APES Unit 4

nonrenewable resource

A natural resource that cannot be replaced or regenerated at a sustainable rate.

renewable resource

A resource that can be replenished naturally over a short period of time.

fossil fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

cogeneration

The simultaneous production of electricity and useful heat from the same energy source.

combustion

The process of burning something, typically involving the reaction of a fuel with oxygen.

Fracking

A technique to extract oil or gas from underground rocks by injecting fluid at high pressure.

Bitumen

A viscous, tar-like form of petroleum found in natural deposits, often used for road surfacing.

tar sands

A mixture of sand, clay, water, and bitumen that can be processed to extract oil.

peat

An accumulation of partially decayed vegetation that is usually found in wetlands, often used as a fuel.

Lignite

A low-grade coal that is brown or black and has high moisture content.

Bituminous coal

Coal that is intermediate between lignite and anthracite, used primarily for electricity generation.

anthracite

The highest grade of coal, known for its high carbon content and energy output.

nuclear power

Energy produced from controlled nuclear reactions.

half life

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Biomass

Organic material that comes from plants and animals, used as a renewable energy source.

PV solar cell

Photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity.

active solar energy

Solar energy used to generate electricity or heat using mechanical devices.

passive solar energy

Design techniques that use the sun's energy for heating and cooling without mechanical systems.

Hydroelectricity

Electricity generated by the kinetic energy of flowing water.

Turbine

A rotary engine that converts kinetic energy from liquids or gases into mechanical energy.

Generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

tidal energy

Energy derived from the gravitational effects of the moon and the sun on Earth’s oceans.

Geothermal energy

Energy derived from the heat stored within the Earth.

Hydrogen fuel cell

A device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, with water as the only byproduct.

Kinetic energy

The energy an object possesses due to its motion.

Potential energy

The stored energy in an object due to its position or state.

Thermal energy

The energy that comes from the temperature of matter; it's the total energy of all the particles in an object.

Chemical energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds.

Electrical energy

Energy derived from electric potential energy or kinetic energy.

Mechanical energy

The sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system.

Conservation

The sustainable management of natural resources to prevent depletion.

hybrid vehicle

A vehicle that uses more than one form of onboard energy to achieve propulsion.

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

A vehicle that runs entirely on electricity stored in batteries.

green building

The practice of creating structures that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient.

greenhouse gases

Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect.