Energy USE and Energy Resource

Renewable

something that can be remade to be used within a short period of time

Nonrenewable

something has a definite supply and or cannot be remade to be used within a short period of time

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

the series of processes that involve the production of electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors

Fossil fuels

hydrocarbon-based fuels (source of potential energy) formed over millions of years from organic material due to incomplete decomposition and long-term exposure to pressure and temperature

Laws of thermodynamics

physics principles describing how energy work in a system

Energy efficiency

a measure of input to output of desired energy often represented as a percentage

Potential energy

energy source capable of but not yet converted to another form of energy

Kinetic energy

energy associated with motion

Entropy

in a system, the decreased availability, increased disorder, of usable energy due to the second Law of Thermodynamics

Fuel

a source of potential energy than can be converted to other form(s) of energy

Fuel cell

a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent

Conservation

saving resources by using them more efficiently, using less of them, or not using them at all.

Energy

is the ability to do work or produce change.

Thermodynamics

the study of the energy and work of a system.

First Law of Thermodynamics.

Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

- The total amount of energy and matter on Earth remains constant.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

in all energy exchanges (or work done), if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state.

entropy

There is the same amount of energy, but it is just less usable. This is known as

Potential Energy

energy that is stored.

has the potential to do work or the potential

to be converted into other forms of energy.

Kinetic Energy

is the energy of anything in motion.

CHEMICAL ENERGY

When your body breaks down the food you eat, it stores the energy from the food as

FUEL

is any material that can release energy in a chemical change.

Heat

When fuel is used for its energy, it is usually burned (combustion), and most of the energy is released as

Nonrenewable Resources

most common examples; Fossil fuels, coal, oil, natural gas

Renewable Resources

solar

water

wind

biomass

geothe

rmal

Electrical Grids

electricity has to move from place to place -

Power

is used to describe energy flow or the rate of doing work (or using energy). Power is measured in joules/second.

Nuclear Energy

The radioactive element uranium can be used to generate electrical energy in power plants.

Oil

is a liquid fossil fuel that is extremely useful because it can be transported easily and can be used in cars and other vehicles.

Natural Gas

forms under the same conditions that create oil. Organic material buried in the sediments harden to become a shale formation that is the source of the gas.

hydroelectric power.

Electricity produced in this way is…

The mechanical energy of rapidly flowing water can turn a turbine and generate electricity.

Geothermal Energy

is clean and safe. The energy source is renewable since hot rock is found everywhere in the Earth.