6th Grade Unit 2 Lessons 6 and 7 Energy Resources

renewable resource

A resource that is either always available or is naturally replaced in a relatively short time

nonrenewable resources

a resource that forms much more slowly than it is consumed or used

fossil fuel

nonrenewable energy resource formed from the buried remains of plants and animals from long ago

energy resources

natural resources humans use to generate energy they can use (can be renewable or nonrenewable)

conservation

the protection and wise use of resources

stewardship

careful and responsible management of resources

organic material

a material made of a living thing

nuclear energy

energy released when nuclei of atoms are split or combined

fission

nuclei of radioactive atoms are split into two or more fragments to release energy; the nuclear reaction currently used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity

wind energy

created by the uneven heating of air masses which causes wind to move (renewable resource)

hydroelectric energy

energy created by moving water (renewable) The sun drives the water cycle

solar energy

energy received from the sun in the form of radiation (renewable resource)

biomass

organic matter from plants and animal waste that contains chemical energy

geothermal energy

energy produced by heat from inside Earth (renewable energy)

coal

A solid fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material; most common fossil fuel used to generate electricity

Petroleum oil

A liquid fossil fuel that forms underground mainly from the remains of microscopic sea organisms; refined to make many useful products like gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, plastics, gum, and ink

Natural gas

A gaseous fossil fuel that forms underground mainly from the remains of microscopic sea organisms; can be used for heating, cooking, generating electricity, and fuel for certain vehicles

turbine

A device with blades that can be turned by water, wind, steam, or exhaust gas from combustion that turns a generator in an electricity-producing plant

Generator

A device used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy

wave energy

The transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do work or generate electricity

alternative resource

New sources of energy that are safer and cause less harm to the environment

photovoltaic solar cells

capture energy from the Sun as light and convert it directly into electricity

solar thermal electric generation (a.k.a solar power tower)

a system that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate the sun's energy onto a fluid that is then used to generate electricity

electron

negatively charged particle; located in the space surrounding the nucleus of an atom

electricity

A form of energy caused by the movement of electrons