Energy

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Energy tends to disperse, increasing disorder (entropy).

Anthracite Coal

Hard, high-carbon coal used for heating.

Background Radiation

Low-level radiation naturally present in the environment.

Biomass

Organic material used as fuel (e.g., wood, crops).

Bituminous Coal

Soft, black coal used for electricity generation.

Chain Reaction

A process where one reaction triggers more reactions (e.g., in nuclear fission).

Chernobyl, Ukraine

Site of a catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986.

Closed System

A system where energy can enter or leave, but matter cannot.

Control Rod

A device used in nuclear reactors to control the rate of fission.

Curie

A unit of radioactivity, named after Marie Curie.

Fractional Distillation

A process to separate mixtures based on boiling points (used in oil refining).

Energy Efficiency

The percentage of energy used effectively in a system.

Fossil Fuels

Energy sources from ancient plant and animal remains (coal, oil, natural gas).

Fuel Rod

A metal tube containing nuclear fuel, used in reactors.

Geothermal

Energy from the Earth’s heat.

Giga (metric prefix)

1 billion (10^9).

High-Level Radioactive Waste

requiring permanent isolation due to its intensity of radioactivity and heat

Hoover Dam

A dam on the Colorado River, generating hydroelectric power.

Hydroelectric

Power generated by moving water, typically in dams.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

A device that generates electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen.

Ionizing Radiation

Radiation that has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

Kilo (metric prefix)

1,000 (10^3).

Lignite Coal

Brownish coal, lower quality than bituminous.

Mega (metric prefix)

1 million (10^6).

Natural Gas

A fossil fuel, primarily methane, used for heating and power.

Nuclear Fission

Splitting atomic nuclei to release energy.

Nuclear Fusion

Combining atomic nuclei to release energy, as in the sun.

Oil Sands

Sand mixed with heavy oil, used for petroleum extraction.

Oil Shale

A type of rock that can be processed to extract oil.

OPEC

to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among its member countries

Open System

A system that exchanges both energy and matter with its surroundings.

Passive Solar

Using sunlight for heating without mechanical devices (e.g., windows).

Peat

Partially decayed organic material, the precursor to coal.

Photovoltaic Cell

A device that converts sunlight directly into electricity.

Radioactive Waste

Waste materials that emit radiation.

Rad

A unit of measurement for radiation absorption.

Reclamation

Restoring land after mining or damage.

Scrubber

A device that removes pollutants from exhaust gases.

Synfuel

Synthetic fuel made from coal, oil shale, or biomass.

Three Gorges Dam

A large hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River in China.

Three Mile Island

Site of a nuclear accident in 1979 in the U.S.

Wind Power

Energy generated by wind turbines.

Yucca Mountain

A proposed U.S. site for nuclear waste storage.