Asked by 123
How does the use of hydroelectric energy compare to the use of coal?
a.
Hydroelectric energy is more commonly used than coal.
b.
Hydroelectric energy is associated with less waste production than coal.
c.
Hydroelectric energy has a larger environmental impact than coal use.
d.
Hydroelectric energy requires more land space than coal use.
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
Correct answer: b.
Explanation briefly:
- b is true — hydropower produces far less solid and air-polluting combustion waste (coal ash, SOx/NOx, large CO2 emissions) than burning coal.
- a is false — coal has historically been a larger source of electricity worldwide than hydropower.
- c is misleading — hydropower can have large local environmental impacts (flooding, ecosystem disruption), but overall coal’s air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions make its environmental impact larger in many respects.
- d is context-dependent — large reservoirs can require substantial land, but coal mining and waste storage also use lots of land; the general, unqualified statement is not reliably true.
Explanation briefly:
- b is true — hydropower produces far less solid and air-polluting combustion waste (coal ash, SOx/NOx, large CO2 emissions) than burning coal.
- a is false — coal has historically been a larger source of electricity worldwide than hydropower.
- c is misleading — hydropower can have large local environmental impacts (flooding, ecosystem disruption), but overall coal’s air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions make its environmental impact larger in many respects.
- d is context-dependent — large reservoirs can require substantial land, but coal mining and waste storage also use lots of land; the general, unqualified statement is not reliably true.
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