Scientists are concerned about world-wide energy consumption, particularly that of non-renewable energy resources such as fossil fuels. One scenario depicting energy consumption, the historical growth model, assumes that energy consumption will continue to rise along the same path as it has done historically. Scientists have projected the lifespan of several non-renewables: fifty years or less for petroleum and natural gas and approximately 100 years for coal. Based this information, predict how the historical growth model,might change post-2040.

Question

Scientists are concerned about world-wide energy consumption, particularly that of non-renewable energy resources such as fossil fuels. One scenario depicting energy consumption, the historical growth model, assumes that energy consumption will continue to rise along the same path as it has done historically. Scientists have projected the lifespan of several non-renewables: fifty years or less for petroleum and natural gas and approximately 100 years for coal. Based this information, predict how the historical growth model,might change post-2040.
Responses

A	We would expect coal use to increase while petroleum and natural gas use to decrease.We would expect coal use to increase while petroleum and natural gas use to decrease.

B	Nuclear energy use will drastically increase while petroleum and natural gas use will decrease.Nuclear energy use will drastically increase while petroleum and natural gas use will decrease.

C	There will be an increase in renewables and nuclear energy and a decline in fossil fuels resource consumption.There will be an increase in renewables and nuclear energy and a decline in fossil fuels resource consumption.

D	The consumption lines will remain about the same as they are now, with a flat coal line and the others increasing.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

Based on the information provided about the projected lifespan of fossil fuels and concerns surrounding non-renewable energy resources, the most logical prediction for how the historical growth model might change post-2040 is:

C: There will be an increase in renewables and nuclear energy and a decline in fossil fuels resource consumption.

This prediction accounts for the finite lifespan of fossil fuels (petroleum and natural gas having about fifty years or less and coal approximately 100 years), as well as the growing emphasis on transitioning to renewable energy sources and nuclear power as sustainable alternatives. As fossil fuel resources become scarcer and environmental concerns grow, it is reasonable to expect a shift toward cleaner energy options.