Nonrenewable Energy Sources

Flashcards about Nonrenewable Energy Sources

What are the most commonly used energy sources by industrialized nations, supplying about 80 percent of the world’s energy?

Fossil fuels: oil, coal, and natural gas

What distinguishes nonrenewable and renewable sources of energy?

Nonrenewable energy sources are finite and cannot be replenished quickly, while renewable sources replenish themselves or are continuously present.

Define a 'resource' in the context of nonrenewable deposits.

A naturally occurring substance of use to humans that can potentially be extracted.

Define 'reserves' in the context of nonrenewable deposits.

Known deposits from which materials can be extracted profitably with existing technology under prevailing economic conditions.

What are three factors that cause the amount of reserves to change?

Technology advances, new deposits are discovered, and economic conditions vary.

List the steps in the process of coal formation.

Peat, lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite coal

What are natural gas and oil formed from?

Ancient marine deposits

Which regions of the world have large reserves of coal?

North America, Europe, Eurasia, and the Asia/Pacific regions

Which regions of the world have large reserves of oil?

The Middle East

Which regions of the world have large reserves of natural gas?

Eurasia (primarily Russia) and the Middle East

Why is surface mining of coal used in some areas and underground mining in others?

Surface mining is used when the overburden is less than 100 meters thick, while underground mining is used when the overburden is thick and surface mining becomes too expensive.

What are three negative environmental impacts associated with the extraction and use of coal?

Landscape disturbance, acid mine drainage, and air pollution

Why is it more expensive to find and produce oil today than it was in the past?

The many easy-to-reach oil fields have already been tapped, so drilling now focuses on smaller amounts of oil in less accessible sites.

What are secondary recovery methods for oil and natural gas?

Methods developed to increase the proportion of oil and natural gas obtained from deposits, such as pumping water or gas into the well.

What is a major problem related to the transport of natural gas in some areas of the world?

Wells are too far from consumers to make pipelines practical, leading to much of the natural gas being burned as a waste product.

What are the major environmental issues related to the extraction and use of oil and natural gas?

Oil spills and the potential for explosions or fires.

Why have increased costs of oil and concerns about climate change influenced attitudes toward nuclear power?

Nuclear power plants do not produce carbon dioxide, making them more attractive as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Describe the process of nuclear fission.

The splitting of the nucleus of an atom, which releases particles and energy.

Describe a nuclear chain reaction.

A continuous process where neutrons released by splitting nuclei strike the nuclei of other atoms, causing them to disintegrate as well.

How does a nuclear reactor produce electricity?

It produces heat, which converts water to steam to operate a turbine that generates electricity.

List the basic types of nuclear reactors.

Boiling-water reactors, pressurized-water reactors, and heavy-water reactors.

How does a breeder reactor differ from other nuclear reactors?

It forms new nuclear fuel as it operates to produce electricity.

List the steps in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Mining and milling of uranium ore, enrichment of the U-235 content, fuel fabrication, use of the fuel in a reactor, reprocessing or storage.

Describe the kinds of radiation produced by nuclear fission.

Alpha radiation, beta radiation, and gamma radiation.

How are the concepts of time, distance, and shielding related to protection from radiation?

Minimizing time of exposure, maximizing distance from the source, and using appropriate shielding can reduce radiation exposure.

Compare the effects of the accidents at Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima Dai-ichi.

Chernobyl resulted in a large release of radiation and significant health impacts. Three Mile Island had a partial core meltdown but limited release of radiation. Fukushima Dai-ichi involved explosions, fires, and release of radiation due to a tsunami.

Explain the process of decommissioning a nuclear plant.

Removing the fuel, cleaning surfaces, and permanently preventing people from coming into contact with the contaminated buildings or equipment.

Define Hydraulic Fracturing (or 'fracking').

An advanced technology for obtaining oil and natural gas from geologic formations like shale that are not porous.