Task One: Write down these following areas/industries: Next to each one, write down each fuel that is currently used in each of those areas.
Auto: ethanol, solar, hydrogen
Electric: wind, solar, nuclear
Heat: nuclear, solar
Naval: hydrogen, ethanol
Space: ethanol, hydrogen
Task Two: Briefly answer the following questions using information from the presentations.
1. What fuel do you feel is the most ready for mass production? Why?
Answer: I believe that nuclear is the most ready for mass production. Nuclear is the most ready because it is the main producer of the United States energy. There are currently 103 operational commercial nuclear power plants in the United States and they generate about 19% of the country’s electricity!
2. What fuel do you feel will be the best substitute for gasoline? Why?
I think that ethanol would be the best replacement, other than the con about the small portion of the fuel is actually produced from the large amount of feedstock of either corn or sugar cane that would be used, and how long it takes. I also think it is the best replacement because it is already being mixed and substituting for as much as eighty-five percent of a fuel, called E85, and because it has been tested and is currently used in a hundred percent ethanol fuel in brazil!
3. What fuel do you feel has the most problems to overcome before mass production? What are these problems?
I believe that hydrogen has the most problems to overcome. The problems consist of:
-Storing the hydrogen fuel
-The reactivity level of hydrogen fuel
-The costs with the current methods of hydrogen fuel production.
4. Of the fuels presented, which do you feel will have the least amount of impact on the environment at maximum production? Why?
I believe that hydrogen will have the least amount of impact on the environment because it has so many issues with production, storage, and in my view it is not going to be the best alternative even if at maximum production.
5. Of the fuels presented, which do you feel will have the greatest impact on the environment at maximum production? Why?
I believe that Solar power will have the greatest impact towards the environment because it comes from a “renewable” resource we call the sun! It is also one of two alternatives that has no exerted wastes such as carbon dioxide, its perfectly clean!
Task Three: Short Essay: What have you taken from this project? What does the future look like for alternative fuels? Where are some overall major problems? What are some successes to look forward to? Are these fuels even realistic? How do you see the automobile industry changing to meet fuel needs? How accessible will these fuels be? Will you use them? Overall thoughts…..
Over the duration of this class project, I have truly learned how global warming is affecting our planet! I think our future is in the hands of a mixture of all the alternative fuels because some work better for one section of the environment compared to another. I believe a few realistic successes that we will see in our lifetime may consist of an alternative fuel to completely replace gasoline, and to partially replace the way we create electricity! Accessibility to alternative fuels will not be a problem for the United States, since we already have sources in several parts for each alternative fuel! I would definitely use them!
Chapter Nineteen Homework<3
Chapter 19, Section 1
1. How does physical geography affect farming and fishing in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia?
Physical Geography affects farming in North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia by providing fertile soil for certain crops. In North Africa and Southwest Asia if the rainfall of their Mediterranean Climate is abnormal they cannot produce the needed amount of grains, so they have to import! Central Asia’s Steppes provide them fertile soil for growing crops and grasslands for livestock. Fish are one of the important food sources in these regions. Morocco captures sardines and mackerels. Israel brings in freshwater fish from artificial ponds! Other areas harvest their fish source from the Persian Gulf.
2. How are improvements in transportation and communications changing life in the region?
Improvements in transportation and communications are changing life in the region by bringing people of the area closer together, allowing trading in and out of land-locked regions, making unloading/ loading of cargo easier by using the STRAIT OF HORMUZ (linkage of Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea), expanding broadcasts for TV’s and radios, and greatest of all bringing people wireless or solar-powered telephone and computer services.
Creative Writing: Write a paragraph comparing some of the similarities and differences in the ways people earn a living, communicate with each other, and travel in Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Central Asia and in the United States and Canada.
In Southwest Asia, North Africa and Central Asia the ways and means of communication, earning money and travel have some similarities and differences when compared to the United States and Canada. For communication, the United States and Canada already have the entire upgraded packages of the Satellite TV, the ‘HD’ Radio, and the wireless networks for cell phones and computers. Although, these eastern regions have similar wats to communicate, but those up-to-date technologies are brand new to the people of Southwest Asia, North Africa and Central Asia. Southwest Asian, North African and Central Asian citizens or people of the area can earn money by farming, producing oil, and even through travel agencies for tourists! The United States on the other hand are similar in the farming states, but oil is scarce here so it does not bring as much wealth to its producers!
Chapter 19, Section 2
1. How have people in the region dealt with scarce water resources?
The people of this region have dealt with their scarce water resources by creating man-made freshwater canals from small rivers, aquifers, desalination from seawater, and The GREAT LIBYAN MAN-MADE RIVER! These creations or processes allow the region to produce a greater amount of drinkable water!
2. What are the causes and effects of three of the major environmental problems in the region?
The three main contributors to the major environmental problems consist of the Aswan High Dam, war, and pollution. The Aswan High Dam created the largest man-made lake, but left a huge footprint on the environment because it traps the fertilizers that used to flood the soil, which made it rich for growing crops. War in this region has greatly effected the environment in a negative way because it set a-flame hundreds of oil wells which released pollutants such as thick black smoke. It also led to the dumping of oil into the Persian Gulf, killing the fish and marine life inhabiting the waters that were filled with the toxic oil spill.
Creative Writing: Write a paragraph agreeing or disagreeing with the following statement: It is necessary for all of the countries in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia to cooperate to develop plans and technologies to bring more freshwater to the region.
No I do not think it is necessary for all of the countries in Southwest Asia, North Africa and Central Asia to develop plans and technologies to bring additional freshwater. As I read from the two sections of chapter nineteen, they have three efficient and successful ways to create drinkable water. If these people are not seriously in need for more freshwater, then they should not waste it because water is a precious resource required for human survival!
