Author Question: What are some of the problems that need to be overcome before solar power can become a thoroughly ... (Read 37 times)

FButt

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 519
What are some of the problems that need to be overcome before solar power can become a thoroughly mainstream form of energy production?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How much of Earth's primary productivity is used or preempted by humans?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



scottmt

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 322
Answer to Question 1

Firstly, solar power has to be cost effective. We will not switch to more environmentally friendly forms of energy unless renewable energy is cheaper. Secondly, because solar power is only available during the day, a backup form of energy is required for nighttime use. Finally, some areas of the world simply do not get enough consistent sunlight for solar power to be a viable option.

Answer to Question 2

Since humans are at the top of the biomass pyramid it can be expected that a very high percentage of Earth's primary productivity is used by humans and other top-level organisms. However, because of their place in the ecosystem and tendency to treat the ecosystem in an unsustainable fashion, humans use and preempt the Earth's primary productivity at unreasonably high rates: approximately 30 of the Earth's total production.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question


 

Did you know?

Long-term mental and physical effects from substance abuse include: paranoia, psychosis, immune deficiencies, and organ damage.

Did you know?

Nitroglycerin is used to alleviate various heart-related conditions, and it is also the chief component of dynamite (but mixed in a solid clay base to stabilize it).

Did you know?

Excessive alcohol use costs the country approximately $235 billion every year.

Did you know?

The Babylonians wrote numbers in a system that used 60 as the base value rather than the number 10. They did not have a symbol for "zero."

Did you know?

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis syndrome are life-threatening reactions that can result in death. Complications include permanent blindness, dry-eye syndrome, lung damage, photophobia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, permanent loss of nail beds, scarring of mucous membranes, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Many patients' pores scar shut, causing them to retain heat.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library