Unit 6: Energy Resources & Consumption
Env. Science · Unit 6 · Paper 3

Energy Resources & Consumption unit test

A test on this unit alone, marked as a percentage and a letter grade — for the test your class is actually sitting, rather than for May. Answer everything, then submit once: seeing the answer to question 3 before attempting question 4 makes the final percentage meaningless.

Paper 1Paper 2Paper 3
Each paper is built from this unit’s 22 terms and is the same for everyone, so a teacher can assign “Unit 6, Paper 3” and every student sits the identical test. Multiple choice is marked objectively; the written sections you mark yourself against the model answer and rubric.
Suggested time 37 min 34 points0/17 attempted
1

Hydroelectric power

2

Geothermal energy

3

Nuclear fission

4

Natural gas advantages

5

Chernobyl and Fukushima

6

Cogeneration

7

Coal types and quality

8

Energy conservation

9

Fossil fuel formation

10

Energy return on investment

11

Energy efficiency of conversion

12

CAFE standards

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Hydrogen fuel cells

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Nuclear reactor components

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Intermittency and storage

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Biomass and biofuels

3 pts

Free response

10 pts

A 600-MW coal-fired power plant operates at 35% thermal efficiency with a capacity factor of 0.80. The coal it burns releases 30 MJ of energy per kilogram.

Calculate the plant's average power output, using the capacity factor.

Calculate the plant's annual electricity output in kWh.

Convert that annual output to megajoules.

Calculate the thermal energy input required, using the plant's efficiency.

Calculate the mass of coal burned per year, in kilograms.

Convert that mass to metric tons.

Describe ONE environmental consequence of operating this plant, including its mechanism.

Describe a SECOND, different consequence, including its mechanism.

Identify a specific technology or policy that would reduce one of those consequences.

Explain the mechanism by which that measure reduces it.