Studied by 60 people
electrical heating system
a system that uses electricity to produce thermal energy for heating
forced-air heating system
a system that moves hot air to heat a building
hot water heating system
a system that uses hot water to heat a building
geothermal system
a system that transfers thermal energy from under Earth's surface into a building to heat it, and transfers thermal energy from the building into the ground to cool the building
proton
a positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom
neutron
an uncharged particle in the nucleus of an atom
nucleons
particles in the nucleus of an atom; protons and neutrons
electron
a negatively charged particle found in the space surrounding the nucleus of an atom
ground state
state in which all electrons are at their lowest possible energy levels
excited state
state in which one or more electrons are at higher energy levels than in the ground state
isotope
a form of an element that has the same atomic number, but a different mass number than all other forms of that element
radioisotope
an unstable isotope that spontaneously changes its nuclear structure and releases energy in the form of radiation
radiation
energy released when the nucleus of an unstable isotope undergoes a change in structure
radioactivity
a process by which the nucleus of an atom spontaneously disintegrates
nuclear fission
the decomposition of large, unstable nuclei into smaller, more stable nuclei
nuclear reaction
the process by which the nucleus of an atom sometimes changes
electrostatic force
the force of attraction or repulsion due to electric charges
strong nuclear force
the very strong force of attraction between nucleons
radioactive decay
the process by which a radioactive atom's nucleus breaks apart and forms different atoms
alpha decay
nuclear reaction in which an alpha particle is emitted
alpha particle
a particle emitted during alpha decay; composed of a helium nucleus containing two protons and two neutrons
parent atom
the reactant atom in a nuclear reaction
daughter atom
the product atom in a nuclear reaction
transmutation
a nuclear decay process in which daughter atoms are different elements from parent atoms
beta decay
nuclear reaction in which a beta particle is emitted or captured
beta particle
a high-energy electron or positron ejected or captured by a nucleus during beta decay
positron
a particle with a positive charge and the same mass as an electron
photon
a high-energy particle with no mass
gamma decay
a reaction in which an excited nucleus returns to a lower, more stable energy state, releasing a very high-energy gamma ray in the process.
half-life
the average length of time it takes radioactive material to decay to half of its original mass
atomic mass unit
a unit of mass equal to 1.66 x 10^(-27) kg
mega-electron volt
the energy required to accelerate an electron through a potential difference of 1 million volts; 1.602x10^(-13) J
chain reaction
the repeated series of reactions in which the products of one reaction generate subsequent reactions
calandria
core of the reactor, consisting of fuel bundles, control rods, and moderator
fuel bundles
fuel elements consisting of uranium pellets
control rods
adjustable cadmium rods used to control nuclear reaction rates
moderator
heavy water used to slow neutrons and absorb thermal energy
steam generator
absorbs thermal energy from the heavy water in the primary loop, producing steam
primary loop
closed loop through which heavy water flows
secondary loop
closed loop through which normal water, which becomes steam, flows
Energy resource
energy-rich substances
non-renewable energy source
a substance that cannot be replenished as it is used in energy-transforming processes
renewable energy resource
a substance with an unlimited supply or a supply that can be replenished as the substance is used in energy-transforming processes
fossil fuel
fuel produced by the decayed and compressed remains of plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago
nuclear fusion
a nuclear reaction in which the nuclei of two atoms fuse together to form a larger nucleus
solar energy
radiant energy from the sun
passive solar design
building design that uses the sun's radiant energy directly for heating
photovoltaic cell
a device that transforms radiant energy into electrical energy
hydroelectricity
electricity produced by transforming the kinetic energy of rushing water into electrical energy
geothermal
thermal energy from deep underground; can be used directly or transformed into electrical energy
accessible only in certain areas
in some locations, deep holes need to be drilled into the ground to reach pockets of thermal energy
wind
wind strikes the blades of a turbine, which turns an electricity generator that generates electrical energy
can only be used in windy locations
turbines are noisy, and the blades may strike birds and other wildlife
tidal
energy generated from the rise and fall of tides/movement of water
may disrupt aquatic ecosystems
biofuels
solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels derived from the bodies of living or dead plants and animals
