Tk Forum 2008 Alternative Energy Pop Quiz

1. Which country consumes the most energy?

China

India

Russia

United States

Canada

The United States consumes more energy than China and Russia combined. At 5% of the world's population, the U.S. consumes 23% of the world's energy.

Explanation

The United States consumes more energy than China and Russia combined. At 5% of the world's population, the U.S. consumes 23% of the world's energy.

2. The Smart Grid would allow bi-directional flow of electricity so that electricity stored in car batteries could be sold back for other uses during peak need times. This would help solve what major problem?

Excessive electricity stored in car batteries

Demand for electricity is high during the day when most people are at work and low at night

Reduce terrorist threats by distributing the power grid

Reduce individual electricity costs

3. Two companies have announced plans to have plug-in electric hybrids available in the next two years. They are:

Saturn and Mercedes

Ford and Saturn

General Motors and Ford

BMW and Toyota

Toyota and General Motors

4. Thomas Edison started the first power generation plant in 1882 to provide light to homes. What was the plant's power source?

Coal

Oil

Biofuel

Steam

Wood

Edison founded the first electric company and established the first investor-owned utility. In 1882 the Pearl Street Station in New York City began distributing electrical power. It provided 110 vols of direct current to 59 consumers. By 1884, Pearl Street Station was serving 508 customers with 10,164 lamps.

Explanation

Edison founded the first electric company and established the first investor-owned utility. In 1882 the Pearl Street Station in New York City began distributing electrical power. It provided 110 vols of direct current to 59 consumers. By 1884, Pearl Street Station was serving 508 customers with 10,164 lamps.

5. Which country has the highest reserve of natural gas?

Russia

China

Saudi Arabia

United States

Iran

The top five proven natural gas reserves in billions m3 according to the CIA World Factbook are Russia (47,570 2006 est.), Iran (26,370 2006), Qatar (25,790 2007 est.), Saudi Arabia (6,568 2006 est.), and the United Arab Emirates (5,823 2006 est.). The United States is 6th on the list.

Explanation

The top five proven natural gas reserves in billions m3 according to the CIA World Factbook are Russia (47,570 2006 est.), Iran (26,370 2006), Qatar (25,790 2007 est.), Saudi Arabia (6,568 2006 est.), and the United Arab Emirates (5,823 2006 est.). The United States is 6th on the list.

6. Which country is the largest supplier of foreign oil to the U.S.?

Canada

Saudi Arabia

Mexico

Venezuela

Iran

The U.S. imported nearly 5 billion barrels of oil in 2007. The top five sources of U.S. oil in thousands of barrels included Canada (1,840), Saudi Arabia (1,579), Mexico (1,116), Venezuela (1,030), and Nigeria (851).

Explanation

The U.S. imported nearly 5 billion barrels of oil in 2007. The top five sources of U.S. oil in thousands of barrels included Canada (1,840), Saudi Arabia (1,579), Mexico (1,116), Venezuela (1,030), and Nigeria (851).

7. When was the first electric car application available in the U.S.?

1956

1972

1912

1984

1897

The first U.S. commercial application was established as a fleet of New York City taxis built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia. Early electric car production peaked in the U.S. around 1912 Early vehicles used a tiller for steering rather than the now familiar steering wheel.

Explanation

The first U.S. commercial application was established as a fleet of New York City taxis built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia. Early electric car production peaked in the U.S. around 1912 Early vehicles used a tiller for steering rather than the now familiar steering wheel.

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