ENV 100T Week 5 WileyPLUS Weekly Exam

In this graded assignment you are assessed on the content covered in this weeks’ readings, activities, and assignments. To help you prepare, it is recommended that you first complete this week’s Learning Path and Self-Test Learning Activities prior to completing this exam.

Click on the Assignments link in WileyPLUS to access the Week 5 Exam.

Complete the Week 5 Exam covering this week’s assigned readings:

• Ch. 17: Nonrenewable Energy Resources
• Ch. 18: Renewable Energy Resources

Note: Work submitted in WileyPLUS does not count toward attendance. Be sure to post at least two times each week in the online classroom to avoid being auto-dropped from the course.

Question 1

Nuclear energy is released

by splitting two electrons.

by joining a proton with a neutron.

by breaking a chemical bond between two atoms.

by splitting an atomic nucleus into two smaller fragments.

by combustion of uranium ore.

Question 2

What is the function of the device diagramed below?

to maintain a constant temperature for U-235.

to control the fission chain reaction to produce energy for electricity.

to store spent fuel rods from nuclear reactors for at least 40 years.

to filter CO2 generated by the fission of U-235 nuclei.

a reservoir for enriching U-235.

Question 3

All of the following statements are true about surface mining except

Strip mining is an example of surface mining.

It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the U.S.

Surface mining is the most hazardous type of mining for workers.

Surface mining is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining.

Mountaintop removal is an example of surface mining.

Question 4

What is a major issue with the type of mining illustrated below?

fluidized-bed combustion

acid precipitation

risk of earthquakes

safety risk to mine employees

land degradation

Question 5

What is a critical difference between surface and subsurface mining?

Surface mining is more expensive than subsurface mining

Surface mining is above ground; subsurface mining is below ground

Surface mining causes less environmental damage than subsurface mining

Subsurface mining creates acid mine drainage; surface mining does not

Subsurface mining has the potential for dangerous landslides; surface mining has the potential for cave-ins

Question 6

What legislation provides incentives for utility companies to convert to clean coal technologies?

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

Superfund National Priorities Act of 2007

Question 7

What is acid mine drainage?

pollution caused when rainwater seeps through iron sulfide minerals exposed in mine wastes

photochemical reactions between particulates and water vapor

residue from sulfur and nitrogen compounds found in coal dust

acid precipitation caused by emissions from burning coal

a low pH fuel that is synthesized from natural gas

Question 8

Which of the following activities is mismatched with its environmental consequence?

surface mining: acid mine drainage polluting rivers

coal-burning electric plants: acid deposition destroying forests

mountaintop removal mining: mine tailings and debris filling valleys

strip mining: oil spills killing wildlife

burning fossil fuels: release of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of high-level radioactive waste?

glassware giving off small amounts of ionizing radiation

paper contaminated by radioactivity

reactor coolant fluid

lab coat used in an area where radioactive material is present

filters from sampling devices that test for radioactive contamination

Question 10

Mountaintop removal is an example of ___ mining.

subsurface

surface

shaft

combustion

integrated

Question 11

Negative environmental impacts from oil and natural gas production may occur due to

release of oxides in combustion emissions.

accidental spills at extraction sites and during transport.

erosion and landslides during withdrawal of resources.

improper storage and disposal of spent fuel.

unintentional release of methane into atmosphere.

Question 12

What does the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 legislate for environmental disasters such as the one pictured below?

hazardous pay for clean-up workers

tidal barriers to help prevent the spread of oil slicks

a remediation protocol for impacted wildlife populations

requires that, by 2015, oil be transported by land and not sea

a trust fund that pays to clean up oil spills when the responsible party cannot

Question 13

Tidal energy cannot become a significant resource worldwide because

the accompanying tidal waves cause too much environmental destruction.

the equipment required to harness this energy is not yet.

few areas have large enough differences in water level between high and low tides to make power generation feasible.

sand damages the equipment.

tidal energy can become a significant resource worldwide.

Question 14

The best example of an energy storage element in a solar energy system is the

natural gas in a propane tank that can be used for cooking.

structural overhang that blocks sunlight in a passively cooled home.

insulated windows in a passively heated solar home.

hot water tank of a solar hot water system.

sun-tracking mirrors in a power tower system.

Question 15

Photovoltaic systems are characterized by all of the following except

directly converting sunlight into electricity.

minimal maintenance.

producing no pollution.

functioning on cloudy or rainy days.

minimal space requirement for large-scale use.

Question 16

Which of the following is a good energy efficiency practice for those with existing homes?

replace the existing insulation with a higher quality product.

board up windows on the north, east and west sides of the house.

install a gas-burning fireplace in the family room.

pour a concrete foundation between the ground and subfloor of the home.

dial down the water heater’s thermostat to knock 3-5 percent off your energy bill.

Question 17

Which of the following is more efficient (90%) than any other energy source for producing electricity?

hydropower

wind energy

photovoltaic

passive solar

geothermal

Question 18

Which of the following biomass energy sources is incorrectly matched with its biofuel product?

sugar cane: alcohol

oil used to make French fries: biodiesel

clay: biogas

manure: methane

wood: charcoal

Question 19

Problems associated with large hydropower dams and reservoirs include all of the following except

relocation of peoples’ homes.

ecosystem destruction.

loss of biodiversity.

air pollution.

disruption of fish migration.

Question 20

All of the following are disadvantages of photovoltaic solar cell technology except

the manufacturing process requires toxic industrial chemicals.

the amount of land needed to hold the number of solar panels required for large-scale use.

each panel’s low efficiency at converting solar energy to electricity.

the steadily increasing manufacturing cost per watt over the last 35 years.

the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to greenhouse gases.

Question 21

Electric meters can run backward for homeowners participating in net metering. What does this mean?

homeowners receive meter credit for excess energy they generate and supply to the utility’s power grid

the up front costs for installing renewable energy is recovered by rewinding the home’s electric meter

if a homeowner uses less energy in one month than the previous month, then the difference is subtracted from the electric meter

homeowners who voluntarily cut back on air conditioning use are granted an electric credit

a radio controlled electric meter for remote monitoring allows the utility company to stop the meter during peak demand periods

Question 22

The disadvantages of using wind energy to generate electricity include all of the following except

windmills kill birds.

generation of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.

degradation of an area’s scenic beauty.

tying up large parcels of land.

distance to urban centers where electricity is most needed.

Question 23

What type of solar energy system is illustrated below?

passive solar heating system

photovoltaic solar cell system

solar thermal electric generation

solar-generated hydrogen fuel cell

radiant energy convection solar heating system

Question 24

In rural areas of developing countries, photovoltaic cells are used for all of the following purposes except

charging batteries.

heating hot water heaters.

providing refrigeration for vaccines.

grinding grain.

pumping water.

Question 25

Which of the following best describes how this geothermal heat pump works?

the pressure of hot water from a deep well turns a turbine and generates electricity.

steam separated from hot water pumped from underground turns a turbine and generates electricity.

water is transferred from a deep well to a coil exposed to solar radiation to heat the water sufficiently to generate steam, which turns a turbine and generates electricity.

a pipe with heated oil is sent deep into Earth to initiate a volcanic eruption then is tapped so that the energy can be used to generate electricity.

water is transferred from a deep well into a hot water tank, which is kept at a constant temperature by combustion of natural gas.