Unit 13 (Nuclear & Alternative Energy) Vocabulary

alpha particle

a type of nuclear radiation consisting of two protons and two neutrons

beta particle

a high-speed electron or positron emitted in the decay of a radioactive isotope

gamma radiation

electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength

radioactive half-life

the time it takes for half of the radioactive isotopes in a sample to decay to a new form

Roentgen Equivalent Man (REM)

Dosage in rads that will cause same amount of biological injury as 1 rad of x-rays

nuclear fission

A nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

uranium-235

an isotope used to fuel most nuclear fission reactors

control rods

neutron-absorbing rods that help control the reaction by limiting the number of free neutrons

radiation

Energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles.

decommissioning

Process of closing a nuclear power plant after it has passed its effective lifetime

fissionable

capable of or possessing a nucleus or nuclei capable of undergoing fission

transuranic waste

Composed of human-made radioactive elements heavier than uranium-- it is produced in part by neutron bombardment of uranium in reactors and includes plutonium, americium, and einsteinium

pressurized water reactor

A common type of nuclear reactor that uses water as a source of steam for the production of electricity.

moderator

Water or graphite used to slow down the fast neutrons produced by fission

thermal pollution

Nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a substantial change in the temperature of water

isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons

Yucca Mountain

Site in Nevada proposed as a permanent storage site for high-level radioactive wastes from commercially operated nuclear power plants

Chernobyl

nuclear power plant in Russia that had an explosion in 1986 & released radioactive materials into the air

Fukushima Daiichi

Japanese nuclear power plant severely damaged by the tsunami associated with the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake that rocked Japan. Most radiation drifted over the ocean away from population centers, but the event was history's second most serious nuclear accident.

Three Mile Island

Nuclear Power Plant in Harrisburg, Penn. which where a partial meltdown occurred in 1979, causing radiation to be admitted in the air

biomass energy

renewable energy derived from burning organic materials such as wood and alcohol

biogas

gas (mostly methane) released from biological materials like decomposing organic matter

photovoltaic cell

Solar energy cells, usually made from silicon, that collect solar rays to generate electricity.

concentrated solar power

intensifies solar energy by gathering it from a wide area and focusing it on a single point. Heat is used to heat a fluid that turns a turbine and generate electricity

hydroelectric power

Electricity generated by flowing water

tidal power

Electricity generated by the movement of sea water caused by the tides

geothermal power

Steam or hot water coming from within the earth's interior used to turn a turbine and generate electricity

wind power

The use of a windmill to drive an electric generator

ethanol

Alcohol used as a substitute for gasoline that is made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol

biodiesel

A diesel substitute produced by extracting and chemically altering oil from plants

fuel cell

An electrical-chemical device that converts fuel, such as hydrogen, into an electrical current.