Renewable Energy Multiple Choice Questions on “Environmental Aspects of Energy – 1”.
1. Which of the following has caused global warming since the past 150 years?
a) Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions
b) Ice age greenhouse gas emission
c) Emissions of sulphur
d) Emissions of aerosols
Answer: a
Clarification: Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions is accused of causing global warming especially due to the expansion of industries since the past 150 years. Sulphur and aerosol emissions cool the planet.
2. Which of the following has caused global warming?
a) Burning of biomass
b) Burning of fossil fuels
c) Releasing CFCs into the atmosphere
d) Melting metals
Answer: b
Clarification: Burning fossil fuels for various industrial and domestic processes since the past 100-150 years has led to global warming. Releasing CFCs into the atmosphere damages the ozone layer.
3. What is the major problem with wind energy?
a) Generates energy from wind
b) It is a renewable source of energy
c) Requires large area of land
d) Compact and does not require large area of land
Answer: c
Clarification: The major problems with wind energy is that it requires large area of land. It also poses a threat to wildlife habitat like destruction of birds. It is a renewable source of energy because it generates energy from wind.
4. How does acid rain affect the environment?
a) By precipitating clean and fresh rainwater only in freshwater bodies
b) By precipitating clean and fresh rainwater in all water bodies at once
c) By consuming all polluted water and precipitate clean water from water cycle
d) By precipitating acidic rainwater
Answer: d
Clarification: Acid rain is basically rainwater which is acidic. It is caused by dissolution of harmful gases like sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide in clouds during precipitation thereby polluting the clean rainwater.
5. What is the pH level of acid rain?
a) Between 3-4
b) Between 6-8
c) 7
d) Between 11-14
Answer: a
Clarification: Acid rain is acidic. Any acid has a pH value less than 7. So, the pH level of acid rain lies between 3-4. Practically, substances with pH values lying between 6-8 are considered neutral.
6. Which of the following is/are directly harming the atmosphere?
a) Contamination of water bodies
b) Ozone layer depletion and emission of acidic gas
c) Global climate change and contamination of water bodies
d) Land fills and industrial emissions into water bodies
Answer: b
Clarification: Ozone layer depletion, emission of greenhouse gases and emission of acidic gas directly harm the atmosphere. Land fills and water pollution indirectly harm the atmosphere.
7. Which of the following is/are major contributor(s) of acid rain?
a) Sulphur
b) Sulphur and sulphur dioxide
c) Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide
d) Nitrogen dioxide and argon
Answer: c
Clarification: Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are major contributors of acid rain. They are released by smelters for nonferrous ores, industrial boilers and vehicles.
8. Which of the following energy sources is affected when energy crops compete with food production?
a) Solar
b) Wind
c) Hydro
d) Biomass
Answer: d
Clarification: Biomass energy generation is strongly affected when energy crops compete with food production. Energy crops are specifically grown to be used as energy sources and not for food. If it competes with food crops then its production may decrease.
9. What is a solar cooling technology?
a) Sun’s thermal energy is transferred to a heat transfer fluid which passes through a heat exchanger
b) Sun’s thermal energy is transferred to a heat transfer solid which passes through a heat exchanger
c) Sun’s nuclear energy is transferred to a heat transfer fluid which passes through a cold exchanger
d) Sun’s thermal energy is transferred to a heat transfer fluid which passes through a cold exchanger
Answer: a
Clarification: A solar cooling technology is a system that transfers sun’s thermal energy to a heat transfer fluid (also called as working fluid). This fluid then passed through a heat exchanger where the heat is moved from one system to another thereby achieving cooling.
10. What does ozone protect the earth from?
a) Sound waves
b) Harmful UV radiation
c) Visible radiation
d) Greenhouse effect
Answer: b
Clarification: Ozone protects the earth and its creatures from the harmful UV radiations. These radiations are known to damage the eye and cause many skin diseases.
11. Wind plants affect the habitat of _______
a) tigers
b) whales
c) birds and bats
d) fish
Answer: c
Clarification: Win plants affect the habitat of birds and bats. They tend to obstruct the path of birds. In fact, this may even result in killing them.
12. Which of the following is an example of a nuclear accident?
a) Construction of dams
b) Burning of fossil fuels
c) Nuclear fusion
d) Nuclear reactor core melt
Answer: d
Clarification: Nuclear reactor core melt is an example of a nuclear accident. Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction. Construction of dams and burning fossil fuels are not examples of nuclear accidents.
13. What happens when a nuclear reactor core is damaged?
a) Significant amounts of radioactive isotopes are released
b) Significant amounts of radio-inactive isotopes are released
c) Significant amounts of nitrogen oxides are released
d) Greenhouse gases are released
Answer: a
Clarification: When a nuclear reactor core is damaged significant amounts of radioactive isotopes are released. These isotopes are extremely harmful to both, humans and environment. In fact, they may cause diseases that last for generations.
14. Aerosols, CFCs and freons damage the ozone layer.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Aerosols, CFCs and freons damage the ozone layer. They react with ozone molecules and reduce the amount of ozone molecules in the stratosphere. This lets harmful UV radiation into earth.
15. Dams and reservoirs lead to adverse environmental and sociological impacts.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Dams and reservoirs lead to adverse environmental and sociological impacts. Construction of dams destroys aquatic habitat and affects the life in coastal areas. For instance, migratory fishes are prevented from their journey which immensely affects the population of the species.