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 37 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

Control rods and moderators

2

Nuclear waste storage

3

Nuclear reactor components

4

The methane caveat on natural gas

5

Tar sands and oil shale

6

Uranium enrichment

7

Capacity factor

8

Energy efficiency of conversion

9

Hydroelectric power

10

Coal types and quality

11

Run-of-river vs reservoir hydropower

12

Natural gas advantages

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Biomass and biofuels

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Energy return on investment

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Why no conversion is 100% efficient

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Intermittency and storage

3 pts

Free response

10 pts

ANALYZE AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM AND PROPOSE A SOLUTION. A graph shows the number of quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs) consumed in the United States from five energy sources, 1950–2020: • Petroleum: highest line throughout — rising from ~13 in 1950 to a peak near 40 in the mid-2000s, dipping and ending near 35 (about 36 in 2010, the highest of all sources that year). • Natural gas: rises from ~6 to the low 20s by the 1970s, plateaus, then climbs steeply after 2005 to about 31 by 2020. • Coal: ~13 in 1950, dips in the 1950s–60s, climbs steadily to a peak of about 22–23 in the mid-2000s, then falls steeply to about 9 by 2020. • Nuclear: zero until about 1970, rising to ~8 by 2000 and holding roughly flat. • Renewables: ~2 for decades, rising after 2000 to about 7–8 by 2020. For parts H and I: researchers studied an aquatic ecosystem near land converted to agricultural use, and reported an increase in nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates in the water.

A. Identify one renewable energy source that is used to generate electricity.

B. Based on the data in the graph, identify the energy source that had the highest consumption in 2010.

C. Based on the data in the graph, describe the pattern in the energy consumption from coal in the United States from 1960 to 2020.

D. Based on the data in the graph and your knowledge of energy consumption, explain one likely reason why the use of coal for energy changed between 2010 and 2020.

E. Explain how fossil fuels are used to generate electricity.

F. In addition to fossil fuels, nuclear power can be used to generate electricity. Identify one negative impact associated with nuclear energy.

G. Fossil fuel combustion leads to ocean warming. Describe one environmental problem other than coral bleaching that is associated with warming oceans.

H. Explain how an increase in nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates, can negatively affect an aquatic ecosystem.

I(i). Propose a realistic solution that would reduce nutrient pollution of waterways, while still allowing cultivation of crops.

I(ii). Justify the solution proposed in part I(i) by explaining one potential advantage other than reducing nutrient runoff.