Ch En 310
Reading Questions for
Class 3
From Boyle et al.,
Chapters 2-3
1.
Compare the current energy production and consumption
for the US, the UK, Denmark,
France, and India, and
describe what factors have influenced the energy situation in the different countries. Be sure to discuss coal, oil, natural gas,
nuclear, and renewables.
2.
Look up the energy production and consumption data for three or more countries,
including China, Japan,
and Iraq. Compare with the information from Figures 2.7,
2.10, 2.13, 2.17, and 2.20. The EIA
pages contain this information. Please
bookmark this link for future reference:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/iea/.
3.
Even though the US
generates only a fraction of its total energy needs from direct solar power,
this constitutes much more per capita energy than in Denmark
or England. Please discuss why this is so, when Denmark
especially is emphasizing renewable energy.
4.
Suppose that 50% of the families in India drove cars. Assuming an average family size of 6, and
cars that get 20 mpg, how much oil per day would be required if they drove
10,000 miles per year? Assume that 70%
of the oil can be made into gasoline.
Show your work.
5.
Please discuss the data in Box 3.2 (p. 106). Why is there such a difference in energy
costs for producing different materials?
Please explain in terms of chemistry.
6.
Please discuss Figures 3.10, 3.11, and 3.12. Explain energy losses.
7.
Compare Figures 3.17 and 3.18 and comment.
8.
Why does the U.S. use more electricity per
capita than the other countries in Fig. 3.18? (Please come up with at least 4
reasons)
9.
One way to determine a good place to live in the United States
is to determine how much heating and cooling is necessary. This is tracked by heating degree-days and
cooling degree-days. Please explain what
heating and cooling degree-days really mean.
Please make a graph (by region in the U.S.) showing the heating and
cooling degree-days (use a bar chart).
The data are in the Energy Overview chapter in the EIA pages (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/overview.html
), figures 1.9 & 1.10.
10.
I made a log-log plot with GDP (gross domestic product)
per capita on the vertical axis and total annual energy consumption per capita
on the horizontal axis using 2004 data for a 20 countries. Please add South Korea and any country not
listed where people in your group have served missions. Please comment on where the best place to be
is on this chart in terms of energy efficiency.
Data can be found in the following Excel files:
http://www.et.byu.edu/~tom/classes/310/GDP_vs_Consumption.xls
http://www.et.byu.edu/~tom/classes/310/Energy_intensity.xls
http://www.et.byu.edu/~tom/classes/310/Consumption_per_capita.xls