unit 6b APES

APES Study Guide

Unit 6B - Renewable Energy

1. Know the following terms:

   1. Nonrenewable energy:

   2. Renewable energy: an energy source that is renewable or possibly nondepletable

   3. Photovoltaic (PV) cells:converts sunlight directly into electricity 

   4. Active solar energy:technology that captures and store solar energy of sunlight with electrical equipment and devices 

   5. Passive solar energy:positioning building and covering building to absorb as much solar heat as possible 

   6. Geothermal energy:heat energy that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth

   7. Wind farm:a collection of wind turbines 

   8. Mitigation:reduce harmful outcome and exposure 

   9. Particulates:solid/liquid particles suspended in the air 

   10. Fuel cells:an electrical chemical device that converts fuel such as hydrogen into an electrical current

   11. Plug-in hybrid:hybrid electrical vehicle equipped with a rechargeable battery pack 

   12. Fish ladder:ladders to aid fish in migration when blocked by dams 

   13. Fuel cell:converts chemical energy to electrical energy 

2. Know:

   1. Advantages and disadvantages of:

      1. Biomass:

• cons:health hazards from indoor pollution, rapid harvesting can lead to deforestation, growing crops exerts tremendous impacts on ecosystem, fertilizers and pesticides,land is converted to agriculture, biofuel is competing with food production, and substantial inputs of energy are required. 

• pros:Reliable and renewable, carbon neutral 

2. Biofuels:

• cons:requires lots of water and land, and air and ground water pollution, impedes on food production making the prices of food higher and increasing hunger,

• pros: replaces fossil fuels low carbon footprint 

3. Hydro:

• cons:alter aquatic habitat, disturb fish migration, displaces communities /humans. 

• pros:Reliable, renewable, rarely produces waste, provides flood control

4. Solar: 

• cons:high cost, requires space, 

• pros:renewable, affordable 

5. Photovoltaic cells: 

• cons:high cost, requires space, 

• pros:efficient affordable and renewable

6. Wind:

• cons:could harm birds(but like not actually as much as anything else i think it's the same as windows), noise pollution, large land requirement

• pros:Creates jobs, low cost, renewable

7. Geothermal: 

• cons:land specific, high initial cost, air pollution, produces lots of waste 

• pros:carbon neutral renewable minimal land area requirement

8. Hydrogen fuel cells:

• cons:flammable, hard to transport and store, expensive

• pros:Hydrogen is abundant renewable efficient carbon neutral

2. Benefit of offshore wind farms vs. onshore wind farms

Offshore wind farms have higher wind speeds because there are no obstructions while onshore there is an uneven plain with obstructions.

3. Advantage of burning biomass rather than fossil fuels in developing countries

Biomass is readily available it is cheaper and it could create jobs

4. Best way of reducing indoor air pollution from burning biomass

Air filtration and ventilation 

5. Economic benefits of large dams

Supports surrounding communities economies 

6. How government can encourage efficient energy use

Offering benefits/ incentives for people who use efficient energy

7. Difference between active and passive solar energy

Active solar energy is energy captured by the sun through cells and turned into electricity and passive solar energy is when you utilize the heat and light  from the sun in a building's design.

8. How to minimize the risk to wildlife from wind power

• Chose location with minimal bird and bat activity

• Stop or slow blades when wildlife is present

9. How to minimize the risk to wildlife from hydro power

• Fish ladders

• Maintain greenery on shores

• Fish tubes

10. Which country gets most of its energy from geothermal because it is on a divergent plate boundary

iceland

11. The location of the largest hydroelectric dam in the world

China yangtze river

12. Where energy is stored in different types of solar energy systems

14. Ecological problems of hydroelectric dams such as the Aswan High Dam in Egypt

15. Examples of passive solar design features

16. Steps necessary to generate electricity from hydro

17. Steps necessary to generate electricity from wind

18. Steps necessary to generate electricity from geothermal

19. Steps necessary to generate electricity from concentrated solar energy

20. How photovoltaic cells generate electricity

21. How a hydrogen fuel cell works

22. Which energy sources get their energy from the Sun 

3. Be able to:

   1. Compare the sustainability of different modes of transportation

   2. Calculate fuel efficiency

   3. Determine the cost of electricity for an appliance

   4. Calculate efficiency of light bulbs

   5. Calculate percent change

   6. Compare fuel consumption of different vehicles

   7. Calculate kWh

   8. Read a map

   9. Read a chart

   10. Read a graph

   11. Do math