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Renewable/Nonrenewable resources Answer Key

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Fossil Fuels
#1 How is Coal made? Dead plant material accumulates and over time heat and pressure create lignite coal.
#2 How is Oil and Natural Gas made? Oil and Natural Gas is made from the burial of marine organisms.
#3 What is one advantage and one disadvantage of using fossil fuels? Possible advantages: generate electricity, makes plastics, home shingles, heat buildings. Some Disadvantages: create pollution, they are nonrenewable
#4 Where can we find coal/oil/and Natural Gas? Sedimentary Rocks
#5 Why are they called fossil fuels? They are called fossil fuels because they are made up of the remains of animals and plants.
Nuclear Energy
#1 Is Nuclear fission renewable or nonrenewable? nonrenewable
#2 Is Nuclear fusion renewable or nonrenewable? renewable
#3 How long is Nuclear waste determined to be radioactive? (10 yrs, 200 yrs, 10,000 yrs, 100,000 yrs) 10,000 yrs
#4 Why do you think Nuclear power plants are located near rivers and lakes? Because heat released in nuclear reactors produce steam, which is used to produce electricity.
#5 What is the difference between Nuclear fusion and Nuclear fission? Nuclear fusion is when materials of low mass are fused together to form a substance of higher mass (energy from the sun). Nuclear fission is the splitting of heavy elements (like uranium) to produce energy.
Solar/wind/hydro electricity
#1 How can Solar energy be generated (how can we get energy from it)? Solar cells actively collect energy from the sun and transforms it into electricity.
#2 What is a disadvantage of using Solar Energy? Solar cells work less efficiently on cloudy days and cannot work at all at night.
#3 What is an advantage of using wind energy? Wind is nonpolluting and it's free.
#4 What is a disadvantage of using wind energy? Wind is unpredictable. For an area to use wind energy consistently, the area must have a persistent wind that blows steadily.
#5 How are ways to generate hydroelectricity? A large concrete dam is built to retain water. As water is released, its force turns turines at the base of the dame. The turbines then turn generators that make electricity.
More renewable energy sources
#1 What energy is obtained by using hot magma or dry rocks? Geothermal Energy
#2 What is an advantage of using Geothermal Energy? The hot, dry underground rocks used can be found just about anywhere.
#3 What is the definition of renewable energy resources? Energy resources that can be replaced in nature or by humans within a relatively short period of time.
#4 About what percentage of energy in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels? about 90%
#5 Why are trees considered a renewable energy source? As one tree is cut down, another can be planted in its place.
Biomass Energy
#1 What is biomass energy? energy used from burning organic material such as wood, alcohol, and garbage.
#2 What is a disadvantage of burning wood? gases and small particles are released and can pollute the air.
#3 How much garbage could be burned? (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 2/3) As much as 2/3 of what we throw away can be burned.
#4 What is an advantage of burning garbage? It is cheap and helps reduce the amount of material to be dumped in a landfill.
#5 What is a disadvantage of burning garbage? Burning municipal waste can produce toxic ash residue and air pollution.
Final Question
What is gasohol and is it energy efficient (worth the trouble of making and using)? Gasohol is when ethanol (made from corn during distillation) is mixed with another fuel (like gasoline). Growing the corn and distilling the ethanol often uses more energy that is derived from burning ethanol.