can include wood, biological waste, and gases such as methane produced during the decomposition of plant matter
burning fuels may produce air pollutants; including carbon dioxide, which is linked to climate change
work
a transfer of mechanical energy (scalar; measured in joules)
joule
a unit of measurement of work and energy, equivalent to a newton times a metre
energy
the capacity to do work (scalar; measured in joules)
gravitational potential energy
the energy possessed by an object because of its position relative to a lower or higher position
kinetic energy
the energy possessed by an object due to its motion
power
the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit of time (scalar; measured in watts)
watt
unit of measurement of power, equivalent to a joule divided by one second
efficiency
the percentage of energy remaining after the energy transformation
gasoline-powered vehicle
transforms chemical to kinetic energy
wastes thermal energy
8-15% efficient
produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change
creates air pollution
electric vehicle
transforms electrical to kinetic energy
wastes thermal energy 24-45% efficient
currently more expensive than gasoline vehicles more efficient than gasoline vehicles but uses heavy batters that must be constructed and discarded in special ways to limit environmental contamination
bicycle
transforms kinetic energy from the pedal to kinetic energy in motion
wastes thermal energy 90% efficient
most efficient self powered vehicle
weather dependent
road safety issues
loudspeakers
transforms electrical to sound energy
wastes thermal energy
1% efficient
efficiency seems low, but useful output energy is more than enough to produce audible sound
most of electrical input is transformed into thermal energy
electric heater
transforms electrical to thermal energy
wastes radiant energy
98% efficient
very efficient transformer of electrical energy into thermal energy
hydroelectric power plant
transforms kinetic to electrical energy
wastes thermal energy
80% efficient
efficient method of generating electricity
damming rivers may flood land and disrupt ecosystems
nuclear power plant
transforms nuclear to electrical energy
wastes thermal energy
30-40% efficient
relatively efficient for generating electricity
produces radioactive waste
solar cell
transforms radiant to electrical energy
wastes thermal energy
20-40% efficient
relatively efficient for generating electricity
photosynthesis
transforms radiant to chemical energy
wastes thermal energy
5% efficient
although it seems relatively inefficient, its the only process that transforms radiant energy into chemical energy in organisms
directly or indirectly responsible for maintaining virtually all life on Earth
animal muscles (including human muscles)
transforms chemical to kinetic energy
wastes thermal energy
20% efficient
although it seems to be relatively inefficient, this energy-transforming process provides all the energy animals use to perform work
thermal energy
the kinetic energy of the atom plus the energy between the attraction of the atom; the total quantity of kinetic and potential energy possessed by the atoms or molecules of a substance
temperature
measure of the kinetic energy of atom
heat
the transfer of thermal energy
conduction
process of transferring heat by particle collision
convection
process of transferring heat by a circulating path of fluid
radiation
process of transferring heat through a wave form of electromagnetic radiant energy
bad conductors of heat
wood, plastic
good conductor of heat
metal
specific heat capacity (c)
the amount of energy (heat) required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree celsius; measured in joules per kg times celsius
kinetic molecular theory
all matter is made up of moving particles
each atom or molecule exert forces (attraction and repulsion) on each other
strength of force determines the overall state of the object
latent heat
the amount of thermal energy absorbed or released during a change of state
latent heat of fusion
the amount of thermal energy needed to melt or released to freeze an object; measured in joules
latent heat of vaporization
the amount of thermal energy needed of vaporize or released to condense an object; measured in joules
specific latent heat of fusion
the thermal energy required for 1kg of a substance to melt or freeze; measured in J/kg
specific latent heat of vaporization
the thermal energy required for 1kg of a substance to vaporize or condense; measured in J/kg
celsius scale
the temperature scale based on the boiling point and freezing point of water
fahrenheit scale
the temperature scale based on the boiling point and freezing point of brine
kelvin scale
the temperature scale developed using absolute zero as the point at which there is virtually no motion in the particles of a substance
convection current
a current that occurs when a fluid is continuously heated; caused by warmer, less dense fluid being constantly pushed upward as colder, denser fluid falls downward
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Flashcard (36)