IET 181 Exam 1 – Ritter || with A+ Guaranteed Solutions.
List the three approaches the authors give for a comprehensive energy sustainability approach.
correct answers In the context of energy, sustainability has come to mean the harnessing of those
energy sources that fulfill three requirements:
1) They are not significantly depleted by contained use.
2) They do not entail the emission of pollutants or other hazards to human or ecological and
climate systems on a significant scale.
3) They do not involve the perpetuation of significant social injustices.
Define Energy correct answers First appeared in English 16th century w/ no scientific meaning
yet. Today's definition is that energy is the capacity to do work: that is, to move an object against
a resisting force. The main unit of measurement is the joule (J).
Define Energy System correct answers The set of energy sources, technologies, transmissions,
distribution, storage, and management systems that we use to produce the energy services that
we need.
Define Power correct answers The rate of doing work, that is, the rate at which energy is
converted from one form to another, or transmitted from one place to another. The main unit of
measurement is the watt (W), which is the defined as the rate of one joule per second.
Define Sustainability correct answers In the terms of energy, sustainability is a practice rather
than an absolute concept. The ideal energy is relatively sustainable meaning one energy sources
is more sustainable than another.
Explain /Define the Brundtland Definition of Sustainability correct answers United Nations
defined sustainability as "Development that meets the needs of the present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations meet their needs". All though this definition is
nearly impossible in terms of energy leading to the three comprehensive energy approaches.
Explain what a fossil fuel is correct answers Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes
such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their
resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years.
Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include coal, petroleum and natural gas.
What are the attractive attributes of fossil fuels? correct answers Fossil fuels are highly
concentrated, enabling large amounts of energy to be stored and distributed relatively easily.
They also enable the development of increasingly sophisticated and effective technologies for
transforming fossil fuel energy into other forms of energy and eventually useful energy services.
What are the negative factors of fossil fuels? correct answers Fossil fuels come from the growth
and decay of plants and marine organisms that existed millions of years ago. Once fossil fuels
are depleted it would take millions of year to replenish this source of energy.
, What is nuclear energy? correct answers Nuclear energy is a result of energy release when
changes occur to the nuclei of atoms. Present nuclear plants derive the energy from splitting or
fission of the nuclei of very large isotopes.
What are the attractive attributes of nuclear energy? correct answers The very high "energy
density" of the fuel. Nuclear fuels are much more concentrated sources of the heat needed to
produce steam in power stations than fossil fuels.
What are the negative factors of nuclear energy? correct answers If it goes wrong it really goes
wrong. The by-product created from nuclear energy is extremely harmful and nearly impossible
to eliminate.
Explain the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources. correct answers
Renewable energy sources can be continuously replenished by natural processes. Whereas non-
renewable will be very difficult and costly to produce in the event the quantity runs low.
What factors need to be considered when investigating a fuel source? correct answers • The
energy value of the fuel in kJ/g of fuel
• The availability of the fuel
• How the fuel can be stored
• The cost of the fuel
• The toxicity of the fuel - whether it is poisonous
• Any pollution caused when the fuel is used, such as acid rain
• How easy it is to use the fuel.
Explain what hydroelectric energy is all about, and explain why it is attractive as an energy
source. correct answers Hydropower is the force of water falling from a height turning a turbine
connected to a generator to produce electricity. Hydropower is very convenient because it can
respond quickly to fluctuations in demand. A dam's gates can be opened or closed on command,
depending on daily use or gradual economic growth in the community. No fossil fuels are
required to produce the electricity, and the earth's hydrologic cycle naturally replenishes the
"fuel" supply. Therefore no pollution is released into the atmosphere and no waste that requires
special containment is produced.
What are the possible negatives of hydroelectric power? correct answers The environmental
consequences of hydropower are related to interventions in nature due to damming of water,
changed water flow and the construction of roads and power lines. Hydroelectric power plants
may affect fish is a complex interaction between numerous physical and biological factors. Also
building power plants in general is expensive.
Explain the importance of being able to measure energy efficiency and why the context of its
source matters in considering this efficiency. correct answers Energy efficiency - doing more
with less energy - benefits you, your country, and the world.
• Energy efficiency saves you money.
• Energy efficiency improves the economy.
