Deck 21: New Renewable Energy Alternatives

Question 1

Of the new renewable energy sources,which one experienced the most rapid rate of growth from 2010 to 2015?

A)photovoltaic (PV)solar
B)wind
C)hydropower
D)nuclear
E)geothermal

Answer 1

photovoltaic (PV)solar

Question 2

Although photovoltaic electricity is considered a "clean" power source,one issue with this electricity is that it __________________

A)will be replaced shortly with other sources of power for homes
B)is less efficient than fossil fuels
C)cannot be stored easily in large quantities
D)is not sufficiently understood
E)is dangerous if stored too long

Answer 2

cannot be stored easily in large quantities

Question 3

PV technology is best described as __________________

A)a passive solar technology
B)using sun's energy to warm a room without mechanical devices
C)trapping sun's heat and storing it for various uses
D)using mirrors to concentrate sunlight,in order to heat water and produce steam for electricity generation
E)using sunlight to generate electricity

Answer 3

using sunlight to generate electricity

Question 4

One benefit of offshore wind farms is that __________________

A)unlike land -based wind farms,they do not interfere with bird migration routes
B)wind speeds are higher and turbulence is lower over water than over land
C)maintenance costs are less than they are on land
D)costs to erect the turbines are lower,and land does not need to be purchased
E)they are more aesthetically pleasing than wind farms on land

Question 5

Wind turbines are generally more productive if they are __________________

A)higher,to minimize turbulence and maximize wind speed
B)smaller,to minimize the number of birds that interfere with blade turning
C)larger,to increase heat convection from the ground
D)lower,to minimize turbulence and maximize wind speed
E)smaller,to increase heat convection from the ground

Question 6

A major disadvantage of solar power is __________________

A)the uneven distribution of sunshine around the world
B)antiquated and unreliable technology
C)lack of knowledge about long -term economic impacts
D)its efficiency level compared to other types of power
E)decentralization of control of electrical energy

Question 7

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following question.
The major energy source for electricity in the U.S. is __________________.

A)fossil fuels
B)hydropower
C)wind
D)bioenergy
E)renewables

Question 8

Passive solar power involves using __________________

A)mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays on a tower or a series of pipes holding water
B)mechanical devices to heat water and buildings or electrical devices to generate electricity
C)silicon wafers to generate light energy
D)photovoltaic cells to produce light energy
E)the energy of sunlight without relying on electrical or mechanical devices

Question 9

A potential energy source from oceans is __________________

A)lightning strikes in salt water
B)ocean thermal energy
C)chemiluminescent bacteria
D)solar reflection
E)magnetic field generators

Question 10

The primary motivation to develop the new renewable energy sources comes from __________________

A)those who believe conservation is important
B)those who believe human health is impacted by smog and pollution
C)concerns over diminishing fossil fuel supplies and negative environmental impacts of fossil fuel use
D)those who believe fossil fuel dependence is suicide because it makes us vulnerable to the Middle East
E)concerns that oxygen production by trees is endangered by fossil fuel use

Question 11

The largest problem with adopting the new technologies of renewable resources is that __________________

A)the startup costs may be high
B)energy production facilities are not located near consumers
C)long -term maintenance costs are much higher than those for fossil fuels
D)the energy sources are generally unavailable
E)technological advances have not been made in the last 30 years to meet our energy needs

Question 12

Which of the following methods is considered a type of passive solar energy collection?

