Subjects /Environmental Science /Assignments /

Environmental and Economic Impacts of Resource Extraction*

Answer all questions.  Where calculations are required clearly show how you arrived at your answer.  Where explanation or discussion is required, support your answers with relevant information and/or specific examples.

Crude oil is extracted, transported, and refined for various uses by humans.

Describe one environmental impact on marine ecosystems associated with extraction or transportation of crude oil.

Identify an atmospheric pollutant released during the combustion of refined oil products.

Propose a solution an individual can use to reduce their reliance on refined oil products for transportation.

Justify the solution proposed in the question above by providing a benefit to human health.

Other natural resources, such as gold and silver, are also extracted. These resources can be used to make components for the electronics humans use. One metric ton of gold ore contains 5.0 grams of gold.

A deposit is estimated to contain 260 million metric tons of gold ore. Calculate the number of grams of gold that could be extracted from the deposit. Show your work.

Assuming the price of gold is $62.56 per gram, calculate the value of the gold that could be recovered from 1,000 metric tons of gold ore in the deposit. Show your work.

A typical cell phone contains 0.034 grams of gold. Calculate how many metric tons of gold ore would need to be mined to extract enough gold to manufacture 100,000 cell phones. Show your work.

Subject

Environmental Science

Format

Short answer

Recommended rubric

Crude Oil FRQ Rubric

Accept one of the following:
• Marine life is harmed/killed by being coated/suffocated by oil from spills.
• Animals are harmed/killed by ingesting spilled oil.
• Oil slicks from spills can block sunlight from entering water and inhibit photosynthesis.
• Oil that washes up on beaches/in marshes/in estuaries damages habitat.
• Noise pollution disrupts marine animals’ ability to communicate/mate/eat/evade prey.
• CO2 from combustion of fuels in boats/equipment is absorbed by ocean and contributes to ocean acidification.

Accept one of the following:
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOX, NO, NO2, N2O)
• Sulfur oxides (SOX, SO2, SO3)
• Particulate matter (PM)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Accept one of the following:
• Ride a bike/scooter/skateboard or walk instead of driving.
• Replace a gasoline/diesel powered car with a hybrid or electric vehicle.
• Replace a gasoline/diesel powered car with one that utilizes alternative fuel (biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen).
• Buy/Drive a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
• Work from home/telecommute to reduce miles driven.
• Choose housing that is close to employment to reduce miles driven.
• Take public transportation instead of driving.
• Carpool instead of driving alone.
• Combine trips to reduce miles driven.

Accept one of the following:
• Fewer air pollutants (particulates, NOX, VOCs, smog) leads to lower rates of
o respiratory illness/problems such as asthma, COPD, lung cancer.
o cardiovascular illness such as heart attacks.
o eye irritation.
• Improved health/Decreased risk of disease/cardiovascular illness from more physical activity/exercise

Accept one of the following set up and correct answer must be included for point
260 million metric tons x 5 grams/ 1 metric ton
260x10^6 metric tons x 5 grams
5 x 260000000

Accept one of the following
1300000000
1.3x10^9

Accept one of the following
$312800
312800 dollars

Accept one of the following: set up and correct answer must be included for point
• 0.034 grams x1 metric ton x 100,000 cell phones 1 cell phone/ 5 grams
• 0.034 grams x 1 metric ton x 100,000 1 cell phone/5 grams
• 0.034 grams x 1 metric ton/5 grams x 100,000

• 0.034 x 100,000/5
680 metric tons gold ore

Creator

Robin Taylor

Teach with AI superpowers

Why teachers love Class Companion

Import assignments to get started in no time.

Create your own rubric to customize the AI feedback to your liking.

Override the AI feedback if a student disputes.

Other Environmental Science Assignments

Agricultural Systems FRQ AP Environmental Science FRQ ALL 3 QUESTIONS (Set 2)AP Environmental Science FRQ (Genetically Modified Green Bean Exp. Results)AP Environmental Science FRQ Question 1 (Set 2)AP Environmental Science FRQ Question 2 (Set 2)AP Environmental Science FRQ Question 3 (Set 2)China's One-Child Policy and Its Impact on Population Growth Engineering Design Cycle and Water Filter Creation Environmental Impact: Acid Deposition and Red Spruce Forest Recovery Environmental Systems and Society Internal Assessment FRQ 1 Global Warming and Environmental Pollution M4.6 Cyber Security Modified Green Bean Experiment FRQ Nuclear Energy and Air Quality FRQ Self-Assessment Essay on Anatomical Similarities and Differences Activity Understanding Electricity Generation and Environmental Impacts Understanding Total Fertility Rate Water Resources Notes #1 Summary