Energy Trends/ Efficiency
The most commonly used energy source worldwide.
What is oil? (or What is petroleum?)
This fossil fuel forms from the remains of ancient plants in tropical areas near wetlands and river deltas.
What is coal?
This is the reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus, which then splits into two or more parts and releases a lot of energy.
What is nuclear fission?
What is hydroelectric power? Specifically water impoundment systems (dams).
The historical progression of dominant energy sources in the United States. Note: Use the following sources: coal, natural gas, oil, wood.
What is wood, coal, oil, and natural gas?
The term that compares the amount of energy obtained from a resource to the energy required to extract it.
What is Energy Return on Energy Investment (EROEI)?
This method extracts natural gas by using high-pressure fluids to force open existing cracks in rocks deep underground.
What is hydraulic fracturing (or fracking)?
This fuel is most commonly used in nuclear power plants today.
What is Uranium-235?
This type of renewable energy is harnessed from Earth's internal heat caused by radioactive decay in the core.
What is geothermal energy?
This part of a power plant is used to prevent thermal pollution and thermal shock in nearby water bodies.
What is a cooling tower (or cooling pond)?
Rank these transportation methods from most to least efficient: car (single rider), airplane, bicycle, and bus.
What is bicycle, bus, car, airplane?
Even though airplanes carry many passengers, they are the least efficient because they use A LOT of energy.
The purest type of coal, which is almost pure carbon.
What is anthracite?
Name one of the three major nuclear accidents.
What is Three Mile Island? OR
What is Chernobyl? OR
What is Fukushima?
This is the fastest-growing major source of electricity in the world.
What is wind energy?
The process by which fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity in a power plant.
What is combustion of the fuel heats water to produce steam, which spins a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity?
A 100-watt light bulb is left on for 10 hours. It uses this many kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.
Note: 1000 W = 1 kW
What is 1 kWh?
This is used to predict the rate of oil production over time and the point of peak oil.
What is the Hubbert Curve?
Note: Peak oil is the point at which oil production reaches its maximum before declining (when half the reserves remain).
A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 10 years. Originally having an activity level of 100 curies, this is the isotope's activity level after 30 years.
What is 12.5 curies?
Some disadvantages of this renewable energy source are the manufacturing of materials require high inputs of metals and water, high initial investment costs, it's geographically limited, and there's no plan in place to recycle parts when used up.
What is solar energy (photovoltaic solar cells)?
These are offered to encourage the use of more efficient appliances or automobiles.
What are tax credits? OR
What are rebates?
This is one of the many reasons total energy use in the United States has leveled off.
What is technological advances? OR
What is shifting from heavy industry to a service-based economy? OR
What is the increased use of renewable resources? OR
What is energy use policies and new standards?
This fossil fuel releases about 60% as much carbon dioxide as coal. It's the cleaner-burning fossil fuel.
What is natural gas?
This is the biggest concern associated with storing nuclear waste.
What is radioactive contamination?
This method of energy conservation designs buildings to be constructed in a way that naturally captures and retains heat without relying on technology.
What is passive solar design?
Some disadvantages of these potentially renewable energy sources are loss of agricultural land, higher food costs, and low fuel efficiency (so frequent refueling).
What are liquid biofuels?