EnergyUnit 5

Energy basics1. Describe the following types of energy:

• Potential energy• Kinetic energy• Radiant energy

2. Describe the movement of Energy:• Convection• Conduction

3. Identify the following units:• Energy• Power

4. Describe the following and identify how it relates to environmental science:• First Law of Thermodynamics• Second Law of Thermodynamics

Non-renewable energy1. Describe the process used to produce

electricity

2. Majority of the world’s energy is from what source? (fossil fuels, nuclear energy, renewable energy)

3. What is the number one fossil fuel for energy?

4. How do fossil fuels form?

5. What two fossil fuels are often found together?

6. How is coal found?

Oil1. Describe crude oil

2. Describe the methods of oil extraction:• Primary extraction• Pressure extraction• Steam extraction

3. How does drilling for oil impact the environment?

4. What are the impacts of oil spills?

5. What is Hubbert’s Peak?

6. What pollutants are created from burning oil?

Coal1. How is coal ranked?

2. Describe the purity of the following coals:• Anthracite• Bituminous• Subbitumimous• Lignite

3. Describe the environmental impacts of different coal mining

4. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of using coal?

Coal1. What pollutants are created from

burning coal?

2. Describe “scrubbers” and how they help eliminate pollutants

3. Describe all the ways that sulfur and coal are related

4. How does mercury get into the soil/water?

5. What is acid-mine drainage?

Natural Gas1. What compound makes up natural gas?

(name and chemical formula)

2. Other than underground, where else can natural gas be found/created?

3. How is natural gas used?

4. Is gasoline for your vehicle natural gas?

5. What are the products of burning natural gas?

6. Describe fracking and how it impacts the environment

Nuclear Energy1. How do nuclear power plants create

electricity?

2. Describe the following components to nuclear energy:• Fission• Fusion• Half-lives

3. Describe the two types of nuclear reactors:• Boiling water reactors• Pressurized water reactors

4. Describe the impacts of nuclear energy:• Benefits• Places with nuclear reactor accidents• Meltdowns, explosions, nuclear weapons, highly

reactive waste, thermal pollution, radioactive elements, concerns for safety

5. Where is the nuclear waste storage in the United States?

Renewable energy: fuels and hydroelectricity 1. Describe biomass

2. Describe gashol and include benefits and negatives of using it as a fuel

3. What is biodiesel

4. How is hydroelectric power generated?• What are negative environmental impacts from

hydroelectric power?

5. Describe the impacts of dams in regard to:• Sediments• Fish that spawn in rivers

Renewable Energy: Solar, Wind, Geothermal Energy1. Describe the following ways to use different solar

energy collection:• Passive solar energy collection• Active collection• Photovoltic Cells

2. Describe the positives and negatives for using solar energy

3. How is wind uses to create electricity?

4. Describe a wind farm

5. Describes the positives and negatives for using wind energy

6. Describe how geothermal energy is formed

7. Describe the positives and negatives for using geothermal energy

Renewable energy: Ocean Tides and Hydrogen Cells and Energy Conservation1. How are dams used to collect energy from ocean tides?

2. How can hydrogen be released?

3. What are the only waste products from burning hydrogen?

4. Why are hydrogen cells not viable source of energy yet?

5. Describe how the vehicles can help conserve energy:• Hybrid cars• Biofuels• Corporate Average Fuel Economy• Mass transit

6. How can you conserve electricity in your home? (Furnace, water heater