Homework 7, due Fri Nov 19, 2010
			ENVR 30: Fall 2010 

1. From the reading in Cadillac Desert answer the following questions:
1a. Discuss the "rain follows the plough" theory and its influence on
the development of western USA.  Is there any comparison possible 
between this theory and the idea of drilling our way out of dependence on 
foriegn oil?

1b. How was it claimed the big Dams on the Colorado and other western
rivers would be paid for?  How were they actually paid for?  What were the
most valuable outcomes of these dams?

2. Search for news reports or online for several examples of new ideas for
alternative energy.  Write up a paragraph describing the idea or ideas.
Then think carefully about the idea or ideas and analyze it as well as you
can.  Come to some conclusion about the idea.  For example you might conclude
that it is a great idea that should be tried on a large scale, that it is
a possible idea that should be tried on a small scale, that it is an idea
that is unlikely to make much difference, or that it is a stupid idea
that should be dumped immediately.  You might also conclude that
from the information you found you cannot decide.  
Try (very roughly) to estimate how much total energy could be got from the 
idea and compare that to 100 WBtu/year (or 3.3 TWatt).
Be skeptical of claims made by entities that could profit if the idea was 
adopted.
[Hint, here are some examples:  using generators attached to bike pedals,
Burning trash to make electricity, putting solar panels on cars, 
making jet fuel out of
biofuel, dirt powered bacteria batteries, waste water into ethanol, etc., etc.,
etc.]

3. Suppose there is windmill farm where all the windmills have 6 foot long blades.
Which configuration would give more electricity?
a. One windmill with wind blowing 25 mph
b. Two windmills with wind blowing 20 mph
c. 10 windmills with wind blowing 10 mph
d. 50 windmills with wind blowing 5 mph?
e. All of the above give approximately the same energy.

4. Name some of the advantages and disadvantages of wind power

5. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of corn ethanol.  
Is there a difference for sugar cane ethanol?

6. Which converts more of the sun's energy to useful energy:  Photosynthesis,
silicon photovoltaics, or flat plate solar heating panels.  
Why don't we only use the most efficient of these?  Be specific in your
answers.

7. Nuclear power is also a form of stored solar energy
a. True
b. False

8. Which takes more water?
a. Producing enough aluminum for 20 coke cans?   (which weigh 1/28 pound each)
b. Growing enough wheat to make 10 pounds of flour?
c. producing 1 pound of all beef hamburger?