Energy Resources Review

1. How have the fuels used to power homes, industry, and transportation changed from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to the present?

2. What are the three primary fossil fuels?

3. Electricity is a secondary energy source. What does this mean and how is it generated?

4. How does the price of oil influence the amount produced?

5. What responses were made to the "oil crisis" of the 1970s? Why weren't those initiatives continued? Is a similar thing happening now?

6. What are the risks of the growing dependance of North America on foreign oil?

7. Describe some advantages and disadvantages of each of the alternative fossil fuels.

8. The current high price of oil has caused governments to pressure OPEC to increase production. Is this a good solution to the crisis? Suggest an alternative.

9. What are some ways energy could be conserved?

10. Developed countries are moving forward to expand highway systems and produce and sell more cars. Discuss the sustainability of this plan.

11. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power compared to a fossil fuel (say, coal).

12. How is nuclear waste handled? What problems are associated with the long term storage?

13. What are the three basic problems of harnessing solar energy?

14. Describe the three basic uses of solar power.

15. What are the barriers to more widespread use of solar power in homes?

16. How can solar energy be used to produce hydrogen for use in fuel cells?

17. Discuss the possibility of hydrogen being used to meet the fuel needs in the future.

18. What is your opinion on increasing our use of hydroelectric power?

19. What do you feel is the potential for wind power in the future?

20. What are four ways of converting biomass to useful energy? Give the advantages and disadvantages of each.

21. What is geothermal energy?

22. Although fossil fuel energy may seem the cheapest on the surface, what are the hidden costs associated?