***GEOSPHERE UNIT***

Chapter 18: Renewable Energy

Study Guide
*Section 1: Renewable Energy Today
1. What form of nuclear energy radiates from the Sun (p457)?
a. Solar
2. Explain passive solar heating (p458).
a. Uses the suns energy to heat something directly
b. Doesnt require solar panels
1. In the Northern Hemisphere, ___________ facing windows receive the most

2.
3.
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6.
7.
8.
9.

light (p458).
a. South
Explain active solar heating (p460).
a. Energy from the sun that is gathered in solar collectors
How many homes in the US are heated by active solar heating (p460)?
a. 1 million
What is a photovoltaic cell (p460)?
a. Converts the suns energy into electricity
Why is solar power considered to be nonpolluting (p460)?
a. They have no moving parts so dont produce any air/water pollution
What is the fastest growing energy source (p461)?
a. Wind
How long does it take to erect a new wind turbine (p461)?
a. 3 months
What is a wind farm (p461)?
a. Large arrays of wind turbines
What are the 2 major sources of biomass energy in developing countries

(p462)?
a. Wood
b. Dung
10.In China what are biogas digesters used for (p462)?
a. Heating
b. Cooking
11.How do landfills in the US turn trash into energy (p462)?
a. By turning the methane produced by the decomp of landfill trash into
fuel
12.How is ethanol made (p462)?
a. By fermenting fruit or agricultural waste
13.What is gasohol (p462)?
a. A mix of gasoline and ethanol
14.What percentage of the worlds electricity is dedicated to hydroelectricity
(p463)?
a. 20%
15.Explain how the dam creates electricity (p463).

***GEOSPHERE UNIT***
a. Dam is built on a river
b. Reservoir created
c. Reservoir water is released and presses against a turbine
d. Turbine sparks electricity
16.Does hydroelectricity produce air pollution (p463)?
a. Nothing is released but water vapor
17.What is micro-hydropower (p464)?
a. Electricity produced by a small stream without having to build a big
dam
18.Who is the largest producer of geothermal energy (p464)?
a. United States
19.In warmer months, the ground is _________ than the air so the fluid is used to
________ a home. In the winter, the ground is _________ than the air, and the
fluid is used to __________ the home (p465).
a. Cooler
b. Cool
c. Warmer
d. Warm

Section 2: Alternative Energy and Conservation

1. What is alternative energy (p466)?
a. Sources of energy that are still in development
2. Look at Fig 13 and explain how tidal power works (p466).
a. As the tide rises, water flows behind a dam
b. When sea levels fall, water is trapped behind the dam
c. Then reservoir is released, it turns the turbine
3. What does OTEC stand for (p467)?
a. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
4. OTEC is possible because water boils at a __________ temperature when it is
at low _________ in a vacuum chamber (p467).
a. Lower
b. Low
5. What is the most abundant element in the universe (p467)?
a. Hydrogen
6. Why does hydrogen fuel not release pollutants (p467)?
a. Bc it doesnt contain carbon
b. It only releases water vapor

***GEOSPHERE UNIT***
7. Why is more hydrogen not used today (p468)?
a. It takes a lot of energy to produce
8. What is a fuel cell (p468)?
a. Produces electricity chemically by combining H and O2
9. What is the equation to calculate energy efficiency (p468)?
a. EE = (energy out/energy) in x 100
10.How could the US increase the energy efficiency of transportation (p469)?
a. More efficient engines
b. Better mass transit systems
11.Explain how a hybrid car works (p469)
a. Uses a gasoline engine most of the time
b. Uses electric motor sometimes
12.Hybrid cars convert some of the energy of _____________ into electricity
(p469).
a. Braking
13.Look at Table 1. What percentage of efficiency does a regular gasoline engine
have (p469)? Fuel cell?
a. 10%
b. 60%
14.Explain cogeneration (p470).
a. Using two useful forms of energy from the same fuel source
15.What is energy conservation (p470)?
a. Saving energy
16.Look at Fig 19 and Table 2 and list 10 ways that you can conserve energy in
and around your house (p471).
a. Close doors of unused rooms
b. Only wash full loads of dishes
c. Only wash full loads of laundry
d. Clean and replace air filters
e. Set water heater at 140F
f. Keep refrigerator coils clean
g. Unplug appliances when they are not being used
h. Close fireplace damper
i. Avoid blocking vents
j. Weather-strip
k. Turn off lights
l. Use fluorescent bulbs
m. Set thermostat at 68F in the winter and 78F in the summer
n. Install water saving faucets, toilets, shower heads
o. Use microwave instead of a stove