Chapter 17—Nonrenewable Energy
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is the main reason why fewer nuclear power plants are being built today compared to 40
years ago?
a. Nuclear fusion power plants are being built instead.
b. Federal laws were passed prohibiting the development of new nuclear power plants.
c. Nuclear power plants have become too expensive to generate electricity at a
reasonable cost.
d. Supplies of U235 are exhausted.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
2. Which of the following accurately describes the use of fossil fuels for energy?
a. At the present rate, we will run out of fossil fuels in about 250 years.
b. Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
c. Fossil fuels account for 69 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.
d. All of the above
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
3. Electric generators work by
a. converting oil into electricity.
b. turning turbines in a dam.
c. converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
d. rubbing copper against a substance that does not conduct electricity.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
4. Oil and natural gas result from
a. the migration of complex carbohydrate molecules to nonporous rock formations.
b. the decay of tiny marine organisms that accumulated on the ocean floor millions of
years ago.
c. the burning of high-sulfur, low-grade uranium.
d. the decay of plants that lived in swamps hundreds of thousands of years ago.
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 4
5. Inside the combustion chamber of a coal-fired power plant,
a. steam is directed against turbine blades and causes the blades to turn.
b. the turbine sets the generator in motion.
c. electricity is generated.
d. burning fossil fuels release energy in the form of heat.
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
6. Most of the energy consumed in the United States is used for
a. residential electrical needs.
c. transportation.
b. commercial electrical needs.
d. industrial purposes.
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 1
1
OBJ: 3
7. The energy needs for the United States in the 1990s
a. rose dramatically.
c. rose slightly.
b. fell dramatically.
d. fell slightly.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
8. A nuclear reactor is
a. powered by a combustion chamber in which uranium is burned.
b. surrounded by a thick pressure vessel that is filled with a cooling fluid.
c. superheated by water until the control rods are set into motion.
d. constructed from thick aluminum walls that can control the nuclear reactions.
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
9. New nuclei and neutrons result from
a. nuclear fusion.
b. the release of electrons from a positively charged atom.
c. the splitting of an atom’s nucleus.
d. the splitting of an atom’s neutron.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
10. Nuclear fusion
a. must take place at extremely high temperatures.
b. does not release a great amount of energy.
c. must take place in low-density containers.
d. results in nuclei that are lighter in weight than the nuclei that existed before the
reaction.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
11. Storage sites for nuclear wastes
a. can only be located only in mountain ranges.
b. will always leak lethal amounts of radioactivity.
c. should be located only in areas that are extremely geologically stable.
d. should be able to undergo the process of transmutation.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
12. Solar energy, or energy from the sun, is contained in
a. uranium.
c. fossil fuels.
b. radioactive waste.
d. all nonrenewable resources.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 4
13. A fuel’s suitability is dependent on all the following factors, except
a. energy content.
c. availability.
b. cost.
d. magnetism.
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 1
2
OBJ: 5
14. How is electrical energy generated in a coal-fired power plant?
a. The heat generated from burning coal turns water into steam, which turns a turbine,
thus running the electric generator.
b. The coal is burned, which heats the air. The hot air rises and turns the electric
generator’s turbine.
c. The turbine breaks down the coal into a liquid fuel that powers the electric generator,
thus producing an electric current.
d. The coal is heated until it vaporizes. The coal vapor is distilled in the combustion
chamber, which powers the electric generator.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
15. Which country uses the least amount of energy per person?
a. Argentina
c. United States
b. Japan
d. Canada
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
16. Coal is formed when
a. sediments cover dead marine organisms and heat converts them into complex,
energy-rich carbon molecules.
b. deposits of methane are subjected to high pressure until they condense into crystals.
c. swamplands are buried by sediment. The added weight creates heat and pressure that
converts the plants to coal.
