Unit 6 Vocab

nonrenewable resource

A natural resource that cannot be replaced quickly once it is used (like coal, oil, natural gas)

renewable resource

A natural resource that can be replenished naturally over time (like solar, wind, water)

conservation

The careful use and protection of natural resources to prevent depletion

fossil fuel

A fuel formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals (coal, oil, natural gas)

Hydroelectricity

Electricity generated by moving water, usually using dams

hybrid vehicle

A car that uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor

Cogeneration

The process of using one fuel source to produce both electricity and useful heat

Turbine

A machine with blades that spin when moved by water, steam, or wind to produce energy

Potential energy

Stored energy that has the potential to do work

Combustion

The process of burning fuel to release energy

Generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

A vehicle powered only by electricity stored in batteries

Fracking

A method of extracting oil or natural gas by injecting fluid into rock to create cracks

tidal energy

Energy produced by the movement of ocean tides

green building

A building designed to be environmentally friendly and energy efficient

nuclear power

Energy produced from splitting atoms in a nuclear reactor

Geothermal energy

Energy derived from heat within the Earth

greenhouse gases

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat (like carbon dioxide and methane)

radioactive half life

The time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to decay

Hydrogen fuel cell

A device that produces electricity using hydrogen and oxygen, with water as a byproduct

Ore

A naturally occurring material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted

Biomass

Organic material (like plants or waste) used as a source of energy

Kinetic energy

Energy of motion

Overburden

Layers of soil and rock that cover a mineral deposit

PV solar cell

A device that converts sunlight directly into electricity

surface mining

The removal of minerals from the Earth's surface

tailings/slag

Waste materials left over after extracting valuable minerals

subsurface mining

The process of extracting minerals from deep underground

active solar energy

The use of mechanical or electrical devices (like solar panels) to collect solar energy

passive solar energy

The use of building design to naturally collect and store solar energy without machines