The Carbon Cycle
What is one of the causes of global warming?
Possible answer: Increased levels of carbon in the atmosphere, caused by human activity
What does BTU stand for?
British Thermal Units
What is zero waste?
Any process that creates no waste.
Name one of our greatest sources of energy
The Sun (or another natural resource)
What was the first self-driving vehicle?
The elevator
How do plants contribute to the carbon cycle?
They capture carbon dioxide and convert it into glucose (photosynthesis)
In the United States, coal makes up about _______ of our energy.
Half or 50% of our energy
Give an example of a zero waste product.
Possible answer: a refillable glass bottle, a product designed to have reusable parts
What is the name for electricity that comes from the flow of water?
hydropower
Where is the self-driving bicycle being developed?
UW Bothell
How do animals contribute to the carbon cycle?
They release carbon through cellular respiration
Name a country mentioned in the article that uses wind energy
What are the 5 Rs?
Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Refuse and Rot
What is something we need to improve to store energy?
batteries
What do most people think is important about the self-driving bike?
How safe it is!
How were fossil fuels created?
Dead animals and plants were buried and kept under pressure for millions of years until they formed coal, oil or natural gases.
Describe how trash can be used to make energy.
Trash releases methane gas, which if we trap it, we can use it to create energy.
Describe the difference between cradle-to-cradle design and cradle-to-grave design.
Cradle-to-grave design assumes that the product has trash that cannot be reused
Cradle-to-cradle design assumes that all parts of the product can be 'reborn' as part of a new product
Describe the benefits of Daylight Saving Time
It saves electricity, enough to power 100,000 houses for one year!
How much energy does a self-driving bike use in comparison to a regular vehicle?
30 times less energy
Which process does this equation describe: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6+ 6O2
What is one of the challenges of electric vehicles?
They are only beneficial if they get their electricity from renewable sources. If their electricity comes from coal, they don't reduce pollution or greenhouse gases.
Describe the Zero Waste Institute perspective on recycling.
They want recycling to be the last option, not the first option. They want to avoid waste that needs to be recycled altogether.
Should you always turn off the light when you leave a room?
Usually, but if you have CFLs, you don't always have to turn them off. You should turn them off if you'll be gone for 15 minutes or more.
What will happen to the cars that people are used to driving, according to Professor Folsom?
They will go out of circulation in about the same amount of time as self-driving vehicles enter the mainstream.