Tag: science & technology

Quizzes (551) Questions (11015)

Questions Related to science & technology

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Relative to shale, sandstone is a much more common reservoir rock for petroleum because of which of the following?

  1. shale is more porous so the oil tends to leak out over time

  2. shale, especially black shale, is much richer in primary organic matter than is sandstone

  3. sandstone is more abundant than shale

  4. sandstone is more permeable than shale, so fluids may flow through it faster
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sandstone has higher permeability than shale, meaning it has interconnected pore spaces that allow petroleum to flow through freely. Shale may be porous but has extremely low permeability due to its fine-grained structure, which traps fluids rather than allowing them to migrate toward extraction points.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Which of the following environmental effect is NOT linked directly to the use of basic fossil fuels?

  1. acid rain and snow

  2. groundwater contamination

  3. urban air pollution

  4. global warming (by the “greenhouse” effect)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Acid rain, urban air pollution, and greenhouse effect/global warming are direct results of burning fossil fuels. Groundwater contamination, however, primarily results from extraction and production activities like fracking, oil spills, or leaking storage tanks - not from the combustion itself.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

'Smart Pigs' used to monitor the integrity of a pipeline may feature:

  1. GPS

  2. Magnetic sensors

  3. Ultrasound scanners

  4. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Smart Pigs (Pipeline Inspection Gauges) are sophisticated tools that can be equipped with GPS for tracking, magnetic sensors for detecting metal loss/corrosion, and ultrasound scanners for measuring wall thickness. All these technologies work together for comprehensive pipeline monitoring.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Which of the following would NOT be considered a compelling reason why we need to find “alternate” energy sources to that of fossil fuels?

  1. The environmental impact of burning huge quantities of fossil fuels will have an adverse effect on the atmosphere.

  2. Present estimates indicate that the population explosion will result in an increasing depletion of the fossil fuel reserves.

  3. More than 85% of the energy used in the U.S.A. is from nonrenewable resources.

  4. Using increased amounts of fossil fuels to meet increasing demand will be stable for many centuries.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Options A, B, and C all provide compelling reasons TO find alternate energy sources (environmental impact, resource depletion, over-reliance on nonrenewables). Option D claims fossil fuels will remain stable for centuries, which is NOT a reason to seek alternatives - it's the opposite.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Which of the following is NOT an obstacle to development of nuclear energy?

  1. skyrocketing costs of building nuclear facilities that have to maintain the highest safety standards

  2. possible escape of radioactive debris during a meltdown of the core or other malfunction

  3. there are real hazards associated with the disposal of nuclear waste

  4. nuclear power is a clean, cheap source of energy to replace fossil fuels
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Options A, B, and C all describe real obstacles to nuclear energy development (high costs, safety risks, waste disposal). Option D claims nuclear power is clean and cheap - while it has low emissions, 'cheap' is debatable and this statement doesn't describe an OBSTACLE, making it the correct answer to the NOT question.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

For generation of hydroelectric power, why are dams not permanent solutions, and are instead short-lived structures?

  1. water volume usually decreases over time due to significant cracks in the dam

  2. dams are usually not well built, so they will collapse, usually within a few years of construction

  3. debris and rocks are deposited on the downstream side of the dam, thus making the power of the impounded water lowered

  4. sediment is deposited on the upstream side of the dam, thus making the impounded water a lower volume
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Dams face a longevity issue primarily due to siltation. Rivers carry sediment which settles in the reservoir (upstream), gradually reducing the volume of water the dam can hold and eventually rendering the power generation ineffective. This is a natural geological process that limits a dam's lifespan.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

How do deposits of graphite form, typically?

  1. as deposits around submarine, hot spring vents

  2. by decomposition of humus and soil gases during intense, tropical weathering

  3. by regional metamorphism of organic-rich, black shales

  4. as hydrothermal vein deposits in limestone around a granitic batholith
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Graphite primarily forms through regional metamorphism of organic-rich sedimentary rocks, particularly black shales. The high temperatures and pressures of metamorphism transform the carbonaceous material into crystalline graphite. This is the most common geological process for graphite formation.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Which of the following is a good fertilizer, and why?

  1. sylvite and gypsum – these are a potassium-bearing and a hydrated mineral, respectively

  2. apatite and sylvite – these are a phosphate and a potassium-bearing mineral, respectively

  3. halite and calcite – these are a salt and a component of cement, respectively

  4. cassiterite and albite – these are an aluminum- and a calcium-bearing mineral, respectively
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Fertilizers require essential nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus (as phosphate), and potassium (potash). Apatite provides phosphate (P), sylvite provides potassium (K). Gypsum is calcium sulfate used in plaster, halite is table salt (NaCl), calcite is in cement, and cassiterite/albite are not fertilizer minerals.