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Summary

An hour and a half long film with these questions throughout the film. I got 100% with my answers....

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SCI-225 Fall, 2020 SWITCH video questions

1. How much energy does an average person consume in 1 year? Use any type of unit you want.

20 Millions Watt-Hours

2. How much of the world’s energy comes from coal (give a percent)?

50%

3. How many years of coal do we have left if we keep burning it at its current rate?

Hundreds of years in the Powder River Basin

4. How long would it take the USA to burn through 750,000 barrels of oil?

45 Minutes

5. Why is it so hard for the world to stop using gasoline for a source of energy?

It is cheap to produce and to transport. Things such as batteries in electric cars can not take you as far as

a gasoline car could before running out of energy.

6. What is biofuel?

A potential oil alternative (similar to petroleum and can be used in combustion engines)

7. Why is scale SO important when trying to develop new energy sources?

In Denmark , a wind turbine system was implemented as an alternative energy source, however,

Denmark has 5 million people and the energy output from turbines was only supplying enough for

340,000 people per year.

8. Are we “running out” of oil? Why/why not

Not really. If it becomes a very limited resource, price will then go up. Given some basic economics,

there will be a point in which people are no longer willing to pay the ask price for gasoline, therefor will

turn to different energy options.

9. What are the biggest challenges for large scale solar development?

There are a few challenges as the ratio between solar power gain vs output is far to different. They will

take a long time to “charge” and that “charge” doesn’t last as long as we would like. It is also hard

because yes, the sun in always there, however, gloomy days, clouds, and night are all factors that would

reduce our energy yield.

10. What are the benefits and challenges for wind power?

It is very cost effective, clean fuel source( no pollutants), and it is sustainable.

However,

Geography problems such as an area with no wind, Energy output may not match the population size,

and it will have to compete with the costs of gasoline and petroleum

11. How do we consume electricity over the course of the day? Why is this so important? I could not seem to find this anywhere in the video. ☹ I’m sorry

12. How would the ability to store electricity in huge utility-scale quantities change our electricity consumption and production? The North Field in Qatar transports naturale gas that has been made into LNG and the plant alone could power 18.5 million people/year. Storing the energy in the proper environment (cold insulation) it proves a viable solution if we were to conserve energy use. 13. What are the benefits and challenges for nuclear power?

Very expensive to operate as I imagine the price to build Comanche was very expensive as the narrator

said it could resist 300 MPH tornado winds. These thick walls also help to reduce radiation leak.

Cons: Radiation, unsafe, expensive

Pros: very powerful energy

14. Why do energy transitions take time?

There is a lot of “prep” going into an energy transition such as a backup stockpile of previous energy

generation, therefor, if the new energy system were to fail there is a “fail safe” of backup materials

stored. We must convince consumers to use the new energy which can always be hard if the old method

is a large margin cheaper. And it can offset the flow of companies making things such as cars, planes,

providing electricity to homes, etc…

15. After viewing the film SWITCH: a. What about the film/discussion surprised you (3-5 sentences)?

I was immensely surprised hearing the USA would burn through a tanker (750,000) in just 45 minutes. b. How has your attitude about environmental issues changed (or not changed) since reviewing this video (3-5 sentences)? My attitude has not really changed. I do not say that in a closed mindset fashion, rather, I have always been aware of these difficulties in energy production and consumption. I wish our world was not so reliant on money, because, that is what keeps us using “dirty” energies that pollute the earth. We have so many options for alternatives in which hopefully soon a next generation development in energy production will come along.

c.

Before this lesson, on a scale of 1-5, how likely were you to discuss environmental issues with others (family, friends, etc.) ________ 3

d. After the “SWITCH” lesson, on a scale of 1-5, how likely are you to discuss environmental issues with others (family, friends, etc.) ________ 4.5...