View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much in 2008 were "triple junction" (82) solar cells?

2. When did a nuclear power plant near Chernobyl in the Ukraine have a violent accident?

3. At what temperature did the columns of the World Trade Center become vulnerable to buckling?

4. How much bomb-grade uranium or plutonium would be needed to make a weapon in the kiloton range?

5. What is the radius of damage that would be caused by a 1-kiloton blast?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the author believe solar power is not practical for automobiles?

2. Where is most oil found underground, and how can it be extracted?

3. Who was Richard Reid, and what did he do?

4. How did the terrorists who carried out the bombing of the World Trade Center use their basic knowledge of airport security?

5. What anecdote does the author share regarding a conversation between one of his student's and a physicist?

6. What caused most of the death and damage from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs?

7. How does the energy released by jet fuel or gasoline compare to TNT, and why is TNT used instead of other sources with more energy?

8. What is radioactivity and radiation?

9. In Chapter 7, was the United States running out of fossil fuels?

10. How long will the U.S. be able to use coal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

People fear nuclear weapons. Why are nuclear weapons considered to be the most fearsome invention of the twentieth century?

Essay Topic 2

Anthrax is a biological weapon. How was anthrax used as a weapon in 2001? Why is it considered a biological weapon? Why is it not successful on a large scale in killing people?

Essay Topic 3

The sun can be used to produce energy. What are some uses of solar energy? What are some practical and not practical ways to use solar energy?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,056 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample