AP Environmental Science Unit 6 Study Guide

What are the three fossil fuels?

Coal, oil, and natural gas

What are the 4 nonrenewable resources?

Coal, Oil, Natural gas, Nuclear

How is electricity generated at a power plant?

For fossil fuels, the fuel is used to light a fire which heats water which makes steam which turns a turbine which powers a generator. With Uranium, the material is contained inside rods which emit heat and continue the process

Subsistence vs. commercial energy

Commercial energy can be bought and sold. This includes fossil fuels, electricity, and sometimes wood and charcoal. This is more common in developed countries. Subsistence energy is gathered by an individual for immediate use. This includes straw, sticks, and poop. This is common in developing countries.

EROEI

Energy return over energy investment. The ratio of how much energy is needed to create a new form of energy. Coal is good because it is 80:1, Ethonal is only 1.3:1 so coal has a better EROEI

What is a fossil fuel?

A fossil fuel is made from fossilized biomass from 50-350 million years ago which has been exposed to heat and pressure until only carbon remains. Coal comes from plants, petroleum comes from phytoplankton

What are the 3 grades of coal and how much energy does each have?

Anthracite is the most energy-dense. Bituminous and sub-bituminous are less energy-efficient. Lignite is the least energy efficient. Peat isn't coal quite yet.

What countries have the largest coal reserves?

USA, Russia, China, and India. Most coal is being produced in China, Austraila, USA, and India

What countries produce the highest amount of petroleum?

Saudi Arabia, Russia, USA, Iran, China, Canada, and Mexico, (Kuwait, Venezuela, Iraq)

What is oil used for other than energy?

Oil is good for gasoline, diesel, kerosine, tar, and asphalt. All become different depending on temperate boiled at.

What environmental concerns are associated with oil spills?

The worst spills in the US were Exxon Valdez in 1989, and BP underwater in 2010. The BP lost 206 million gallons off the coast of Lousiana. In the Gulf War, Iraq destroyed Kuwait's oil system and 240 million gallons were lost. Habitat can be destroyed at sea, but oil piping in the tundra melts permafrost which is bad for many species. In Nigeria streets are covered in oil and it burns near home, which is a question of human health

Hubbert curve

A bell-shaped curve that predicts that we will reach peak oil when half of the reserve is used up. There is a lower and upper estimate to round things out.

Health issues with radioactive materials

Living next to a nuclear power plant will not hurt a person. However, when not handled properly such as in Chernobyl, Ukraine, plants can actually meltdown, in which everyone inside died, and people in the surrounding area died of exposure

fusion vs fission

nuclear fusion is not possible, fission is possible

Pros of coal

-no refining is necessary, and it is safe to transport

-It's energy dense and abundant in the United States

-Economic backbone of some small towns

-most commonly used as electricity

Cons of coal

-Significant dust and emissions from combustion

-mining dramatically alters natural landscapes

-mining is dangerous

-combustion of this fuel is a large contributor to acid rain and CO2 levels

Pros of Oil

-Ideal for mobile combustion, quick ignition, and turning off capability

-cleaner burning than coal

-primarily used for transportation

Cons of Oil

-significant refining required

-limited supply

-spills cause significant environmental damage

Pros of natural gas

-combined cycle power plants can have efficiencies up to 60%

-fewer impurities than coal or oil

-Efficient for cooking, home heating, etc.

-Most commonly used for electricity, industrial processes, and fertilizer creation

Cons of natural gas

-hard to transport

-risk of gas leaks and explosions

-25 times more effective as a greenhouse gas than CO2

Pros of Nuclear

-Emits no CO2 once plant is operating

-offers independence from fossil fuels

-ample supply

-high energy density

-mostly used to create electricity

Cons of Nuclear

-possible target for terrorist attacks

-a meltdown could be catastrophic

-plants are expensive to build due to legal challenges

Conservation vs efficiency

energy efficiency means investing in things that run using less energy An example would be to invest in energy star products. Energy conservation means using less electricity by simply not using it. Examples would be to not use a dishwasher and wash dishes by hand instead.

What is biomass?

Biomass is decaying plant and animal tissue that has accumulated. An example of biomass would be a build-up of dead trees

Passive solar design

Using solar power without having to work for it. This includes south-facing windows because they get more heat in the winter. Double paned windows keep things from getting too hot in the summer. Adobe walls have a high thermal mass so they keep stuff warm in winter. Roof-overhang prevents direct sunlight in the summer, and insulation keeps temperatures constant

Thermal mass

the property of a building material to retain heat or cold. Adobe and concrete have a high thermal mass, wood and glass have a lower thermal mass because they do not retain as much heat and cold

How does a hydrogen fuel cell work?

A fuel cell converts hydrogen to electricity using an electric-chemical device. It works similar to a battery where two chemicals react in a closed container until the added chemical runs out and the battery dies. With fuel cells, hydrogen is being added, so it will not die unless you stop adding hydrogen.

Pros of biofuels

-renewable resource

-burns cleaner than any fossil fuels

Cons of biofuels

-hard to create tech that will produce the fuel

-relatively low EROEI

What are biofuels made of most often?

Corn, corn by-products, sugarcane, woodchips, crop waste, and switchgrass

Difference between burning biofuels and fossil fuels

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smart grid

an efficient self-regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users. Basically just a really efficient way of getting any kind of electricity to people

pros of battery powered cars

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cons of battery powered cars

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metric conversions

1 kilocalorie=1000 calories

1 calorie=4.184 Joules

1 Btu=1055 Joules

1 kWh=3,600,000 joules=3.6 mega joules

1 hp=746 watts

Pros and region of Wind

-no pollution

-economically viable

-uses a nondepletable resource

-Great plains/flat regions

-Any windy place

-Used for electricity primarily

Cons of Wind

-intermittent power only when wind is blowing

-eye sore

-disrupts migration of birds and bats

Geothermal pros and region

-no pollution

-nondepletable resource

-no cost after installment

-found in hotspots like Hawaii and the West Coast

cons of geothermal

-emits hazardous gasses and steam

-not an option in all locations

Pros and region of Solar

-nondepletable resource

-no cost after initial investment

-found in the US Southwest and other sunny places

Cons of solar

-manufacturing requires a lot of metal and water

-no plan to dispose of solar pannels

-can't be used at night or in cloudy places

-high initial cost

-storage batteries require off-system grid

Pros and region of Hydropower

-nondepletable resource

-low cost to run

-flood control

-recreation

-found in high places where water has more force, tidal regions, and rivers and lakes

cons of hydropower

-limited amounts can be built in a certain area

-high construction cost

-thread to river ecosystem

-loss of habitat, agricultural floodplains

-people are displaced

-siltation