NRG 101
This term describes energy sources that can be naturally replaced on a human time scale.
What is renewable energy?
Fossil fuels are considered less sustainable long-term because they release these.
What are greenhouse gases?
Nuclear energy uses a fuel that is very limited in supply. This makes it this type of energy.
What is nonrenewable?
This renewable energy source uses sunlight directly.
What is solar energy?
True or False. Geothermal energy is limited by location but not by climate.
What is True?
The types of energy that are classified as nonrenewable.
Must give full/complete answer.
What are fossil fuels and nuclear energy?
This term describes energy sources that are limited because they form too slowly or use limited fuels.
What is nonrenewable?
This source of all fossil fuels.
What are ancient plants & animals (organisms)?
Nuclear energy uses this material as its fuel source.
What is uranium?
This renewable source uses flowing or falling water to spin a turbine.
What is hydroelectric energy/hydropower?
A benefit of using solar or wind is that they have this characteristic when it comes to air quality.
What is low emissions/produce no greenhouse gases?
Wind, solar, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, and biofuel belong in this group because they are naturally replaced or continuously available.
What is renewable?
Most power plants produce electricity by using steam, water, wind, or another force to spin this.
What is a turbine?
In terms of emissions and waste products this is the dirtiest of the fossil fuels.
What is coal?
Nuclear energy is low-emission during operation, but it creates this major waste concern.
What is radioactive waste?
This renewable energy source uses Earth’s internal heat.
What is geothermal energy?
Solar power is more useful in the evening when extra daytime electricity is saved using this.
What are batteries?
The energy sources that produce substantial CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
What are fossil fuels and biofuels/biomass?
True or False. A student says, “Any energy source with low emissions is automatically renewable.”
What is False?
In a fossil fuel power plant, burning fuel first changes stored chemical energy into this type of energy.
What is heat/thermal energy?
A state wants electricity that runs most of the day and night with low operational carbon emissions, but leaders must plan for safely storing dangerous waste.
What is (long-term) storage?
This renewable source comes from recently living plant or animal material.
What is biomass/biofuel?
Wind and solar can be harder to use because their output changes with weather and this.
What is time (of day)?
This is what is impacted and why renewable does not always mean impact-free: hydropower, biofuel, and other sources can still affect these.
What are ecosystems/habitat?
This means using resources carefully so future generations can still meet their needs.
What is sustainability?
This fossil fuel is often used because it can adjust quickly to changes in electricity demand.
What is natural gas?
A nuclear plant does not burn coal or natural gas. Instead, it releases heat by splitting atoms through this process.
What is (nuclear) fission?
A city wants renewable electricity with predictable timing, but only a few locations are suitable because the source depends on coastal conditions.
What is tidal energy?
Biofuel can replace some fossil fuel use, but growing fuel crops may compete with this human need.
What is food (production)?
A region wants lower emissions but still needs power when wind and solar drop. The best plan uses renewables with storage and steady low-carbon sources. This plan can be described as being or having a high level of this.
What is reliable/reliability?
This energy pathway best describes many turbine-based power plants: fuel/heat source → heat → steam → turbine → generator → electricity.
What is a turbine-based electricity generation?
The impacts of waste products of coal include water contamination and air pollution, and this dangerous trait similar to that of other nonrenewable energy.
What is radioactive?
Nuclear can support the grid when wind and solar output drop because it can provide this kind of electricity.
What is steady/reliable electricity?
A landlocked city is looking for renewable energy to help with its daytime energy use. They have a cloudy climate and large flat fields, but don't want to lose the land they need for farming. This is likely the best energy for them.
What is wind energy?
Hydroelectric dams can help generate electricity, but they may also change this natural pattern in rivers and prevent this type of disaster.
What is water flow and floods?
The strongest energy decision compares emissions, reliability, location limits, waste, and ecosystem effects.
What are energy tradeoffs?