Energy from Alternative Sources

Flashcards about energy from alternative sources. Topics include nuclear fission, radioactivity, nuclear power plants, solar energy, and renewable energy sources.

Nuclear Fission

The splitting of a large nucleus into smaller ones with the release of energy.

TNT (Trinitrotoluene)

Became the standard of explosive power as a result of the birth of nuclear weapons; when explodes, 2 moles of TNT rearrange to form 15 moles of hot gas plus some carbon.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons; use both mass number and atomic number.

Nuclear Reactions

Initiated by neutrons; for nuclear equations, the superscripts and subscripts on both sides of the arrow must add up to the same total.

Chain Reactions

Nuclear fission is initiated by neutrons; each of the generated neutrons can initiate the fission of U-235, which will generate more neutrons.

Nuclear Reactor

A device in which nuclear chain reactions are initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady rate.

Radioactivity

The spontaneous emission of radiation by certain elements, including alpha, beta, and gamma rays.

Alpha particles

A type of nuclear radiation, can be used to generate neutrons from Plutonium-238 and Beryllium-9.

Beta Emission

Loss of an electron balanced by formation of a proton.

Radioactive Decay

Radioactive isotopes undergo decay until they reach a stable species; All isotopes of all elements with atomic number 84 (Po) and higher are radioactive.

Ionizing Radiation

X-rays and nuclear radiation that can remove electrons from atoms/molecules with which they collide.

Annual Dose

A measure of the damage that occurs to human tissue when radiation dose is absorbed.

Half-Life

The time required for the level of radioactivity to fall to one-half of its initial value.

Solar Power

Harnessing the energy from the sun.

Photovoltaic Cell

A solar cell that converts sunlight directly into electricity and uses silicon to free an electron between silicon atoms when exposed to certain light energies.

N-type Silicon

Silicon doped with an element with more electrons than Si (e.g., P, As).

P-type Silicon

Silicon doped with an element with less electrons than Si (e.g., B).

P-N Junction

Layers of p-type and n-type silicon placed in direct contact within solar cells.

Wind Power

A renewable energy source with the largest growth over the last decade.

Geothermal Capacity

The top countries are: the U.S., Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, and New Zealand.