Energy Resources and Consumption Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Energy Resources and Consumption flashcards as text
Nuclear fission reactors generate electricity by:
Answer: Splitting heavy atomic nuclei to release heat
In fission reactors, heavy nuclei (typically uranium-235) are split, releasing enormous amounts of heat used to produce steam that drives turbines.
The primary environmental concern associated with coal combustion is:
Answer: Emission of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and CO2
Coal combustion emits SO2 (acid rain), NOx (smog/acid rain), mercury (neurotoxin), particulates, and large quantities of CO2 (climate change).
Which renewable energy technology converts sunlight directly into electricity without moving parts?
Answer: Photovoltaic (PV) cells
Photovoltaic cells use the photoelectric effect to convert photons directly into electricity through semiconductor materials with no moving parts.
Energy efficiency and energy conservation differ in that:
Answer: Efficiency means getting more useful output per unit of energy input; conservation means reducing overall energy use
Efficiency = more useful work per energy unit (e.g., LED vs. incandescent bulb); conservation = behavioral reduction in energy use.
Tar sands (oil sands) require more energy to process than conventional oil primarily because:
Answer: The bitumen must be separated from sand and upgraded, requiring large energy inputs
Bitumen in tar sands is a viscous, semi-solid hydrocarbon that must be steam-heated or mined and then chemically upgraded, consuming significant energy.
The rebound effect in energy economics refers to:
Answer: Increased energy consumption that offsets efficiency gains when energy services become cheaper
When efficiency improvements lower the cost of using energy, people tend to use more energy services, partially or fully canceling the expected savings.