A)ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
B)rooftop flat -plate solar collectors
C)photovoltaic cells
D)using heat -absorbing construction materials
E)rooftop solar panels

Question 13

Alternative energy sources that are often called "new renewables" include __________________

A)coal and natural gas
B)fusion and fission
C)wind,wood,and alcohol
D)solar,wind,and geothermal
E)hydropower and biomass

Question 14

A major obstacle to the establishment of wind farms near populated and scenic areas is __________________

A)not -in -my -backyard (NIMBY)syndrome
B)the lack of financial support for the construction of wind farms
C)the lack of infrastructure to support wind -generated electricity
D)the lack of large land areas needed to construct wind farms
E)we -want -solar -power (WASPY)syndrome

Question 15

Compared to the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity,wind energy __________________

A)produces no exhaust pollutants and contributes little to global climate change
B)requires very little investment
C)is more consistent
D)is less renewable
E)is more widely used in the United States

Question 16

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following question.
Electricity from hydropower composes approximately in the U.S. _____________% of the total electricity produced

A)13.6
B)6)0
C)24.7
D)2)4
E)44.2

Question 17

Solar represents a minuscule portion of U.S.energy production because of __________________.

A)technological limitations
B)air and water pollution from this source of energy
C)costs and lack of investment
D)lack of scientific interest
E)poor potential for this energy source

Question 18

A major advantage of solar power is that __________________

A)solar systems provide local,decentralized control over power
B)all regions are sunny enough to provide adequate power with current technology
C)there is a lack of knowledge on long -term impacts
D)it is inexpensive compared to other renewable energy sources
E)the only emissions are carbon dioxide and water

Question 19

The current practice of geothermal power generation may not always provide a practical renewable energy source because __________________

A)in some cases,the heated groundwater is used much faster than it is recharged
B)power plants have high maintenance costs
C)geologically heated groundwater is unsuitable for these plants and must be purified first
D)in some instances,pollution emissions can be very high
E)in many cases,the magma is used faster than it is recharged

Question 20

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following question.
The major renewable energy source for electricity in the U.S. is ___________________.

A)hydropower
B)fossil fuels
C)wind
D)nuclear
E)bioenergy

Question 21

Describe some of the possible ocean energy sources.

Question 22

Wind turbines kill more birds than which of the other major causes of bird mortality?

A)cats
B)pesticides
C)towers
D)collisions with windows
E)All of these kill more birds than are killed by wind turbines.

Question 23

What are some of the benefits and obstacles to using hydrogen as a fuel?

Question 24

A solar cooker is an example of __________________

A)OTEC technology
B)passive solar technology
C)active solar technology
D)concentrated solar power
E)a hydrogen fuel cell

Question 25

In general,what has spurred the use of renewable energy,and what are the benefits of its use in environmental and economic terms?

Question 26

The chemical product produced by a hydrogen fuel cells is __________________

A)carbon monoxide
B)carbon dioxide
C)water
D)acid
E)nontoxic ash

Question 27

What is geothermal power? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of geothermal power?

Question 28

U.S.geothermal energy is most available in __________________

A)Texas
B)the Northeast
C)the West
D)the Florida Keys
E)the Southeast

Question 29

Wind energy has been harnessed for hundreds of years to __________________

A)heat and cool houses
B)drain water from land so it can be farmed
C)generate electricity
D)regulate climate
E)pump water and grind grain

Question 30

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wind power.

Question 31

Whether a hydrogen -based energy system is environmentally cleaner than a fossil fuel system depends on __________________

A)the amount of fossil fuels that are invested in long -term storage
B)governmental incentives for research
C)the source of energy used to produce the hydrogen
D)the source of oxygen used for the process
E)the car driven

Question 32

Every winter morning when the sun is shining bright,a man living in Montana pulls back the drapes on a large,south -facing window.In this way,he helps heat his home using __________________

A)radioactive solar
B)active solar
C)passive solar
D)conductive solar
E)photovoltaic

Question 33

One difficulty with the process of using hydrogen as a power source is that it __________________

A)requires a fuel that is a nonrenewable resource
B)has highly volatile and explosive components
C)first needs to be converted to helium through nuclear fission
D)is less efficient than fossil fuels
E)requires a substantial energy investment to produce the fuel

Question 34

Which two nations account for almost half of the global production of wind power?

A)U)S.and China
B)Bangladesh and Swaziland
C)U)S.and Canada
D)U)S.and Germany
E)China and Russia

Question 35

Compare and contrast passive solar collection and active solar collection.