APES Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption

nonrenewable energy

An energy source with a finite supply, primarily the fossil fuels and nuclear fuelsterm-21

renewable energy

In energy management, an energy source that is either potentially renewable or nondepletable

consumption rate

the speed at which resources are being used up

commercial energy source

An energy source that is bought and sold (mainly coal oil and natural gas)

subsistence energy source

An energy source gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs(straw, sticks and animal dung)

fossil fuel

A fuel derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago

nuclear fuel

Fuel derived from radioactive materials that give off energy

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

cogeneration

The use of a single fuel to generate electricity and to produce heat

coal

Solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant materials preserved 280 million to 360 million years ago

petroleum

A fossil fuel that occurs in underground deposits, composed of a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, water, and sulfur

crude oil

Liquid petroleum removed from the ground

oil sands

Slow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay

bitumen

A degraded petroleum that forms when petroleum migrates to the surface of Earth and is modified by bacteria.

fission

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

fuel rod

A cylindrical tube that encloses nuclear fuel within a nuclear reactor

control rod

A cylindrical device inserted between the fuel rods in a nuclear reactor to absorb excess neutrons and slow or stop the fission reaction

radioactive waste

Nuclear fuel that can no longer produce enough heat to be useful in a power plant but continues to emit radioactivity

nuclear fusion

a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy.

energy conservation

the practice of finding ways to use less energy or to use energy more efficiently

peak demand

The greatest quantity of energy used at any one time

passive solar design

Construction designed to take advantage of solar radiation without active technology

thermal mass

A property of a building material that allows it to maintain heat or cold

biomass

total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

biofuel

Liquid fuel created from processed or refined biomass

carbon neutral

an activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations

ethanol

Alcohol made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.

biodiesel

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

flex-fuel vehicle

A vehicle that runs on either gasoline or a gasoline/ethanol mixture

hydroelectricity

electricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water

tidal energy

Energy that comes from the movement of water driven by the gravitational pull of the Moon.

active solar energy

energy captured from sunlight with advanced technologies

photovoltaic solar cell

A system of capturing energy from sunlight and converting it directly into electricity

wind energy

Energy generated from the kinetic energy of moving air

geothermal energy

Energy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks.

wind turbine

A turbine that converts wind energy into electricity

fuel cell

a cell producing an electric current directly from a chemical reaction.

ground source heat pump

A technology that transfers heat from the ground to a building

reservoir

A lake that stores water for human use.