The Way We Move
Resource Management
Safe Landing
Techies to the Rescue
Keeping It all in Balance
100
Name two modes of transportation that are environmentally friendly.
There are many including biking, walking, running, roller skating, skateboarding or taking public transportation.
100
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.
100
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.
100
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.
100
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.
200
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.
200
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. Did you know…? The United States uses more water than any other country in the world, even though we have far less access to fresh water than some other countries, including Canada and Russia. By the way, toilets made after 1992 use 1.6 gallons per flush while toilets made before 1992 can use up to eight gallons per flush. According to a 2001 study, this amounts to an average of 27,448 gallons a year for the old-style toilets and 13,286 for newer water efficient toilets.
200
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.
200
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.
200
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.
300
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.
300
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.
300
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.
300
State an environmental drawback for each of the following: the industrial revolution, computers, and the windmill.
While the industrial revolution is responsible for most of the technologies we take for granted today, it also resulted in increasing rates of pollution due to the widespread burning of coal and oil. Similarly, although computers provide an enormous technological advancement for our society, computers are made up of lead, mercury, nickel, and other components that are potentially hazardous to the environment and to your health if not disposed of properly. Finally, windmills provide a clean source o f renewable energy, but are noisy, unsightly, and inadvertently kill birds.
300
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.
400
What is the most efficient mode of travel possible for people?
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.
400
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.
400
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.
400
Fuel cells use which element – hydrogen, helium, or nitrogen?
Fuel cells rely on hydrogen.
400
Where do fossil fuels such as coal and oil come from, and why is it beneficial to leave them undisturbed?
Resources such as coal and oil are known as "fossil" fuels for a reason. They are the remnants of plants and animals that died many years ago. After millions of years, as soil covers biological remnants and pressure builds up, this debris eventually turns into what we now use to heat our homes and run our cars.
500
On average, do cars manufactured today or those manufactured in the 1920s burn more gasoline?
Today's cars consume more gas.
500
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.
500
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.
500
If we burn hydrogen in a fuel cell, it combines with oxygen to create energy. What is the by-product from this chemical reaction?
When hydrogen (H2) combines with oxygen (O), it creates water (H2O) which is a safe and clean emission.
500
How does our every breath contribute to a balanced and sustainable ecosystem?
Like every other organism, humans are an important part of a balanced ecosystem. The carbon dioxide mammals, such as humans, exhale helps trees create the food they need to survive through the process of photosynthesis. In turn, during photosynthesis tress produce the oxygen animals like us need to survive.
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