Natural Resources A
Like about half the homes in the United States, New Ulm uses primarily what to generate electricity?
Fossil Fuels
What 2 elements make up fossil fuels?
Hydrogen & Carbon
Which gases make up the majority of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen and Oxygen
What gases are mainly found in ice cores that help us know what the atmospheric conditions were like?
CO2 and Methane
What is the most common form of water on the surface of Earth
Liquid
What is a pro of geothermal energy?
Requires no fuel
Low carbon footprint
Emission free
What is a pro of tidal energy?
Requires no fuel
Doubles as a storm barrier
Highly efficient and has predictable energy output
What front has red semicircles and blue triangles in opposite directions?
Stationary
What are two major factors used to identify climate?
Temperature and precipitation
What factors play a role in the generation of potholes in a road?
Potholes are caused by a combination of weathering, erosion, and heavy traffic.
Why are fossil fuels not considered renewable resources despite being formed from the remains of dead organisms?
Fossil fuels are finite resources that are being consumed faster than they are being replenished.
In what ways did the Native Americans and the humans in the ancient world use resources in the same way? Name 1 way
Tools/weapons
Salt
Pigments
What modern organism serves the same function as cyanobacteria by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen as a waste gas?
Trees
Why is it difficult to predict the weather in the long term?
The weather is chaotic and small changes can have big effects over time, there are many variables to consider for weather and the technology is currently not advanced enough
When water runs through limestone, caves are sometimes formed. If water drips slowly in the same place inside one of these caves, what would occur?
Stalactites will form connected to the ceiling, and stalagmites will form connected to the floor because the minerals will be deposited in the cave.
In problem-solving, what is the difference between the terms "criterion" and "constraints"?
Criteria refer to the specific requirements or standards that a solution must meet, while constraints refer to the limitations or boundaries that restrict the solution options.
A town is looking to save money on its light posts, but it wants to maintain the same amount of lighting as it currently has. What new technology would help achieve this goal?
Light bulbs that use fewer watts but produce the same number of lumens
How does a cloud form?
By condensation of water vapor binding to dust in the atmosphere
What is albedo?
Albedo refers to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Why does water expand when it freezes?
Water expands when it freezes because the hydrogen bonds between water molecules become more rigid, creating a crystal lattice structure with more space between the molecules.
Why does the use of fossil fuels present a major global challenge?
The pollution they cause must be balanced with how much there is and there are many hidden costs not accounted for in the relatively cheap costs they present.
What are “critical and strategic” minerals used for? Give 2 examples.
Agriculture
Electronics
National defense
What are 2 of the 4 types of measurements does a weather balloon record?
Temperature
Humidity
Wind Speed
Air Pressure
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, while climate refers to long-term patterns of temperature, precipitation, and other weather-related factors in a region.
How does specific heat play a role in the temperature of water bodies?
Water bodies with higher specific heat require more energy to heat up and cool down compared to those with lower specific heat.