d. organic remains get trapped in nonporous rock and merge into large bodies of
complex, energy-rich carbon molecules.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 4
17. Which of the following is an advantage of using fossil fuels for energy?
a. the resulting air pollution
c. limited quantities
b. versatility in their uses
d. toxic by-products
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
18. Which of the following factors does not help predict future oil production?
a. the number of oil refineries operating in the past
b. changes in technology
c. cost of obtaining fuels
d. number of oil deposits discovered
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
19. During the process of nuclear fission,
a. a neutron splits a uranium-235 atom, forming new elements and releasing several
neutrons, plus energy.
b. a neutron splits a daughter nucleus, thus creating uranium-234.
c. radioactivity causes the neutron of a uranium-235 atom to split in two.
d. a lightweight atom combines with another lightweight atom to create a single, heavy
atom.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 2
3
OBJ: 1
20. In
a.
b.
c.
d.
a nuclear power plant,
three pipe circuits pump water through the reactor, turbine, and cooling tower.
solid uranium pellets are bombarded with steam in the control rods.
nuclear fusion superheats water in the reactor, causing steam to power the turbine.
solid neutron pellets undergo a chain reaction and release massive amounts of heat.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
21. Which of the following is an advantage of nuclear energy?
a. It does not produce solid waste.
c. It poses no safety risks.
b. It is cost-efficient.
d. It does not produce air pollution.
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
22. Which of the following is not a main use of fuel?
a. transportation
c. heating and cooling buildings
b. manufacturing
d. cooking
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
23. The energy in fossil fuels is often converted into
a. electrical energy.
c. uranium.
b. magnetic fields.
d. power plants.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
24. Much of the oil and natural gas in the United States is located in
a. Alaska, Minnesota, New York, and Texas.
b. Alaska, California, Michigan, and Nevada.
c. Texas, Colorado, New York, and the Gulf of Mexico.
d. Alaska, Texas, California, and the Gulf of Mexico.
ANS: D
25. Oil
a.
b.
c.
d.
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
production is still increasing, but it
will start decreasing in the next year.
is increasing much more dramatically than it did in the past.
will start decreasing in the next five years.
is increasing much more slowly than it did in the 1960s.
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
COMPLETION
1. The suitability of a fuel for each application depends on ____________________,
____________________, ____________________, ____________________, and
____________________.
ANS: energy content, cost, availability, safety, by-products
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
4
2. In order to power machines, the energy in fuels is often converted into ____________________
energy, because ____________________ is more convenient to use.
ANS: electrical, electricity
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
3. Residents of the ____________________ and ____________________ enjoy some of the
lowest gasoline taxes in the world.
ANS: United States, Canada
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
4. Oil and natural gas result from the decay of ______________________________ that
accumulated on the ______________________________ floor millions of years ago.
ANS: tiny marine organisms, ocean
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 4
5. A major source of pollution when coal is burned is ____________________.
ANS: sulfur
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
6. Oil is found in and around major geologic features, such as ____________________,
____________________, and ____________________, that tend to trap oil as it moves in
Earth’s crust.
ANS: folds, faults, salt domes
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 4
7. Internal combustion ____________________ in vehicles that burn ____________________
pollute the air in many cities. These pollutants contribute to the formation of
____________________.
ANS: engines, gasoline, smog
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
8. A distinction can be made between a(n) ____________________, which is an oil deposit that has
been discovered and is commercial, and ____________________ that are yet to be discovered or
made commercial.
ANS: oil reserve, oil deposits
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
5
9. Few large ____________________ have been discovered in the past decade, and geologists
predict that oil ____________________ from fields accessible from land will probably peak
sometime after 2020.
ANS: oil reserves, production
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
10. The forces that hold together the ____________________ of an atom are more than
____________________ times stronger than the chemical bonds between atoms.
ANS: nucleus, 1 million
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
11. A nuclear reactor is surrounded by a thick _________________________ that is filled with a(n)
_________________________.
ANS: pressure vessel, cooling fluid
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
12. When operated properly, nuclear plants release less ____________________ than coal-fired
power plants do.
