Energy Week Boston Quiz
(51).webp "Energy Week Boston Quiz - Quiz")
How much do you know about energy? Test you energy I. Q. By answering the questions below.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
How much of the world's energy does the United States use?
- A.
70%
- B.
50%
- C.
30%
- D.
20%
Correct Answer
D. 20%Explanation
In 2008, world total primary, marketed energy consumption was 493 Quadrillion Btu, while the United States primary energy consumption was about 101 Quadrillion Btu, about 20% of the world total.Rate this question:
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- 2.
How many coal-fired power plants does Massachusetts have?
- A.
0
- B.
3
- C.
6
- D.
9
Correct Answer
B. 3Explanation
Massachusetts currently has 3 coal plants in operation. They are the Mt. Tom Power Plant in Holyoke; Salem Harbor Power Station in Salem (which is scheduled to close in June 2014); and Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Germany has 20 times the amount of solar installed per person than Massachusetts even though the Bay State is a sunnier locale.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Germany has almost 25,000 megawatts (MW) of solar installations, with a population of 82 million people. Massachusetts currently has 105 MW and a population of 6.5 million people. There is not a
single state in the US with has less sun per year than Germany - except for Alaska.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What appliance, on average, is the biggest energy consumer in the home?
- A.
TV
- B.
Dryer
- C.
Refrigerator
- D.
Microwave
Correct Answer
C. RefrigeratorExplanation
Refrigerators are the top-consuming appliance in U.S. households. Energy consumption in a household includes lighting, cooling and heating, and home appliances. Total energy consumption of home appliances is usually less than lighting and temperature control in a year’s time, but in the typical U.S. home, appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20% of the energy bill.Rate this question:
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- 5.
A large portion of the coal burned in Massachusetts’ coal plants comes from which country?
- A.
Saudi Arabia
- B.
Colombia
- C.
Australia
- D.
China
Correct Answer
B. ColombiaExplanation
A large portion of the coal burned in Massachusetts' coal plants comes from Colombia.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What renewable energy technology has the biggest share in Massachusetts' electricity?
- A.
Solar
- B.
Hydropower
- C.
Wind
- D.
Biomass
Correct Answer
C. WindExplanation
In 2010, wind provided 38.5% of the electricity that Massachusetts gets from renewable energy sources. Landfill gas accounted for 31.7%; biomass was 25.2%; hydro came in at 3.5%; anaerobic digestion provided 1%; and solar was last at 0.1%.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming by increasing the concentration of which gas in the atmosphere?
- A.
Ozone
- B.
Carbon dioxide
- C.
Sulfur Dioxide
- D.
Nitrous Oxide
Correct Answer
B. Carbon dioxideExplanation
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Therefore, the correct answer is carbon dioxide.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Massachusetts is one of the worst states in the US when it comes to energy efficiency.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Massachusetts was recently ranked number one in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's annual state-by-state energy efficiency scorecard.Rate this question:
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- 9.
How many homes can a 1 megawatt (MW) wind turbine power?
- A.
15-25
- B.
75-90
- C.
225-300
- D.
500-625
Correct Answer
C. 225-300Explanation
An average U.S. household uses about 10,655 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. One megawatt of wind energy can generate from 2.4 to more than 3 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of wind generates about as much electricity as 225 to 300 households use.Rate this question:
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- 10.
How much of Massachusetts’ electricity generation capacity uses gas?
- A.
3%
- B.
22%
- C.
48%
- D.
71%
Correct Answer
C. 48%Explanation
In 2011, 48% of the state's electricity generating capacity relied on gas; 19% on oil; 13: on coal; and 5% on nuclear. The total capacity of existing generating plants in Massachusetts is approximately 13,100 MW. This is 41% of the total for New England.Rate this question:
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- 11.
How much of the energy in burning coal reaches the consumer as electricity?
- A.
One-third
- B.
One-half
- C.
Three-quarters
- D.
Nine-tenths
Correct Answer
A. One-thirdExplanation
A typical coal plant has an efficiency of about 33% which means that the plant can convert only 33% of the total energy in the coal to electricity. The remaining energy in the coal is lost in the process.Rate this question:
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- 12.
Massachusetts spends $22 billion on energy every year. How much of that is sent out of state to purchase fossil fuels?
- A.
$1 billion
- B.
$13 billion
- C.
$18 billion
- D.
$21 billion
Correct Answer
C. $18 billionExplanation
Massachusetts is at the end of the energy pipeline and imports all of its fossil fuel-based energy sources from other regions of the country or other parts of the world. Of the $22 billion spent on energy every year, $18 billion flows out of state to purchase coal from Colombia, oil from Venezuela, and natural gas and oil from the Middle East and Canada.Rate this question:
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- 13.
What’s the difference between solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal power?
- A.
Nothing, they’re both ways of getting power from the sun.
- B.
Solar thermal is for heating water; photovoltaics are for electricity.
- C.
They both generate electricity but one uses solar panels, the other uses mirrors.
- D.
I have no idea.
Correct Answer
B. Solar thermal is for heating water; photovoltaics are for electricity.Explanation
A PV solar energy system converts sunlight directly into electric power to run lighting or electric appliances. It requires only daylight to generate electricity. A solar thermal energy system, on the other hand, generated and produces heat. This energy can then be used to heat water or air in buildings and in many other applications.Rate this question:
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- 14.
The renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies available today could meet 100% of the Commonwealth’s electricity needs.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Wind, water and solar technologies can provide 100 percent of the world's energy, eliminating all fossil fuels, by as early as 2030. In 2009, Scientific American presented a plan of how to do it. See: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-path-to-sustainable-energy-by-2030.Rate this question:
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