• Energy efficiency is good for the environment.
List the three approaches the authors give for a comprehensive energy sustainability approach.
correct answers In the context of energy, sustainability has come to mean the harnessing of those
energy sources that fulfill three requirements:
1) They are not significantly depleted by contained use.
2) They do not entail the emission of pollutants or other hazards to human or ecological and
climate systems on a significant scale.
3) They do not involve the perpetuation of significant social injustices.
Define Energy correct answers First appeared in English 16th century w/ no scientific meaning
yet. Today's definition is that energy is the capacity to do work: that is, to move an object against
a resisting force. The main unit of measurement is the joule (J).
Define Energy System correct answers The set of energy sources, technologies, transmissions,
distribution, storage, and management systems that we use to produce the energy services that
we need.
Define Power correct answers The rate of doing work, that is, the rate at which energy is
converted from one form to another, or transmitted from one place to another. The main unit of
measurement is the watt (W), which is the defined as the rate of one joule per second.
Define Sustainability correct answers In the terms of energy, sustainability is a practice rather
than an absolute concept. The ideal energy is relatively sustainable meaning one energy sources
is more sustainable than another.
Explain /Define the Brundtland Definition of Sustainability correct answers United Nations
defined sustainability as "Development that meets the needs of the present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations meet their needs". All though this definition is
nearly impossible in terms of energy leading to the three comprehensive energy approaches.
Explain what a fossil fuel is correct answers Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes
such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their
resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years.
Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include coal, petroleum and natural gas.
What are the attractive attributes of fossil fuels? correct answers Fossil fuels are highly
concentrated, enabling large amounts of energy to be stored and distributed relatively easily.
They also enable the development of increasingly sophisticated and effective technologies for
transforming fossil fuel energy into other forms of energy and eventually useful energy services.
What are the negative factors of fossil fuels? correct answers Fossil fuels come from the growth
and decay of plants and marine organisms that existed millions of years ago. Once fossil fuels
are depleted it would take millions of year to replenish this source of energy.
, What is nuclear energy? correct answers Nuclear energy is a result of energy release when
changes occur to the nuclei of atoms. Present nuclear plants derive the energy from splitting or
fission of the nuclei of very large isotopes.
What are the attractive attributes of nuclear energy? correct answers The very high "energy
density" of the fuel. Nuclear fuels are much more concentrated sources of the heat needed to
produce steam in power stations than fossil fuels.
What are the negative factors of nuclear energy? correct answers If it goes wrong it really goes
wrong. The by-product created from nuclear energy is extremely harmful and nearly impossible
to eliminate.
Explain the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources. correct answers
Renewable energy sources can be continuously replenished by natural processes. Whereas non-
renewable will be very difficult and costly to produce in the event the quantity runs low.
What factors need to be considered when investigating a fuel source? correct answers • The
energy value of the fuel in kJ/g of fuel
• The availability of the fuel
• How the fuel can be stored
• The cost of the fuel
• The toxicity of the fuel - whether it is poisonous
• Any pollution caused when the fuel is used, such as acid rain
• How easy it is to use the fuel.
Explain what hydroelectric energy is all about, and explain why it is attractive as an energy
source. correct answers Hydropower is the force of water falling from a height turning a turbine
connected to a generator to produce electricity. Hydropower is very convenient because it can
respond quickly to fluctuations in demand. A dam's gates can be opened or closed on command,
depending on daily use or gradual economic growth in the community. No fossil fuels are
required to produce the electricity, and the earth's hydrologic cycle naturally replenishes the
"fuel" supply. Therefore no pollution is released into the atmosphere and no waste that requires
special containment is produced.
What are the possible negatives of hydroelectric power? correct answers The environmental
consequences of hydropower are related to interventions in nature due to damming of water,
changed water flow and the construction of roads and power lines. Hydroelectric power plants
may affect fish is a complex interaction between numerous physical and biological factors. Also
building power plants in general is expensive.
Explain the importance of being able to measure energy efficiency and why the context of its
source matters in considering this efficiency. correct answers Energy efficiency - doing more
with less energy - benefits you, your country, and the world.
• Energy efficiency saves you money.
• Energy efficiency improves the economy.
• Energy efficiency is good for the environment.
