APES Unit Six Vocabulary

hydroelectric energy

electrical energy produced by the flow of water

tidal energy

The energy captured by transforming the wave motion of water into electrical energy using a turbine

petroleum

liquid fossil fuel formed from fossilized marine organisms; oil

nuclear fission

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

chain reaction

A series of reactions in which the product or by-product of the reaction initiates further reaction.

anthracite coal

Has the highest energy content of all coals, cleanest burning, most expensive

bituminous coal

The most common form of coal; produces a high amount of heat and is used extensively by electric power plants.

tar sands/oil sands

sand or clay formations that contain a heavy-density crude oil (crude bitumen); extracted by surface mining

wind turbine

A turbine that converts wind energy into electricity

photovoltaic cell (PV cell)

a semiconductor device that converts the energy of sunlight into electric energy.

biofuel

a fuel derived directly from living matter. (type of biomass energy)

hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

pumping fluid (mostly water) at high pressure to break apart rocks and thereby release natural gas or oil

Generator

A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy

electric grid

A network of interconnected transmission lines that joins power plants together and links them with end users of electricity

control rods

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

reactor core

the thick steel vessel used to contain fuel rods, control rods and the moderator in a nuclear fission reactor

Biomass Energy

renewable energy derived from burning organic materials such as wood and alcohol. Only renewable that produces CO2. Is cheap. Used heavily in developing countries.

semiconductor

an element or compound that conducts electric current better than an insulator does but not as well as a conductor does

Subsidies

a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive.

Cogeneration

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

Peat

a brown, soil-like material characteristic of boggy, acid ground, consisting of partly decomposed vegetable matter. It is widely cut and dried for use in gardening and as fuel.

thermal pollution

Nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a substantial change in the temperature of water; common with nuclear power plants

photovoltaic cell

a solar energy cell, usually made from silicon, that collects solar rays to generate electricity

hydrogen fuel cell

generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen

offshore wind farms

can produce much more electrical power because the wind is about 20% greater over water than land

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

Finite

limited

infinite

endless

Natural gas

flammable gas, consisting largely of methane, occurring naturally underground (often in association with petroleum) and used as fuel.

Cleanest fossil fuel

Formed from fossilized marine organisms

Coal

A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed swampy plant material

Solar energy

energy that comes from the sun

Wind energy

The energy captured by transforming the motion of air into electrical energy using a turbine

Geothermal energy

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

nuclear energy

The potential energy stored in the nucleus of a uranium- 235 atoms. Only nonrenewable that does not produce CO2. Is expensive.

Ethanol

Alcohol made by converting starches and sugars from plant material (most often corn) into alcohol and CO2. This makes up 10% of most gas in the US.

OPEC

An organization of countries formed in 1960 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum.

fossil fuels

a natural fuel such as coal , oil, and natural gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms (all nonrenewable resources)

Nonrenewable Energy

A source of energy that is a finite supply capable of being exhausted. Cannot be replenished in a human lifetime.

Ex. Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Nuclear

renewable energy

A resource that has a theoretically unlimited supply and is not depleted when used by humans.

Ex. Solar, Hydro, Biomass, Geothermal, Wind, Tidal

3 mile island

Nuclear reactor accident in PA, caused U.S. to strengthen nuclear regulatory laws

Chernobyl

A city in Ukraine that was the site of a 1986 meltdown at a Soviet nuclear power plant.

Fukushima

nuclear disaster in Japan caused by an earthquake followed by a tsunami

active solar energy

energy captured from sunlight with advanced technologies

Passive solar energy

uses the solar energy that naturally falls on a building or area to heat it directly (no technology used)