1 If all of these renewable energy sources are so great why hasn t the United States converted to a purely Renewable energy base A The US decided that fuel cells offer better opportunities for electricity production B Not enough technology available C Logistics D Cost Feedback Correct This may have been an easy question but the main issue is cost Coal based electricity is the cheapest energy source at around 3 cents per kWh Renewable cost 7 cents per kWh or more The cost is associated with the upkeep of the equipment Points Earned 5 6 5 6 2 What are the main components of SYNTHESIS gas syn gas A U235 and Ba B CH4 and O2 C CO and H2 Feedback Correct CO and H2 are the main components of synthesis gas These can be further processed into product fuels Fischer Tropsch synthesis or used as a fuel complete the combustion process forming CO2 and H2O D CO2 and H2O 3 Ethanol is a potential alternative fuel why is it one of the most likely candidates for biofuels A Can be burned in SLIGHTLY modified internal combustion engines fuel flex at 85 ethanol 15 gasoline E85 B Creates jobs in the farm lands and can be produced in the United States thus removing our dependence from foreign oil C Can be derived quickly using natural growing plants D Existing infrastructure for liquid fuels E All of the above Feedback Correct All of the above are reasons ethanol is a likely candidate for a near future biomass fuel Correct Answer s DPoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s C 4 As of 2006 the three major fuel sources in order for electricity generation in the U S are A Nuclear Coal Petroleum B Coal Natural gas Petroleum C Renewables Hydroelectric Coal D Coal Nuclear Natural gas Feedback Correct Coal is still the major contributor to electricity generation and nuclear and natural gas comes next E Petroleum Coal Natural gas 5 Which country currently utilizes gasification to generate transportation fuels and many chemicals in significant amounts best answer A Canada B United States C South Africa Feedback Correct See http wwww sasol com D China Correct Answer s EPoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s DPoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s C 6 How much does fuel oil obtained from crude oil contribute to electricity production in the US A Lots as much as coal B Quite a bit as much as hydroelectricity C A little more than wind about 3 Feedback Correct We still have some old power plants that use fuel oil but electricity generation is not a significant use for oil 7 Take a look at this page from the NREL website to learn a little more about hydrogen storage Hydrogen storage is a challenge due to its explosive characteristic Another reason is A its bad smell B its very low energy density Feedback Correct We have to compress significantly and make its volume much less which requires extra energy input C its chemical stability D none of the above Points Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s CPoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s B 8 Which of the following renewable energy sources is used to product the MOST electricity FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY in the U S Not sure Look the NREL webpage for some more information about each energy source A Solar B Biomass C Hydroelectric Feedback Correct This is by far the largest renewable for electricity generation in the U S D Wind E Geothermal 9 Read this pdf article article about wind power as a global energy source What percentage of electricity supply US could be provided by wind power at the end of year 2030 A 10 B 80 C 15 D 5 E 20 Feedback Correct This 20 value is optimistic however Points Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s CPoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s E 10 At ground level you carry a 20kg sack of potatoes into an elevator and ascend 15 floors approximately 45 meters if you drop the sack out of the window what would the potential energy of the sack of potatoes when it reaches ground level hint P E mgh A 900 Joules B 8820 Joules C 0 Joules Feedback Correct At ground level the height is 0 Thus in your equation P E mgh D 300 Joules 11 Fuel cells can produce A electricity B heat C water D all of the above Feedback Correct Obviously we want electricity but it is important to utilize generated heat for better overall energy efficiency Points Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s CPoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s D 12 Geothermal electricity generation is the same as geothermal heating and cooling A True B False 13 If a house or building is designed in that there is a large area of windows facing south to maximize natural light what type of solar energy best describes this A Passive Feedback Correct The idea of passive solar energy is an element of good design and maximizes solar energy with no external power supply or active controls It is a completely passive system Points Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s False B Thermal C Active D Photovoltic 14 In which country was the LARGEST hydroelectric dam being built Once completed this dam will be the world s largest capable of generating from 15 000 to 20 000 MW of power A United States B China Feedback Correct China is building the world s largest dam C Hawaii D Indonesia 15 The process that produce various types of hydrocarbons e g methane gasoline from synthesis gas is called A water gas shift reaction B gasification C none of the above D Fischer Tropsch synthesis Feedback Correct An old technology that may have a bright future due to limited oil availability and energy security Points Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s APoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s B 16 What is the main cause of the tides A the wind B the gravitational pull from the sun C the disturbance made by fishes in the sea D the gravitational pull from the moon Feedback Correct but for high tides the sun and moon can both have an influence Ye 17 Geothermal for home heating cooling is EXACTLY the same as geothermal for eloectricity generation A True B False Feedback Geothermal heating cooling in the home ONLY takes advantage of the stored solar energy in the shallow subsurface Geothermal for electricity usually needs to go MUCH MUCH deeper Correct Answer s DPoints Earned 5 6 5 6Correct Answer s DPoints Earned 5 0 5 0 18 A good location for OTEC Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is A vast shallow water B sufficient wind on and off shore C deep water close to land Feedback Correct Locations such as Hawaii D very small temperature gradient in water 19 What are the main components of SYNTHESIS gas syn gas A U235 and Ba B CO2 and H2O C CH4 and O2 D CO and H2 Feedback Correct This is a