AP Environmental Science Exam Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a fuel's net energy yield?

A comparison between the cost of mining, processing, and transporting a fuel and the amount of useful energy the fuel generates.

For every 1 joule of energy that a regular light bulb uses, how much energy is produced?

0.03 joules of light.

Methane gas and ethanol are produced in which process?

The anaerobic digestion of biomass.

What kind of engine do hybrid cars have?

Gasoline and electric powered engines. Signup and view all the answers

What are ways to increase energy efficiency? (Select all that apply)

Switching incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs Signup and view all the answers

How many BTUs are produced each day from a coal-burning power plant that uses 4,500 tons of coal per day?

4.5 X 10^10. Signup and view all the answers

Which electricity generation method produces the least amount of carbon dioxide?

Wind turbines. Signup and view all the answers

How much energy is used by a 100 watt computer running for 5 hours in kWh?

0.5 kWh. Signup and view all the answers

How do photovoltaic cells produce electricity?

Using the sun's energy to create a flow of electrons in a material such as silicon. Signup and view all the answers

What is the activity level of a radioactive material after 60 years if it started at 2 curies and has a half-life of 20 years?

0.25 curies. Signup and view all the answers

What do vampire appliances do?

Consume electricity even when they are not operating. Signup and view all the answers

What is the method used by non-renewable resource power plants to generate electricity?

Produce steam to turn electric generators. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of direct sources of groundwater pollution? (Select all that apply)

Pesticide sprayed on the land Signup and view all the answers

Which city has the greatest amount of gray-air smog?

Beijing, China. Signup and view all the answers

What is true about sanitary landfills? (Select all that apply)

Pump leachate out of the landfill for treatment and disposal Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the level of oxygen dissolved in water when organic waste is added?

The levels would decrease because of the bacteria feeding off the waste and using the oxygen to live. Signup and view all the answers

What abundance of creatures indicates that water is polluted?

Sludge worms, anaerobic bacteria, and fungi. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common way of disposing of municipal solid waste (MSW)?

Placing in landfills. Signup and view all the answers

Which gas involved in global climate change is increasing in the atmosphere at the fastest rate?

CO2. Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct order of processing sanitary waste in a sewage treatment plant?

Solid separation, breakdown of organics by bacteria, disinfection. Signup and view all the answers

Name a secondary pollutant.

PANs. Signup and view all the answers

Where was the United States building a nuclear waste disposal site?

Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Signup and view all the answers

Oxides of nitrogen create which pollutant?

Nitric Acid. Signup and view all the answers

In comparison to the surrounding rural areas, how do cities differ in temperature?

Hotter than the rural area. Signup and view all the answers

What involves mixing waste with other chemicals to produce less toxic substances?

Neutralization. Signup and view all the answers

What process can cause secondary pollutants in the atmosphere?

Incineration. Signup and view all the answers

What process involves injection into deep wells?

Underground burial. Signup and view all the answers

What is the easiest and cheapest way to manage hazardous waste?

Reduce the amount made. Signup and view all the answers

What process involves living organisms processing the waste and removing it from the ecosystem?

Bioremediation. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the process of smelting.

Separating the desired metal from other elements in the ore. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fuel Efficiency and Energy Yield

Net energy yield compares the costs of mining, processing, and transporting a fuel versus the useful energy generated.
Regular light bulbs operate at an efficiency of just 3%, producing only 0.03 joules of light from 1 joule of energy.

Biofuels and Hybrid Engines

Biogases such as methane and ethanol result from anaerobic digestion of biomass.
Hybrid cars utilize both gasoline and electric motors for propulsion.

Energy Efficiency Improvements

Increased energy efficiency can be achieved through low volume showerheads, proper insulation, switching to fluorescent bulbs, and enhancing vehicle fuel efficiency.

Coal Power and Energy Production

A coal-burning power plant consuming 4,500 tons of coal daily generates approximately 4.5 x 10^10 BTUs of electrical energy.

Renewable Energy Sources

Wind turbines generate electricity while producing minimal carbon dioxide emissions.

Energy Consumption Calculations

A 100-watt computer running for 5 hours uses 0.5 kWh of energy.
Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity by creating electron flow in silicon.

Radioactivity and Waste Management

A radioactive material with a half-life of 20 years and an initial activity of 2 curies will reach 0.25 curies in 60 years.
"Vampire appliances" continue to draw electricity even when not in active use.

Non-Renewable Energy and Landfills

Non-renewable resource power plants generate steam via heat to operate electric generators.
Sanitary landfills have methods to monitor for leaks, manage methane gas, and treat leachate to protect soil and water.

Water Pollution Indicators

Increased organic waste leads to decreased dissolved oxygen levels due to bacterial activity.
Polluted water may be indicated by an abundance of sludge worms, anaerobic bacteria, and fungi.

Solid Waste and Pollution

The most common method for municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal is landfilling.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas contributing to global climate change that is rising the fastest in the atmosphere.

Sewage Treatment Process

The proper processing sequence of sanitary waste in sewage treatment includes solid separation, organic breakdown by bacteria, and disinfection.

Pollutants and Environmental Concerns

A secondary pollutant example is Peroxyacyl nitrate (PANs).
The U.S. planned to construct a nuclear waste disposal site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

Acid Formation and Urban Heat

Nitric acid is formed from nitrogen oxides, which are pollutant constituents.
Cities tend to experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to urban heat effects.

Waste Management Techniques

Neutralization refers to mixing waste with chemicals to reduce toxicity.
Incineration can lead to the formation of secondary atmospheric pollutants.
Underground burial is a method involving the injection of waste into deep wells.

Hazardous Waste Management

The most cost-effective way to handle hazardous waste is to minimize its production.
Bioremediation uses living organisms to process and remove waste from ecosystems.
Smelting is the process of extracting desired metals from ore by separating them from other elements.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards for the AP Environmental Science exam. Each card presents a key concept or fact related to energy efficiency and net energy yield. Perfect for quick review and reinforcement of essential environmental science principles.