CHAPTER

12

Bring a calculator to the test!

1. There will be some graph reading practice. There are 4 different charts, about 2 questions each, it is just a
matter of deciphering what the graph is telling you based on the question. Take your time.
2. What does the Hubert curve look like? What does it tell you?
3. Why is petroleum the fuel of choice for transportation?
4. Which fossil fuels pose a risk to the environment?
5. Which energy sources are considered to be fossil fuels?
6. Which energy sources are considered to be subsistence (wood, charcoal, coal, nuclear, wind, hydro, etc)?
7. What is the difference between coal and charcoal?
8. As affluence increases and countries become more developed, which type of energy sources increase?
9. What is cogeneration? Does it increase or decrease the efficiency of the fuel source? What is another name for
it?
10. In the US, which sector uses the greatest amount of energy?
11. With EROIE in mind, which number would be the most efficient (high or low)?
12. What is the order in which the US has used fuel sources? (so way-way back we usedthen we usedthennow
we use)
13. What percentage of US energy needs are imported?
14. Considering the energy efficiency of a car (3.6 MJ/passenger-kilometer and the energy efficiency of a train (1.1
MJ/passenger-kilometer)
a. How much more efficient is the train?
b. What would be the best way to improve the efficiency of the car (fastest, cheapest)?
15. What is the efficiency of the transfer of energy from fuel source to electricity?
16. What is the power grid?
17. Which energy source could create the greatest amount of energy based upon the abundance?
18. What is the order of the grades of coal from lowest energy content to highest?
19. Which countries are the greatest producers of (this does not necessarily mean they have the greatest supply)
a. Coal
b. Petroleum
20. What are reasons that coal is so widely used around the world (pros)?
21. What are cost (cons) to coal use?
22. What is the primary use of petroleum products?
23. Pros and cons of petroleum?
24. Pros and cons of natural gas?
25. Pros and cons of nuclear?
26. Why is U-235 ideal for nuclear reactors?
27. Which nuclear disaster was most damaging?
28. Explain the process of nuclear power generation.
29. What are some possible health issues related to nuclear exposure?
30. Classify the different levels of wastes from nuclear power (such as fuel rods, contaminated clothing, etc.)
31. How many half-lives does it take before a radioactive material would be considered neutral?
32. Where are spent fuels rods and other nuclear wastes currently stored? Which location was considered and then
not considered for permanent storage and why?
33. What is natural gas (chemical formula)?
34. Which fossil fuel is cleanest burning?