Energy Resources and Consumption Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Energy Resources and Consumption flashcards as text
Which energy source accounts for the largest share of global primary energy consumption?
Answer: Petroleum and other liquids
Petroleum and other liquids remain the largest source of global primary energy, used heavily in transportation and industry.
The net energy yield of a fuel source is best described as:
Answer: The energy remaining after subtracting extraction and processing costs
Net energy yield = total energy output minus the energy required to find, extract, process, and deliver that fuel.
Which of the following is a non-renewable energy source?
Answer: Natural gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years and cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
Cogeneration (combined heat and power) improves energy efficiency by:
Answer: Capturing waste heat from electricity generation for useful heating
Cogeneration captures the heat that would otherwise be wasted in conventional power generation and uses it for space or process heating.
The Hubbert Peak theory predicts that:
Answer: Global oil production will eventually reach a maximum and then decline
M. King Hubbert predicted in 1956 that oil production in any region follows a bell-shaped curve, rising to a peak then declining as reserves deplete.
Which sector consumes the most energy in the United States?
Answer: Industrial
The industrial sector - including manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and construction - is the largest end-use consumer of energy in the U.S.