WorksheetsEnergy Source Research - Practice Game
Total questions: 27
Worksheet time: 14mins
Which energy source comes from burning plants?
solar
biomass
geothermal
coal
Which energy source comes from splitting uranium atoms?
solar
solar
nuclear
nuclear
geothermal
geothermal
coal
coal
Which type of energy sources are dispatchable?
coal
solar
natural gas
wind
What does it mean for energy sources to be dispatchable?
Energy sources that are are renewable.
Which energy source in the table shows the highest average efficiency among the listed options?
Geothermal
Coal
Natural gas
Hydroelectric
A city wants a 200 MW power plant built with the lowest typical construction cost. Which option best fits this goal based on the data?
Natural gas
Coal
Nuclear
Geothermal
Which source has the lowest carbon emissions per kWh among the choices provided?
Nuclear
Wind turbines
Natural gas
Coal
A planner must minimize local land use for a 200 MW installation while keeping emissions under 50 kg/MWh. Which choice best meets both criteria?
Wind farm
Natural gas
Geothermal
Nuclear
What is the main purpose of using a life-cycle analysis when choosing an energy source?
To measure only the fuel price at the power plant
To compare costs and pollution over a system’s lifetime
To estimate how fast new technology will be invented
To predict the weather for building construction timelines
Which statement best explains why burning coal contributes to climate change?
It releases carbon dioxide that traps heat in the atmosphere
It produces only water vapor which cools the planet
It increases wind speeds that spread clean air worldwide
It absorbs sunlight before it reaches Earth’s surface
A city considers replacing a coal plant with wind turbines. Which factor is a realistic trade-off they must plan for?
Wind energy requires no construction or maintenance costs
Wind turbines release more carbon dioxide than coal plants
Wind turbines instantly eliminate all air pollution in cities
Wind power is variable and needs backup or storage systems
Historical smog events taught scientists about coal’s health risks. Which conclusion fits the evidence from Donora and London?
Fog events were unrelated to emissions from burning fuels
Smog mainly signals civic pride and scientific progress in cities
Air pollution is harmless until modern agencies regulate it
Toxic fog containing sulfur dioxide from coal combustion can be deadly
Which statement best describes coal’s main advantage for electricity generation?
It is dispatchable to meet sudden demand
It requires very little land to mine
It emits the least carbon of fuels
It is guaranteed to last forever
What is a major environmental impact of surface mining for coal?
Destruction of large land areas
Increase of forest biodiversity
Creation of permanent clean lakes
No effect on local economies
Why is biomass considered a renewable energy source?
We can grow more plants for fuel
It produces zero air pollution always
It never uses farmland or habitat
It adds extra carbon to the air
Which trade-off best fits biomass electricity?
High efficiency versus water scarcity
Renewability versus land use impacts
Zero emissions versus toxic ash
Low cost versus rare fuel supply
Compared with coal plants, natural gas plants release about what fraction of carbon emissions per unit of electricity?
About 5% of coal
About 200% of coal
About the same as coal
About 40% of coal
Which statement best describes carbon capture and storage (CCS) used with natural gas power plants?
It cools exhaust so water vapor fully condenses
It removes sulfur to prevent acid rain entirely
It adds oxygen to exhaust to burn cleaner
It traps carbon dioxide before escape into air
What is the main environmental concern linked to fracking for natural gas?
Pollutants released into water supplies nearby
Immediate extinction of local bat species
Permanent earthquakes in all drilling regions
Complete loss of natural gas in ten years
A city wants reliable power at all times. Which option explains a challenge with wind energy for this goal?
Wind is not dispatchable without energy storage
Wind turbines always produce constant base power
Wind farms release more CO2 than coal plants
Wind energy quickly depletes Earth’s wind supply
Which statement best describes how a photovoltaic cell generates electric current?
Photons knock electrons free, creating a push that moves charges
Heat expands silicon layers, forcing charges through a circuit
Magnets inside the panel spin, inducing current in copper coils
Wind over the panel surface turns blades connected to wires
Solar power is not considered dispatchable. What is the most accurate reason?
Panels overheat if demand increases during the night
Panels consume fuel that is delivered only once per week
Turbines in solar plants take hours to start spinning
Output depends on sunlight that cannot be turned on at will
A city needs steady electricity day and night and minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Which option best meets these needs given the trade-offs described?
Coal plants for dispatchability and very low emissions
Nuclear energy for reliability, while managing long-lived waste
Wind turbines for constant power with no variability
Solar panels alone for zero waste and full-time output
Which statement best describes a major risk associated with uranium mining for nuclear fuel?
Equipment wears out faster due to heavy machinery
Workers commonly suffer frostbite from cold tunnels
Workers face higher lung cancer risk from mining
Mines close more often during rainy seasons
A community must choose between building a hydroelectric dam or using fossil fuels. Which trade-off most accurately captures the choice?
Lower electricity prices versus increased smokestack emissions
Higher water use versus reduced rainfall every summer
Low carbon emissions versus disrupted river ecosystems
After a large spill of radioactive waste into a river near local communities, what immediate action would best reduce harm?
Increase mining output to replace lost fuel
Wait for natural dilution over several days
Rapidly warn residents who use the water source
Add more dams to slow the river flow
Which energy sources are considered renewable?
coal
biomass
gas
wind
solar
