fiveable apes unit 6 vocab

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59 Terms

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Acid Rain

Rainfall that has become acidic due to atmospheric pollution containing sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), which react with water vapor to form acids.

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Alcohol Fuels

Liquid fuels made from the fermentation of sugars or starches found in plants, such as ethanol and methanol.

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Anthracite Coal

The highest-ranked type of coal, characterized by high carbon content, low moisture, and excellent heat-producing properties.

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Biodiesel

A renewable fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats, used in diesel engines alone or blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel.

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Biofuels

Renewable energy sources derived from organic matter such as plants or animal waste, used as an alternative to fossil fuels.

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Biomass

Organic matter derived from plants or animals that can be used as an energy source, including wood chips, crop residues, and animal manure.

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Biomass Energy

The use of organic materials, such as plants and animal waste, to generate heat or electricity.

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Bituminous Coal

A type of coal intermediate in rank between sub-bituminous and anthracite, commonly used for electricity generation and industrial processes.

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Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

A colorless gas naturally present in Earth's atmosphere, released through natural processes and human activities like burning fossil fuels; a major greenhouse gas.

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Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, or product.

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Carbon Monoxide

A colorless, odorless, and toxic gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

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Carbon Neutral

Achieving a balance between emitted greenhouse gases and those removed from the atmosphere through reduction and offset activities.

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Cathode

The electrode in an electrochemical cell where reduction (gain of electrons) occurs.

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Chain Reaction

A self-sustaining series of nuclear fission reactions in which the products of one reaction trigger subsequent reactions, releasing large amounts of energy.

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Chernobyl

A catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, caused by a flawed reactor design and operator errors.

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Clean Energy

Energy sources with minimal or no negative environmental impact, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.

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Climate Change

Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

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Coal

A combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock made mostly of carbon, formed from the remains of ancient plants.

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Coal Combustion

The process of burning coal to produce heat or electricity, releasing pollutants such as CO₂, SO₂, NOₓ, particulate matter, and mercury.

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Cogeneration (CHP)

Also known as Combined Heat and Power, an energy-efficient process that simultaneously produces electricity and useful heat from the same energy source.

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Compressed Air Storage

A method of storing energy by compressing air into a container or underground reservoir for later use.

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Control Rods

Devices made from materials like boron or cadmium that absorb neutrons to regulate nuclear fission reactions within a nuclear reactor.

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Cooling Tower

A structure that cools down hot water or other fluids by allowing them to come into contact with air, used in industrial processes or power plants.

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Crude Oil

A naturally occurring fossil fuel formed from ancient marine organisms, composed mainly of hydrocarbons.

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Dams

Structures built across rivers or streams to control water flow and create reservoirs for purposes such as flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power.

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Deforestation

The clearing, removal, or destruction of forests, often for agriculture, urbanization, or logging.

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Ecosystem Destruction

Significant and irreversible damage to a natural habitat or ecosystem due to human activities like deforestation, pollution, or urbanization.

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Efficiency

A measure of how effectively energy is converted from one form to another, calculated as useful output energy divided by input energy.

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Electric Current

The flow of electric charge in a circuit, often carried by moving electrons through a conductor.

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Electrical Batteries

Devices that store and release electrical energy through chemical reactions, consisting of one or more electrochemical cells.

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Electrical Circuit

A closed loop through which electric current flows, consisting of components like wires, resistors, capacitors, and switches.

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Electrical Current

The movement of electrons through a conductor, creating an electric charge.

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Electricity

A form of energy resulting from the movement of charged particles, used to power various devices and systems.

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Electricity Generation

The process of converting different energy forms (mechanical, chemical, or thermal) into electrical energy.

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Energy Consumption

The amount of energy used by individuals, industries, or countries for heating, transportation, and electricity.

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Energy Return on Energy Investment (EROEI)

A measure of the amount of usable energy obtained from a source compared to the energy invested to extract it.

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Energy Storage System

A device or mechanism that stores excess energy for later use, allowing for efficient management of energy resources.

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Ethanol

A renewable alcohol fuel produced from corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass through fermentation, commonly used as a biofuel additive in gasoline.

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Fish Migration Patterns

The regular movements of fish between different habitats for feeding, breeding, or other purposes, influenced by temperature and food availability.

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Flood Control

Strategies and structures used to manage or prevent flooding by controlling water levels, redirecting water flow, or storing excess water.

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Fossil Fuels

Energy-rich substances formed from ancient organic matter buried deep in Earth's crust, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

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Fukushima Daiichi

A nuclear disaster in 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, triggered by an earthquake and tsunami.

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Generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, typically using rotating coils within a magnetic field.

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Geothermal Heat Pumps

Systems that use the Earth's constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for buildings by circulating fluid through underground pipes.

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Greenhouse Gases

Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global warming, including CO₂, CH₄, NO₂, and fluorinated gases.

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Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT)

Wind turbines with a horizontal rotor shaft, the most common type used for electricity generation.

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Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

A method of extracting natural gas and oil from deep underground by injecting high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals into rock formations.

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Hydroelectric Power

Electricity generated by converting the energy of flowing or falling water into mechanical energy using turbines.

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell

A device that converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, producing only water as a byproduct.

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Methane (CH₄)

A potent greenhouse gas released by natural processes and human activities like livestock farming and fossil fuel extraction.

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Natural Gas

A fossil fuel consisting mainly of methane, often found alongside oil deposits.

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Nuclear Energy

The energy released from the nucleus of an atom through nuclear fission or fusion, used for electricity generation.

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Oil Spills

The release of petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, typically from accidents during extraction or transportation, causing severe ecological damage.

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Particulates

Tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, originating from sources like dust, wildfires, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust.

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Radioactive Waste

Material containing radioactive substances produced as a byproduct of nuclear power generation, medical treatments, or research activities.

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Solar Energy

Radiant light and heat from the sun that can be harnessed and converted into usable power.

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Turbine

A device that converts the kinetic energy of a moving fluid (water, steam, or wind) into mechanical energy.

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Uranium-235

A radioactive isotope of uranium used as fuel in nuclear reactors and as a key material in atomic bombs.

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Wind Energy

The process of harnessing wind’s kinetic energy and converting it into electricity using wind turbines.