AP Environmental Science Energy Review

The energy source that can provide the greatest amount of electricity generation in the United States due to its abundance is

• oil
• coal
• nuclear
• hydroelectric

In the use of coal to produce energy, which of the following does NOT decrease the energy efficiency of the process?

• extracting the coal from the ground
• waste heat
• cogeneration
• energy required to build the power plant

Environmental costs associated with the use of coal include all of the following except

• particulates that are released into the atmosphere when coal is burned
• degradation to land due to mining techniques
• the creation of highly radioactive waste
• trace metals found in coal

Uranium-235 is considered ideal for nuclear reactors due to

• its availability worldwide
• its stable nature as an isotope
• its high EROEI
• its fissionability

Which of the following is the correct type of energy utilized to produce tidal power?

• radiation
• kinetic energy
• solar energy
• potential energy

Use Figure 13-4. If the trend from 2006 to 2007 continued, approximately how many kWh would have been generated in 2008?

• 36 x 10⁶
• 36 x 10⁹
• 42 x 10⁹
• 68 x 10⁹

Put the items below in correct sequence for the generation of electricity using the wind
1 – generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
2 – wind turns the wind turbine blade
3 – the gear box transfers mechanical energy to the generator
4 – electricity is transferred to the grid

• 1-2-3-4
• 2-1-3-4
• 2-3-1-4
• 2-4-3-1

Which country obtains the highest percentage (more than half)of its energy mix from geothermal?

• Russia
• Iceland
• England
• China

Which of the following energy sources is a chief contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as well as increasing environmental mobility of mercury?

• Nuclear power
• Wind power
• Coal
• Natural gas cogeneration

Use Figure 19-2. Between 400,000 and 10,000 years ago, the highest CO2 concentration was approximately

• 380 ppm
• 320 ppm
• 290 ppm
• 200 ppm