Unit 6 AP^® Environmental Science Practice Exam

1. a decrease in the availability of straw, sticks, animal dung, and other local sources of fuel.

2. an increase in the availability of oil.

3. an increase in the cost of oil.

4. the loss of forested land.

5. a reduction in waste energy generated by subsistence energy sources.

1. Biodiesel

2. Coal

3. Ethanol from corn

4. Ethanol from sugarcane

5. Natural gas

1. 7.5 kg

2. 15 kg

3. 22 kg

4. 66 kg

5. 100 kg

1. Increasing the capacity factor of the plant

2. Using anthracite coal instead of bituminous coal

3. Shutting off a turbine driven by exhaust gases

4. Pumping cold water from a nearby stream into the condenser

5. Releasing ash residues into the environment

1. Petroleum releases about 15 percent more CO₂ than coal.

2. Petroleum is easier to transport than coal.

3. Mining and transport of petroleum is less harmful to the environment.

1. I only

2. II only

3. III only

4. I and II

5. II and III

1. Extraction and combustion of natural gas have less effect on global warming than extraction and combustion of coal.

2. Contamination of water during the extraction process is of little concern.

3. Liquefied petroleum gas is a slightly more energy-dense than natural gas.

4. Pipelines are the primary means of transporting natural gas.

5. Exploration for natural gas requires less energy than exploration for other energy sources.

1. The lower and upper estimates were not different enough to cause a major significant shift in his predictions.

2. Per capita energy use will increase with available energy.

3. Availability and use of petroleum is inversely correlated with cost.

1. I only

2. II only

3. III only

4. II and III

5. I, II, and III

1. control the placement of fuel rods.

2. increase the efficiency of nuclear reactions.

3. transfer heat energy from the fuel rods into water.

4. increase the capacity factor of the plant.

5. absorb excess neutrons emitted by fuel rods.

1. 50 kilocuries

2. 100 kilocuries

3. 200 kilocuries

4. 800 kilocuries

5. 7,500 Becquerels

1. The need for long-term storage of radioactive waste

2. Government regulation of low-level radioactive waste

3. Competition with plants that use coal to produce energy

4. The tendency for fuel rods to overheat and risk a meltdown

5. The relative supplies of ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U isotopes

1. Biomass

2. Geothermal

3. Nuclear

4. Wind

5. Ground heat

1. building a green roof.

2. using only Energy Star appliances.

3. placing photovoltaic cells on the roof.

4. installing a ground source heat pump.

5. storing solar energy in a battery.

1. 1,000

2. 1,500

3. 5,000

4. 10,000

5. 15,000

6. 20,000

1. rarely contributes to the removal of vegetation.

2. does not use energy that originates from the Sun.

3. is always subsidized by government programs.

4. is cheaper and more efficient.

5. is more likely to be carbon-neutral.

1. Flooding of forests and grasslands

2. Siltation

3. The generation of energy by use of turbines

4. Transfer of energy to power lines

5. Use of excess energy from the hydroelectric plant to pump water into the impoundment

1. hydrogen, protons, neutrons, water.

2. hydrogen, protons, hydrogen ions, water.

3. hydrogen, protons, electrons, water.

4. hydrogen, electrons, protons, water.

5. hydrogen, electrons, protons, hydrogen ions.

1. CST and fossil fuel plants are built near each other.

2. CST energy is used during peak hours whereas fossil fuels are used during off-peak hours.

3. CST and fossil fuel energy are equally distributed to the power grid.

4. CST plants are built in desert areas where there is consistent sunshine and plenty of open space.

5. CST contributes to more energy production when the price of fossil fuels increases.

1. Photovoltaic cells, windmills, run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants

2. Photovoltaic cells, windmills, water impoundment hydroelectric dams

3. Concentrated solar thermal plants, nuclear plants, windmills

4. Concentrated solar thermal plants, water impoundment hydroelectric dams, fuel cells

5. Nuclear plants, fossil fuel plants, photovoltaic cells.

1. Government subsidies for active solar construction designs

2. Increasing the cost of fossil fuels

3. Replacement of large power plants with several smaller plants

4. Use of smart grid systems and smart appliances

5. Increasing the production of batteries

1. regulates electrical energy usage according to electrical energy availability.

2. requires more energy-efficient electricity production.

3. will reduce the cost of energy production.

1. I only

2. II only

3. III only

4. I and II

5. I, II, and III
   
   

1. Provide three reasons why hybrid and electric vehicles might be less energy-efficient than gas-powered cars. (3 points)

2. How might the lifetime of a vehicle alter its total ecological footprint? (2 points)

3. Suppose a new all-electric vehicle costs $40,000 and requires 1.5 MJ per passenger-mile. You trade in your old gas-powered vehicle, which required 4 MJ per passenger-mile, for $2,000.

   1. Supposing that a gallon of gasoline contains 20 MJ and costs $4.00, how many miles must you drive before your purchase becomes cost effective? (3 points)

   2. How might the use of “smart grid” technology reduce the environmental footprint of an electric vehicle? (2 points)

1. Why is biofuel produced by algae considered to be carbon neutral? (2 points)

2. Many have questioned the ultimate sustainability of algae biofuel production based on physical principles.

   1. What is the second law of thermodynamics? (1 point)

   2. What does the second law of thermodynamics suggest about the efficiency of algal biofuel production over many decades? (1 point)

3. What are two similarities of algae biofuel production to the production of corn ethanol, and what are two differences? (2 points)

4. Where may be the best location to place an algal-biofuel generating plant that would maximize the efficiency of fuel production? (2 points)

5. Many researchers are exploring how to genetically engineer strains of algae that are fast-growing and lipid-rich in order to maximize the amount of fuel created in relation to production area. List two ways in which this could potentially harm the environment and suggest two ways to mitigate harmful effects. (2 points)