Question 2 of 21

Which of the following is responsible for the most bird deaths each year in the U.S.?

... Both domestic and feral cats kill hundreds of millions of birds annually. Power lines are responsible for at least 130 million deaths, and at least 1 million birds die as a result of running into either commercial or residential windows.

Question 3 of 21

In the U.S., how many birds are killed by windmills annually?

... As a result of running into windmills, between 10,000 and 40,000 birds are killed each year, far fewer than die in collisions with automobiles (60-80 million) or lighted communications towers (40-50 million).

Question 4 of 21

Wind energy was harnessed for the first time in ________.

... As far back as 3000 B.C., Egyptians were using the wind to power sailboats. Windmills didn't appear for at least another 1,000 years, when their power was harnessed for grinding grains.

Question 5 of 21

A monitoring system created by Denmark's National Environmental Research Institute found that sea birds are good at avoiding windmills. The monitoring system consisted of _________.

... Infrared video cameras watched Denmark's offshore wind farms around the clock. The $15 million study found that relatively few birds were involved in deadly collisions with windmills.

Question 6 of 21

Interest in the use of wind energy in the U.S. saw a marked increase in response to _______.

... The gas and oil shortage of the 1970s, characterized by long lines at the gas station and high home heating bills, led to renewed interest in wind power.

Question 7 of 21

The _____-axis wind turbine is the most common type of turbine in the 21st century.

... The vast majority of windmills have a horizontal-axis design. The shaft is mounted parallel to the ground; the rotor blades are perpendicular to the shaft. Significantly fewer windmills today rely on vertical-axis turbines.

Question 8 of 21

Modern wind turbine design primarily relies on _______ to most effectively and efficiently generate power.

... Much like the airfoil design used for airplane wings, wind turbines rely on the aerodynamic principles of lift and drag to function properly.

Question 9 of 21

Tower elevation is an important consideration in modern windmills because ________.

... Wind speeds are greater at higher elevations because there are fewer things, such as structures and trees, to interfere with the wind.

Question 10 of 21

At what wind speed do large, modern wind turbines generate their maximum power?

... Large windmills function most efficiently when winds travel about 15 meters per second, which is about 33 miles per hour.

Question 11 of 21

At what wind speed do most large turbines shut down to avoid damage?

... Safety systems turn off large windmills when wind is traveling at about 20 meters per second or about 45 mph.

Question 12 of 21

Which turbine safety system is triggered most often by high wind speeds?

... When winds are too high, a turbine's braking system is activated. Other safety systems may alter the blade alignment to the wind or may prompt a stall.

Question 13 of 21

Around the world, about _____ kWh (kilowatt hours) of wind energy are generated each year.

... Globally, about 50 billion kWh are produced annually by more than 50,000 turbines.

Question 14 of 21

One large wind turbine can produce enough electricity annually to provide energy to about ________ homes.

... A single large turbine can generate 5.2 kWh of power each year, enough for 600 households.

Question 15 of 21

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of wind power?

... Because wind speed can vary, turbines can't always function at peak performance levels. For this reason, people who rely on wind power often need backup energy sources.

Question 16 of 21

Within the U.S., which power source produces the greatest amount of electricity annually?

... Almost half of the electricity in the U.S. is generated from coal. The country mines about 1 billion tons of it per year.

Question 17 of 21

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) would like to see ______ percent of the nation's energy needs generated by wind power by 2020.

... Though its goal is only 5 percent, the DOE projects the creation of 80,000 new jobs.

Question 18 of 21

A study of Texas wind farms concluded that the turbines affected ________.

... Based on satellite data from 2003 to 2011, researchers from the University of Albany, State University of New York, found that temperatures at night were more than 1 degree Fahrenheit higher around wind farms. Over time, this increased temperature could negatively affect precipitation and plant growth.

Question 19 of 21

The energy available from wind increases ______ in relation to wind speed.

... The amount of power increases exponentially; a small increase in wind speed results in a very large increase in power output. In general, you can get eight times the power if the wind speed simply doubles.

Question 20 of 21

More bats than birds are killed at most wind turbines, primarily due to ________.

... A study from the University of Calgary found that 90 percent of the bats killed near turbines suffered from internal bleeding due to a drop in air pressure (barotrauma). Birds, which have more rigid lungs, are less likely to have problems associated with air pressure change.

Question 21 of 21

When investing in wind energy, what percentage of the setup cost is for machinery?

... Eighty percent of the startup cost for a windmill is related to the turbine itself. Prepping the land and installing the machinery also add to the expense.

YOU SCORED: 0 out of 21 try again

MORE QUIZZES

Do you know your Keats from your Yeats? Take the famous poets quiz!

Does that voice sound familiar? Take the famous voiceovers quiz!

From Colombo to Castle -- try naming the fictional gumshoe in this quiz!