ANS: radioactivity
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
13. For fusion to occur, atomic _________________________ must be heated to extremely high
temperatures and the _________________________ must be maintained at
_________________________ and properly contained.
ANS: nuclei, nuclei, very high concentrations
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
14. The fuel cycle of uranium produces fission products that can remain dangerously
_________________________ for _________________________.
ANS: radioactive, thousands of years
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
15. In a nuclear reactor, when the _________________________ are lowered between the fuel rods,
they slow the _________________________.
ANS: control rods, fission reactions
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
6
16. Nuclear fission releases a tremendous amount of energy and more
_________________________, which in turn collide with more
_________________________.
ANS: neutrons, uranium nuclei
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
17. Deep ocean oil reserves may be tapped in the future, but unless
______________________________ improves, oil from the deep ocean will be much more
______________________________ than oil produced on land.
ANS: oil-drilling technology, expensive
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
18. About ____________________ percent of the world’s nonrenewable energy comes from natural
gas, or ____________________.
ANS: 20, methane
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
19. Emissions regulations and technology such as _________________________ have reduced air
pollution from internal combustion engines in many areas.
ANS: catalytic converters
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
20. If we could recover just 1 percent of the methane hydrate around the United States, we could more
than ____________________ our supply of ____________________, a clean-burning fuel that
produces little pollution except for carbon dioxide.
ANS: double, natural gas
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
21. When ____________________, low-grade coal is burned, it releases much more pollution than
____________________ bituminous coal does.
ANS: high-sulfur, low-sulfur
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
7
22. Coal forms from the _________________________ that lived in
_________________________ hundreds of millions of years ago.
ANS: remains of plants, swamps
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 4
23. The price of nearly every product or service that you use reflects the cost of
____________________.
ANS: energy
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
24. The electrical energy that powers the lights in a house was generated at a(n)
_________________________ and then carried to the user through a(n)
_________________________.
ANS: power plant, distribution grid
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
SHORT ANSWER
1. If fossil fuels come from the remains of dead organisms, why are they not considered renewable
resources?
ANS:
It takes millions of years for fossil fuels to form. At the rate we are now using them, they will be
used up much faster than they can be replaced.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
2. What caused the accident at Chernobyl? What have been the consequences of that accident?
ANS:
Engineers conducted an unauthorized test while safety devices were turned off. The reactor
exploded, throwing tons of radioactive materials into the air. As a result of exposure to radiation,
hundreds of people died and thousands may eventually get cancer.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
8
3. Why do you think a nation’s energy supply is important not only to the nation’s economy, but
also to its stability and international influence?
ANS:
Accept all reasonable answers. Sample answer: Energy is necessary for all of a nation’s functions,
from economic pursuits to military endeavors to construction projects. Without a stable,
inexpensive supply of energy, the nation will not be able to function normally.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
4. Does large-scale production of electrical energy inevitably have environmental costs? Explain
your answer.
ANS:
Accept any thoughtful answer. Sample answer: Currently, all large-scale production of electrical
energy harms the environment in one form or another. For example, burning fossil fuels releases
harmful air pollutants, and nuclear fission creates radioactive solid wastes.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
5. Do you think electrical energy should cost more money so that people will use less? Explain your
answer.
ANS:
Accept any thoughtful answer. Sample answer: Yes, the price of electrical energy should be
increased. People don’t want to pay more money for electrical eneergy, so they will learn to
conserve it.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
6. Do you think nuclear energy will be the United States’ energy source of choice in the near future?
Explain your answer.
ANS:
Accept any thoughtful answer. Sample answer: No, I don’t think so. Nuclear energy today costs
too much money per kilowatt of electricical energy produced to make it a viable source of
electrical energy for the country.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
7. Do you think Americans should start trying to use less energy to conserve the nonrenewable
resources that are currently available to them? Explain your answer.
