Exam 3 Flashcards
(24 cards)
The energy in fossil fuels comes from?
the sun
What are some environmental problems with fossil fuels?
- air pollution
- CO2 emissions
- climate change
- pillaging of land
Which fossil fuel has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy produced?
natural gas
Which power plant has the greatest negative impact on local air quality?
coal plant
Which power plant has the least negative impact on local CO2 emissions?
natural gas plant
The Deepwater Horizon disaster was?
Oil spill that ruined Louisiana coast, & still ruins the water + coast today
Most electricity on earth is generated by?
Fossil Fuels
Nuclear reactors use which fuel?
- Uranium
- thorium
- plutonium
What is the role of the moderator in a nuclear reactor?
Slows down neutrons & acts as a heat sink
In U.S. nuclear reactors, water provides two functions. Which two things does water do?
- moderates
- a heatsink
What is the major limiting use of nuclear energy?
- Could cause a nuclear meltdown
- moderator & heat sink prevention
- availability of uranium, thorium, and plutonium
- cost
- public opinion
Name the types of renewable energy.
- Bioenergy
- wind energy
- hydropower
- solar energy
What is a disadvantage of wind power?
- cost
- kills birds
- noisy
- requires lots of land
- limited where they can be
- nondispatchable
What are the major types of fossil fuels?
- Oil
- coal
- natural gas
Including both workers and radiation exposure among the public, about how many people were killed in the Fukushima nuclear disaster?
~ 2,000 are likely to get cancer + die
How has the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources changed over the past decade?
its increased
When was nuclear fission discovered?
1928
Natural Gas can be used for?
- electricity
- fuel/gas
- heating
Mountaintop removal is?
Coal mining, releases a massive amount of carbon
Concentrated solar power uses what to produce electricity while photovoltaic panels use?
- Energy
- energy from solar rays
What are some of the negative effects of hydroelectric facilities?
- Cuts off access for fish and sediment migration
- legal/interstate commerce issues
Baseload power is different from peakload power because?
Baseload is for everyday use, and peakload is in case of emergency
Particulate matter is?
Stems from coal use, causes air pollution and cancer
Induced seismicity is caused by?
Fracking
