Ref. 210 suggests that natural gas should be used to produce motor fuels. Discuss the reasonableness of this proposal, given that this is feasible
What will be an ideal response?
Natural gas is used mostly to supply heat to homes and businesses and to run gas
turbines for the utilities. In the very late 1990s and early 2000s, gas supplies have been
found to be in short supply, and the oil-producing countries have begun shipping the gas
associated with their oil instead of flaring it because the price has risen enough to justify the
construction and commissioning of refrigerated gas tankers to bring the gas to the United
States, where it is introduced into the gas pipeline system (Fig. 12.14).
Using the gas for motor fuel is certainly possible, but it would have to be reformed (which
costs a significant energy penalty) and the recent rise in gas price, which seems unlikely to
recede, means that the economics of conversion would not be overly profitable. It is an
unlikely scenario that motor fuel would compete with home heating for natural gas.
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Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Balloons expand when they are heated because
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To scale, if Earth were the size of a basketball, then the Moon would be about
A) 5 feet away. B) 10 feet away. C) 20 feet away. D) 80 feet away.