Conventional Energy Alternatives

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to conventional energy alternatives, including nuclear power, bioenergy, and hydropower.

Nuclear Power

The use of nuclear energy to generate electricity.

Fission

The splitting apart of atomic nuclei that releases nuclear energy in reactors.

Bioenergy

Energy derived from biomass, consisting of organic material from living or recently living organisms.

Hydropower

Energy generated by the kinetic energy of flowing river water to turn turbines and generate electricity.

Thermal Pollution

Environmental degradation caused by warm water discharged from power plants, affecting temperature-sensitive aquatic ecosystems.

Carbon-Neutral

A state of having net-zero carbon emissions, typically referring to energy from biomass.

Biogas

Gas produced from the breakdown of organic material in anaerobic conditions, often used as a renewable energy source.

Control Rods

Materials used in nuclear reactors to absorb excess neutrons and regulate the nuclear reaction.

EROI (Energy Return on Investment)

A ratio that compares the amount of energy gained from a resource to the amount of energy invested in obtaining it.

Conventional Alternatives

Energy sources like nuclear power, hydropower, and biomass that are well-established and widely used as alternatives to fossil fuels.

Fukushima Incident

A nuclear accident in 2011 caused by a tsunami and earthquake, leading to the release of radioactive material.

Chernobyl Disaster

A catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986 in Ukraine, resulting in widespread radioactive fallout and health impacts.

Nuclear Waste Disposal

The challenge of safely storing leftover radioisotopes from fission reactors, which have long half-lives.

Ethanol

A biofuel produced from fermenting biomass, often added to gasoline to reduce emissions.

Biodiesel

A renewable fuel made from vegetable oil, used cooking grease, or animal fat.

Thermal Shock

Rapid temperature change in water bodies caused by the sudden release of cold water from dams.

Run-of-River Hydropower

A technique of generating electricity by diverting part of a river’s flow without significantly disrupting its natural course.

Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels

Negative effects on the ecosystem and health due to the extraction and burning of oil, coal, and natural gas.