Unit 6: APES Review

Nonrenewable Resources

Not replenished by natural processes within a useful time scale. It is depleted by use. Examples: Fossil fuels, oil, and metals

Renewable Resources

Normally replenished by natural processes. Not depleted by moderate use. Examples: Tidal, solar, and wind

Potentially Renewable

An energy source that can be regenerated indefinitely as long as it is not overharvested

Nondepletable

An energy source that cannot be used up

Major source of energy since the industrial revolution is?

Fossil fuels

Wood

Commonly used as fuel in the forms of firewood and charcoal. Often used in developing countries.

Peat

Partially decomposed organic material that can be burned for fuel

Coal Types

Lignite, bituminous, and anthracite.

Cogeneration

Occurs when a fuel source is used to generate both useful heat and electricity

Combustion of Fossil Fuels

A chemical reaction between the fuel and oxygen that yields carbon dioxide and water and releases energy

Fracking Process

1. Well is made

2. Pipe is inserted

3. Fracking fluid is inserted

4. Gas flows out

Issues with Fracking

It can contaminate groundwater, destroy habitat, cause earthquakes, and natural gas can leak out

Nuclear Power

Is generated through fission, where atoms of Uranium-235, which are stored in fuel rods, are split into smaller parts after being struck by a neutron. Nuclear fission releases a large amount of heat, which is used to generate steam, which powers a turbine and generates electricity

Uranium-235

Is used for nuclear power. Can last up to 24000 years to stop being radioactive

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed

Biomass

Used to produce heat for energy at a relatively low cost, but it also produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Examples: Wood, peat, charcoal, and manure

Biofuels

Are liquid fuels made from plant matter that can be used as substitutes for gas products

Ethanol

Is made by fermenting plant-based starches into sugars and eventually alcohol.

Biodisel

Is extracted and chemically modified oil from plants. Can be a direct substitute for disel fuel.

Active Solar Energy

Systems use solar energy to heat a liquid through mechanical and electric equipment to collect and store energy captured from the sun

Passive Solar Energy

Systems absorb heat directly from the sun without the use of mechanical and electric equipment, and energy cannot be collected or stored

Photovoltaic

Captures light energy from the sun and transforms it directly into electrical energy. Their use is limited by the availabilty of the sunlight

Hydroelectric Power

Kinetic energy of moving water creates electricity

Dams- Built across rivers and collect water in reservoirs. Moving water spins a turbine

Tidal energy- Uses energy from tidal flows to spin a turbine

Geothermal Energy

Is obtained by using the heat stored in the Earth’s interior to heat up water, which is brought back to the surface as steam. The steam is used to spin a turbine which then turns a generator and produces electricity

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Are an alternate to nonrenewable energy sources. They use hydrogen as fuel, combining the hydrogen and oxygen in the air to form water and release energy(electricity) in the process. Water is the product(emission) of the fuel cell.

Electrolysis

Electric current used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen

Wind Energy

Is a renewable and clean form of energy. But maintence is required and it can kill birds/bats

1. Wind turns a turbine

2. Kinetic energy from turbine spins a generator

3. Produces an electric current

Energy Conservation

Small Scale: Adjusting the thermostat, conserving water, conservation landscaping, and the use of energy efficient appliances

Large Scale: Improving fuel economy for vehicles, using battery electric vehicles, using public transportation, and implementing green design features