Chapter 9: Review Questions

293

Question 1

1. What is the origin of the chemical energy of coal and crude oil?

  1. The heat energy of molten volcanic lava transferred to sedimentary rocks

  2. Photosynthesis by primary producers that lived millions of years ago

  3. Sedimentary rocks exposed to high heat and pressure

  4. Sedimentary rocks modified by exposure to solar energy

Question 2

2. Which of the following types of coal has the highest energy content?

  1. Lignite

  2. Sub-bituminous coal

  3. Bituminous coal

  4. Anthracite

Question 3

3. What is the approximate energy efficiency of a coal-fired electrical power plant?

  1. 10%

  2. 25%

  3. 35%

  4. 70%

Question 4

4. What is the basic difference between a coal-fired power plant and today’s nuclear power plants?

  1. There is no difference; both use chemical energy as a source of heat to produce steam.

  2. Coal-fired power plants use chemical energy, whereas nuclear power plants use nuclear fusion as a source of heat to produce steam.

  3. Coal-fired power plants rely on nuclear energy, whereas nuclear power plants use chemical energy as a source of heat to produce steam.

  4. Coal-fired power plants use chemical energy, whereas nuclear power plants use nuclear fission as a source of heat to produce steam.

Question 5

5. Which country now consumes the most energy per capita?

  1. The United States

  2. China

  3. The European Union

  4. Russia

Question 6

6. When do experts now predict we will reach peak oil production?

  1. In 5 to 10 years

  2. In 10 to 20 years

  3. In 50 to 60 years

  4. Peak oil already occurred in 2000.

Question 7

7. EPA regulations now require which of the following for coal ash ponds?

  1. Coal ash ponds cannot be established on wetlands.

  2. New coal ash ponds must be lined to prevent contamination of groundwater.

  3. Coal ash ponds cannot be built in earthquake-prone areas.

  4. All of the above

Question 8

8. What is the major target of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking?

  1. Extraction of coal

  2. Extraction of natural gas

  3. Extraction of water in arid regions

  4. Extraction of carbon dioxide

Question 9

9. Which of the following is not currently included in restoration requirements following mountaintop removal mining?

  1. Restoring the native plant and animal diversity

  2. Restoring top soils to original structure and fertility

  3. Restoring original drainage patterns and water quality

  4. None of the above

Question 10

10. Which of the following is the major feature of improved safety for the latest nuclear power plants?

  1. Larger numbers of professional operators to ensure safety procedures are followed

  2. Larger numbers of pumps and safety switches for plenty of backups

  3. Passive safety systems that work without human intervention or an outside power source

  4. Larger, more robust housing for the reactors

Critical Analysis

Question 1

1. What are the connections between growth of the global population and global economy and the increasing demand for energy? Use the laws of thermodynamics in your discussion (Chapter 2, page 37).

Question 2

2. Some local U.S. communities have passed ordinances prohibiting fracking within their jurisdictions. Meanwhile, some state governments have tried to pass laws to limit or deny such prohibitions by local communities. Discuss the pros and cons of local versus centralized control of fossil energy exploration and extraction.

Question 3

3. What do the nuclear accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima have in common? How are they different? What lessons can be learned from these accidents?

Question 4

4. Should the costs of the ecosystem services, such as air and water purification, impaired by strip mining and mountaintop mining be included in the cost of coal?

Question 5

5. How would a serious application of the precautionary principle (see Chapter 1, page 12) influence the development of nuclear power?