Chapter 11 - Energy

Kinetic Energy

the energy an object has because of its motion. The faster an object moves and the more mass it has, the greater its ____

Potential Energy

Energy stored in various fundamental “forces of nature,” including gravity, electricity (electromagnetic), and nuclear forces

Energy

The ability to do work

0th Law

If two things are in thermal equilibrium with a third, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other (all the same temperature…)

1st Law

energy can be transferred from one form to another, but the total is conserved (cannot be created or destroyed)

2nd Law

energy flows from hot to cold, increasing disorder (entropy), and some energy is always lost as unusable heat, making perfect efficiency impossible.

3rd Law

As temperature nears absolute zero, entropy levels off, making absolute zero unattainable and reinforcing that energy cannot be perfectly transferred.

Source Rock

The geologic formation that contained organic matter that matured into hydrocarbons over tens of millions of years

Reservoir Rock

The geologic formation overlying a source rock into which hydrocarbons migrate, which is both porous and permeable (like a good aquifer) so that the hydrocarbons can be easily extracted

Caprock

An impermeable geologic formation immediately over a reservoir rock that prevents hydrocarbons from migrating farther upward, leading to high concentrations of hydrocarbons in the reservoir rock

Structural Trap

Shape of originally horizontal caprock that has been deformed or faulted to trap hydrocarbons in a specific part of a reservoir rock

Stratigraphic Trap

Concentration of hydrocarbons in a specific part of a reservoir rock due to non-horizontal original deposition of the reservoir and caprocks

Marcellus Shale

A Devonian age fine-grained source rock containing large amounts of natural gas (methane) in the Appalachian basin of New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Exploitation has led to considerable controversy on economic and environmental grounds.

Acid Mine Drainage

Acidic, iron-rich runoff from coal mine tailings (often containing pyrite, FeS) dissolves in rainwater, turning streams acidic and yellow-orange, a condition called "yellow boy."

Fission

The joining together of small atomic nuclei by forcing them together to overcome the electronic repulsion of the protons and allow the nuclear force to bind them together. This powers the sun and all stars.

Radioactive Decay

The spontaneous change of an element to another by emission of a helium nucleus (alpha decay) or electron (beta decay). A gamma ray is also emitted in most cases.

Daughters

The large fragments resulting from fission of a very large nucleus

Parent

The large nucleus that divides into daughters during fission

Plasma

A state of matter (like a gas) that consists solely of nuclei with the electrons stripped away. This gives them a strongly positive charge that must be overcome by kinetic energy if they are to collide to produce nuclear fusion

Alpha Radiation

Helium nuclei emitted during a nuclear decay of a radioactive element

Beta Radiation

Electrons emitted during the nuclear decay of a radioactive element

Gamma Radiation

High-energy electromagnetic photons are emitted during nuclear reactions as nucleons settle into lower energy levels, similar to light emitted when electrons drop to lower energy levels in atoms.

Hydraulic Head

The pressure at the base of a column of water due to the weight of the overlying water

Passive Solar Energy

The use of the sun building design that optimizes the heating from the sun in winter while preventing excess heat in summer

Active Solar Energy

The use of energy from solar heating that is intensidifed by various means. It can boil water, heat other fluids, or even produce electricity directly in a photovoltaic cell

Photovoltaic Cell

A semiconductor device that converts photons of light to electricity

Ground Source Heat Pump

A system that enhances the efficiency of motor-driven heat pumps for home heating and cooling by proving a base temperature for the compressor for heat exchange for cooling in summer and heating in winter.

Negawatts

The reduction of power usage by enhancing efficiency

Smart Growth

Strategic community planning to reduce transportation needs and, thus, energy consumption, enhance ecosystem function, and stabilize hydrology

Reduce Product Consumption

Just don’t buy so much stuff. Take care of and continue to use the stuff you already have. Fix it if it breaks - don’t just throw it away

Emergy

The energy embedded in products; i.e. the energy required to produce products

Energy Payback Ratio

The usable energy obtained from an energy source divided by the energy required to extract and provide that energy

Gravity

Weakest fundamental force. Obeys square of distance rule

Electricity

Medium strength. Does many things! Makes molcuelus, radiation, all chemistry including burning, etc. Also square distance.

Nuclear

Strongest force. Holds protons and neutrons together. Only acts at close proximity.

Conduction

Transfers heat by direct contact of surfaces

Convection

Moves hotter fluids upward in gravity field (heat rises, cold sinks)

Radiation

Hot matter emits electromagnetic radiation, cooling itself and transferring energy to matter that absorbs it, with the energy depending on the radiation's frequency.

Units Of Measure

Force = Newtons

Work = Joules

1 Joule / sec = 1 Watt

Energy efficiency achieved by

minimizing high-quality energy use to do work

Hard path

ensure energy availability

Soft Path

maximize efficiency, renewables

80% of global energy comes from

fossil fuels

Coal is the most

abundant fossil fuel (also most effective at increasing greenhouse)

Fusion

• powers the sun

• makes most powerful bombs

• burns “clean” - makes helium

Environmental Impacts of nuclear energy

• Fusion - Essentially none

• Fission - radioactive fuel, radioactive waste products

Economic Incentive to develop alternative energy sources

When oil/gas prices soar, and oil becomes much less available, those societies with viable alternatives will prosper at the expense of those who still rely on fossil fuels

Passive Solar

Building design to absorb/repel heat through windows, walls, roof.

Overhangs, deciduous trees, stone walls

Active Solar

solar collectors, photovoltaics, ponds, concentrators

Geothermal Energy

Uses Earth’s internal heat to heat homes, drive turbines, etc.

In part limited to volcanic areas (Iceland, Yellowstone…)

• ground source heat pumps

What to do about greenhouse warming

• Stop burning fossil fuels

• Increase efficiency of existing technology

• Reduce energy use

• Develop new carbon-free energy sources

• Sequester carbon

• Geoengineering