom of electron motion throughout the crystal.

Question 32

To date,solar radiation is not a practical source for the production of electricity used to power

A)electric highway signs.
B)security lighting in parking lots.
C)satellites in orbit around the earth.
D)fleets of taxis.

Question 33

Which argument(s) for the increasing use of solar energy is/are valid?
I.Solar cells are becoming cheaper and increasingly more efficient
II.The cost of generating electricity from fossil fuels is increasing
III.Limited and uncertain supply and the increasing requirements for pollution control are raising the cost of using fossil fuels

A)I only
B)II only
C)I and III only
D)I,II and III

Question 34

Which of the following fission products released from the Chernobyl reactor is dangerous because it concentrates in bones?

A)I-131
B)Sr-90
C)C-14
D)U-238

Question 35

Which increases the efficiency of a photovoltaic or solar cell?
I.Replacing crystalline silicon with its non-crystalline form
II.Increasing the number of alternating p- and n-type layers of semiconductors
III.Decreasing the thickness of each alternating p- and n-type layer of semiconductor

A)I and II only
B)II and III only
C)I and III only
D)I,II,and III

Question 36

Given this diagram,this semiconductor is

A)made of pure silicon.
B)carrying an extra electron.
C)missing an electron.
D)excited by a photon.
Notice the electron environment around the doped atom.

Question 37

Which is a known risk associated with nuclear power plants?

A)The electricity produced will be radioactive
B)The water used to cool the system will become radioactive
C)The workers will have higher risks for cancer than the standard population
D)The cooling water source can suffer thermal pollution

Question 38

Complete the following statement while ignoring any thermodynamic considerations.A candle may be considered a more efficient producer of light than a flashlight because it

A)converts chemical energy directly into light.
B)produces more heat than a flashlight.
C)does not have a battery to recharge or replace.
D)may be used in remote locations far from electrical networks or power lines.

Question 39

In this photovoltaic (solar) cell,the n-type semiconductor is in the region labeled

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 40

Approximately what percentage of the electrical energy generated in the United States is produced from nuclear energy?

A)< 2 percent
B)10 percent
C)20 percent
D)50 percent

Question 41

Which unit is commonly used by utilities to measure the amount of electrical energy consumed?

A)W
B)MW
C)kWh
D)J

Question 42

Which of these locations would be most likely to use electricity generated by hydroelectric power?

A)Kentucky
B)Russia
C)Venezuela
D)Washington

Question 43

Which of the following is not seen as an advantage of increasing our use of solar energy?

A)It would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels
B)Solar energy does not generate air pollution such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides
C)Energy from the Sun is abundant
D)Production and storage of solar energy is cost-efficient compared to fossil fuels

Question 44

All zero greenhouse gas emission fuel sources are also renewable.

Question 45

Which of the following is not an advantage of locating wind turbines off-shore instead of on land?

A)The wind blows faster and more uniformly over water
B)Land is scare,especially near coastlines
C)Large numbers of people live near coastlines and could make use of the energy
D)Maintenance costs are lower off-shore

Question 46

Which source of renewable energy has seen the greatest growth in the last decade?

A)Wind
B)Photovoltaic
C)Hydroelectric
D)Biodiesel

Question 47

Which type of renewable energy has most commonly been adapted for use on an individual home basis?

A)Wind
B)Photovoltaic
C)Hydroelectric
D)Biodiesel

Question 48

To meet the electricity needs of the entire United States,a solar array the size of __________ would be required.

A)New Jersey
B)New York City
C)Texas
D)Nevada

Question 49

Which of these locations would be best suited to geothermal energy as a source to operate homes?

A)Hawaii
B)Oklahoma
C)Vermont
D)England

Question 50

What sort of energy is associated with energy from wind?

A)Potential energy
B)Thermal energy
C)Kinetic energy
D)Chemical energy