Transportation
Name two modes of transportation that are environmentally friendly
There are many including biking, walking, running, roller skating, skateboarding or taking public transportation.
Water covers seventy percent of the Earth, but people can only drink a small portion of that water. Why?
Over 97% of the water on Earth is in the salty oceans and cannot be used by people. The rest is fresh water, but much of that is in icebergs, which means only .5% of the Earth’s water is usable by humans.
What are the three “Rs” that help guide us in using fewer resources and cutting down the amount of waste we produce?
Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce the amount of waste you produce. Reuse items instead of throwing them away. Recycle items made of plastic, metal, or paper. This will decrease the amount of garbage that goes to the dump AND reduce the amount of natural resources we use to create new materials.
What source of clean energy is powerful enough to take the place of every fossil fuel in every way it is used?
The sun. The sun produces enough energy to supply the entire world's energy demands. Solar power is inexhaustible, has no harmful byproducts, and solar panels have no moving parts, making them durable and easy to maintain.
Which of the following cars are the most fuel efficient – SUVs, sports cars, or hybrid cars?
Hybrid Cars. SUVs and sports cars are less fuel-efficient than average cars while hybrid cars, which combine electricity and gas to power the engine, are the most fuel-efficient cars available on the market today.
True or false: when you flush the toilet, you use as much water as the average person in a developing country uses in a day.
This is true.
Which major ecosystem was reduced in size by 94 million hectares (greater than the size of Venezuela, a South American country) during the 1990s?
The Earth's forests were reduced in size by 94 million hectares.
Each year 3.4 million people die because of contamination of which major resource?
Water. Access to fresh drinking water is a significant problem in many countries around the world.
What is the most efficient mode of travel possible for people – riding a bicycle, walking, driving in a car, or riding in an airplane?
The bicycle is the most efficient way to get from one point to another - even more so than walking, because you can travel farther on less energy.
What causes Global Warming?
Global warming is the theory that the Earth is getting warmer. This is caused by gasses in the atmosphere that keep in heat, like putting a lid on a pot of water on the stove. These gasses are a product of burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal
What animal emits enough methane gas to contribute to 16% of the total amount of global warming gasses in the atmosphere?
Cows. Flatulence and belches from cows contain methane, a dangerous and invisible global warming gas.
What percentage of mammals are currently in danger of extinction – 10%, 25%, or 35%?
Twenty-five percent of all mammals are currently in danger of extinction. This is mainly the result of the destruction of their native habitats, but other factors, such as reduced sources of food, also play a part.
As gasoline is converted to energy, how much of its potential power is used by our cars - 100%, 70%, 45%, or less than 10%
Traditional cars are not very energy efficient. They use less than 10% of the potential energy in the fuel we put into them.
Name three types of renewable energy.
There are many different answers to this question. Some possibilities include using solar energy, wind power, hydropower, and hydrogen
How many gallons of water are used to produce one pound of beef – 100, 1000, or over 2500?
Over 2500 gallons of water are needed to produce just one pound of beef.
If everyone on Earth lived like an average American, how many planets would we need to provide an adequate supply of natural resources in order to sustain us – 1, 5, or 10?
There is no way our planet could support the human race if everyone lived like Americans. In fact, if the United States were the standard for use of natural resources it would take five planet Earths to support the current population of the planet.
On average, do cars manufactured today or those manufactured in the 1920s burn more gasoline?
Today's cars consume more gas.
Where are the world’s greatest oil resources?
The bulk of the world's oil resources are located in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. This means that the United States must import most of its oil, which increases the cost of fuel.
Give three reasons why forests are crucial for maintaining life on Earth.
Forests serve many more purposes than people might imagine. They are home to a majority of species on Earth, and deforestation results in the extinction of thousands of species a year - animals that are essential to maintaining the balance in an ecosystem. Additionally, the roots of trees hold topsoil in place so it does not wash away in rainstorms and ensures that plants can continue to flourish. Finally, trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, which slows global warming
What does it mean to live in a sustainable world?
In a sustainable world we would not use more natural resources than are available to us, or at a faster rate than they can be replenished.