ANS:
Sample answer: Yes, Americans should start trying to use less energy. If people work to conserve
energy, they will save money, protect the environment, and conserve the dwindling, nonrenewable
resources available.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 6
9
8. Compare how energy is used worldwide with how it is used in the United States.
ANS:
The amount of energy used per person in the United States is much higher than in most other
countries in the world. In fact, only Canada and the United Arab Emirates use more energy per
person.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
9. What recommendations would you make to city officials in the United States to encourage energy
conservation?
ANS:
Accept any reasonable answer. Sample answer: City officials should plan and implement efficient
and inexpensive public transportation systems that rely on clean-burning fuels or electrical energy
from a renewable source of energy.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
10. Coal can be considered to be a form of solar energy, or energy from the sun. Explain why this is
the case.
ANS:
Coal is formed from the remains of plants. Plants get their energy through photosynthesis, a
process that uses sunlight to form carbohydrates—a form of stored energy.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 4
11. Can clean-burning coal technology dramatically reduce air pollution in the United States? Explain
your answer.
ANS:
Yes. Fifty-seven percent of the electricity supply in the United States is produced by burning coal.
If clean-burning coal technology is used, a significant amount of sulfur will not enter the
atmosphere.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
12. How can you help conserve energy in your homes? Give examples.
ANS:
Accept all reasonable answers. Sample answer: By turning off lights when they are not needed,
closing the refrigerator door fast, lowering the thermostat during the night.
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
10
PROBLEM
1. A grade of coal with a higher percentage of carbon, such as anthracite, contains more usable
energy and releases less pollution than a grade with a lower percentage of carbon, such as lignite.
What is the percentage of carbon in a 10 g coal sample if the mass of carbon is 6.5 g?
ANS:
65 percent
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
2. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilled nearly 42 million liters of crude oil into the waters of
Prince William Sound on the Alaskan coast. NASA recently performed tests on the oil absorbency
of human hair. They discovered that a 1 kg bag of hair could absorb 1.25 L of oil in 1 minute. If
NASA had 100,000 kg of hair, how long would it have taken to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil
spill?
ANS:
5.6 hours
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
ESSAY
1. In general, nuclear energy is used more widely in countries that have meager energy supplies.
Explain this connection and give examples.
ANS:
Accept all reasonable responses. Sample answer: Countries with other energy supplies would use
those first before using nuclear power, which is very expensive. In addition, if countries with few
energy resources relied too heavily on fossil fuels, they could become vulnerable to the demands of
other nations.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
2. Describe how fossil fuels are used to produce electrical energy.
ANS:
Sample answer: Fossil fuels are burned. This releases energy from breaking apart the chemical
bonds binding fossil fuel molecules together. The energy released is in the form of heat energy,
which is used to boil water. The steam is then directed against the blades of a turbine, causing it to
spin. The turbine is connected to a generator. The motion of the generator’s coils of wire through
a magnetic field causes electrical energy to be generated.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
11
3. Compare and contrast a fossil-fuel-burning power plant and a nuclear power plant. You may want
to use diagrams to illustrate your answer.
ANS:
Students should note that these power plants are similar in that they both use some sort of
reaction to heat water, converting it into steam to drive a turbine, which in turn sets an electric
generator in motion. Students should note that the difference is mainly in the type of reaction
that is occurring. In fossil-fuel-burning power plants, a chemical reaction occurs. In a nuclear
power plant, a nuclear reaction occurs. Use the diagrams of a coal-burning power plant and the
nuclear power plant from the student edition to grade the students’ illustrations.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 5
4. After 1950, there was a dramatic increase in the worldwide production of oil. Why do you think
this is the case and what were the consequences of this increased production?
ANS:
Accept all reasonable answers. Sample answer: The dramatic increase after 1950 was in response
to an increased demand for oil. The demand resulted from the rapid industrialization of countries
around the world, from the increase in the number of automobiles, and from the rapidly increasing
human population. This dramatic increase in oil production and use led to an increase in air
pollution, resulting in smog, acid precipitation, and global warming.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
12