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Active Solar Energy Collection
A type of system that uses circulating pumps and fans to collect and distribute heat.
Alternative Energy
Any source of energy other than fossil fuels that is used for constructive purposes.
Ampere
The unit of electric current in the meter-kilogram-second system of units. Referred to as amp and symbolized as A.
Conduction
the transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity; Energy is transferred through collisions from one molecule to another
Convection
the transfer of heat by the movement of a mass or substance; it can take place only in fluids
Current
The net transfer of electric charge
Electrical Energy
the energy of moving electric charges
Electricity
A form of energy caused by the movement of electrons.
Electromagnetic Energy
A form of energy that travels through space as waves.
Electrolysis
the process in which an electric current is used to produce a chemical reaction, such as the decomposition of water
Energy
the ability to do work or cause change
Entropy
a thermodynamic quantity representing the amount of energy in a system that is no longer available for doing mechanical work
First Law of Thermodynamics
a law that states that the internal energy in a system remains constant and the change in thermal energy of a system is equal to the work done on the system.
Fuel Cell Stack
Individual fuel cells that are combined in series.
Heat
Energy in transit due to a temperature difference between the source from which the energy is coming and a sink toward which the energy is going
Kelvin
Absolute temperature scale
Line of Best Fit
A straight line that comes closest to the points on a scatter plot
Ohm
unit that measures the resistance of an electric current
Ohm's Law
States that the direct current flowing in an electric circuit is directly proportional to the voltage applied to the circuit
Passive Solar Energy Collection
Systems that do not make use of any externally powered, moving parts, such as circulation pumps, to move heated water or air.
Product Development Lifecycle
Stages a product goes through from concept and use to eventual withdrawal from the market place.
Radiation
the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
Renewable Energy
A resource that can be replaced when needed.
Resistance
the measurement of how difficult it is for charges to flow through a material
R-value
The measure of resistance to heat flow
Second Law of Thermodynamics
a law that states all natural processes proceed in a preferred direction
Temperature
A measure of the average energy of motion of the particles of a substance
Thermal Equilibrium
two objects are at the same temperature; there is no flow of heat between them
Thermodynamic System
A part of the physical world as described by its thermodynamic properties such as temperature, volume, pressure, concentration, surface tension, and viscosity.
Thermodynamics
the study of heat and its transformation to different forms of energy
U-value
A measure of thermal transmittance through a material
Volt
The unit of potential difference symbolized as V.
Voltage
The potential difference measured in volts. The amount of work to be done to move a charge from one point to another along an electric circuit.
Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
the law that if two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with a third body then the first two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with each other
Alternative Energy
energy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment
Ampere
the basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
Biomass
Plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel.
Current
The net transfer of electric charge (electron movement along a path) per unit of time.
Electrical Energy
Energy caused by the movement of electrons.
Electricity
The flow of electrical power or charge
Electromagnetic Induction
The production of electricity in conductors with the use of magnets
Effiency
The ratio of the useful energy delivered by a dynamic system to the energy supplied to it
Energy
A fundamental entity of nature that is transferred between parts of a system in the production of physical change within the system and usually regarded as the capacity for doing work
Energy Conservation
Changing one form of energy to another
Environmental Protection Agency
An organization that works to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress
Fossil Fuel
A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms
Generator
A dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity
Geothermal Energy
The use of heat from within the Earth or from the atmosphere near oceans
Gravitational Energy
The state when objects are not yet in motion
Induction
The production of an electric or magnetic state by the proximity (without contact) of an electrified or magnetized body
Inexhaustible Energy
An energy source that will never run out
Kinetic Energy
Energy which a body possesses by virtue of being in motion
Nonrenewable Energy
A resource that cannot be replaced once used
Ohm
The unit of electric resistance in the meter-kilogram-second system of units. Symbolized as Ω
Ohm's Law
States that the direct current flowing in an electric circuit is directly proportional to the voltage applied to the circuit
Parallel Circuit
A closed electrical circuit in which the current is divided into two or more paths and then returns via a common path to complete the circuit
Potential Energy
The energy that a piece of matter has because of its position or nature or because of the arrangement of parts
Power Converter
Changes one form of power to another
Power Grid
A system that links electricity produced in power stations to deliver it to where it is needed
Renewable Energy
A resource that can be replaced when needed
Resistance
The opposition that a device or material offers to the flow of direct current
Work
A result of a force moving an object a certain distance
Turbine
A machine for producing power in which a wheel or rotor is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water, steam, gas, or air
Power
The rate at which work is performed or energy is expended
Rotor
The rotating member of an electrical machine
Series Circuit
A circuit in which all parts are connected end to end to provide a single path of current
Volt
The unit of potential difference symbolized as V
Voltage
The potential difference measured in volts. The amount of work to be done to move a charge from one point to another along an electric circuit
Accuracy
The condition or quality of being true, correct, or exact; precision; exactness.
Assembly
A group of machined or handmade parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit.
Brainstorming
A group technique for solving problems, generating ideas, stimulating creative thinking, etc., by unrestrained spontaneous participation in discussion
Component
A part or element of a larger whole
Consensus
A general agreement.
Constraint
A limit to a design process. Constraints may be such things as appearance, funding, space, materials, and human capabilities.
Decision Matrix
A tool for systematically ranking alternatives according to a set of criteria.
Design Brief
A written plan that identifies a problem to be solved, its criteria, and its constraints.
Design Modification
A major or minor change in the design of an item, effected in order to correct a deficiency, to facilitate production, or to improve operational effectiveness.
Design Process
A systematic problem-solving strategy, with criteria and constraints, used to develop many possible solutions to solve a problem
Design Statement
A part of a design brief that challenges the designer, describes what a design solution should do without describing how to solve the problem,
Designer
A person who designs any of a variety of things. This usually implies the task of creating drawings or in some way using visual cues to organize work.
Open-Ended
Not having fixed limits; unrestricted; broad
Pictorial Sketch
A sketch that shows an object's height, width, and depth in a single view.
Problem Statement
A part of a design brief that clearly and concisely identifies a client's or target consumer's problem, need, or want.
Purpose
The reason for which something is done or for which something exists.
Sketch
A rough drawing representing the main features of an object or scene and often made as a preliminary study.
Solid Modeling
A type of 3D CAD modeling that represents the volume of an object, not just its lines and surfaces
Target Consumer
A person or group for which product or service design efforts are intended.
Team
A collection of individuals, each with his or her own expertise, brought together to benefit a common goal.
Axial Stress
A force with its resultant passing through the centroid of a particular section and being perpendicular to the plane of the section. A force in a direction parallel to the long axis of the structure
Breaking Stress
The stress required to fracture a material whether by compression, tension, or shear
Compression
When a material is reduced in volume by the application of pressure; the reciprocal of the bulk modulus
Deformation
Any alteration of shape or dimensions of a body caused by stresses, thermal expansion or contraction, chemical or metallurgical transformations, or shrinkage and expansions due to moisture change
Destructive Testing
Test methods used to examine an object, material, or system causing permanent damage to its usefulness
Elastic Limit
Maximum stress that a material will withstand without permanent deformation
Elongation
The fractional increase in a material's length due to stress in tension or thermal expansion
Factor of Safety
The ratio of actual strength to required strength
Failure Point
Condition caused by collapse, break, or bending, so that a structure or structural element can no longer fulfill its purpose
Fatigue
The loss of the load-bearing ability of a material under repeated load application, as opposed to a single load
Hooke's Law
The law stating that the stress of a solid is directly proportional to the strain applied to it
Modulus of Elasticity
The ratio of the increment of some specified form of stress to the increment of some specified form of strain, such as Young's modulus, the bulk modulus, or the shear modulus. Also known as coefficient of elasticity, elasticity modulus, elastic modulus
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