Unit 6- Energy Resources and Consumption

Active solar energy

Energy captured from sunlight by using technologies.

Anthracite

The cleanest-burning, highest quality grade of coal.

Battery electric vehicles

Mode of transportation that relies solely on electricity and stored energy.

Biodiesel

Biofuel derived from organic materials that can be used in place of traditional diesel fuel.

Biomass

Living tissue from organisms.

Biofuels

Fuels derived directly from living matter.

Bitumen

A black sticky substance obtained from petroleum that can be used for covering roads or roofs.

Bituminous

The second highest grade of coal.

Chernobyl

A nuclear power plant in Russia that had an explosion in 1986 that released radioactive materials into the air and is the worst nuclear accident in the world.

Coal

Solid fossil fuel.

Cogeneration

Production of two useful forms of energy, such as high-temperature heat or steam and electricity, from the same fuel source.

Combustion

Reaction of a fuel with oxygen to produce heat and carbon dioxide.

Concentrated solar power

Use of reflectors to focus sunlight on a receiver, which transfers the heat to a turbine & generator.

Crude oil

Also known as petroleum, unrefined liquid fossil fuel.

Dam

A barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water.

Deforestation

The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves.

Developed countries

Wealthy countries with relatively high levels of industrialization and income, as measured by GDP.

Developing countries

Poorer countries with relatively low levels of industrialization and income, as measured by GDP.

Diversion hydropower

Also called run-of-river, method of harvesting energy from moving water by channeling some of it through a canal.

Drought

A long period of low precipitation.

Electricity

A form of energy caused by the flow of electrons.

Emissions

Pollutants that are released into the air.

Energy conservation

The practice of reducing energy use.

Energy efficiency

The percentage of energy put into a system that does useful work.

Externalities

Side effects or by-products that are not included in the costs of a product; can be negative or positive.

Fission

The splitting of an atomic nucleus due to bombardment by neutrons which releases a large amount of energy.

Flood control

Use of technologies to protect an area of land from water overflow.

Fossil fuels

Coal, oil, and natural gas that are formed from the ancient remains of plants and animals that have been compressed and subject to high heat.

Fuel economy

The relationship between the distance traveled and the amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle, measured typically as miles per gallon.

Fuel rods

Hollow metal cylinders filled with Uranium fuel pellets for use in fission reactors.

Fukushima

Nuclear power plant in Japan that experienced a meltdown following an earthquake & tsunami and is the second worst nuclear disaster in history.

Fusion

The joining of two lightweight atomic nuclei into a single, heavier nucleus which releases a large amount of energy.

Geothermal energy

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

Green buildings

A structure that minimizes the ecological footprint of its construction and operation by using sustainable materials, using minimal energy and water, reducing health impacts, limiting pollution, and recycling waste.

Groundwater

Water that fills the cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock layers.

Half-life

The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Hybrid vehicles

Mode of transportation that uses both a gas engine and an electric motor.

Hydraulic fracturing

Also known as fracking, process of extracting natural gas by injecting a pressurized mixture of water and other chemicals into fissures underground.

Hydroelectric

Electricity generated by the kinetic energy of flowing water.

Hydrogen fuel cell

Device that produces electricity by separating hydrogen into protons and electrons, releasing water as a waste product.

Impoundment hydropower

Method of harvesting energy from moving water by building a large barricade to hold the water back and selectively allowing it to flow through turbines.

Internal combustion engine

An engine that burns fuel inside cylinders within the engine.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Kinetic energy

The energy an object has due to its motion.

Lignite

Lowest grade of coal that has low energy density and more water content.

Mass transit

Transportation system designed to move large numbers of people along fixed routes.

Methane

CH4, a form of natural gas.

Natural gas

A gaseous fossil fuel.

Nondepletable resources

An energy source that cannot be used up regardless of how much it is used.

Nonrenewable resources

A natural resource that is not replaced in a useful time frame.

Nuclear power

Energy that is harnessed from reactions among radioactive isotopes.

Nuclear waste

The radioactive material left over from the production of energy in a nuclear power plant.

Overharvesting

Removing from a population more organisms than the population can replace.

Particulate matter

Small solids that are dispersed in gas emissions.

Passive solar energy

A method of harvesting heat from sunlight directly.

Peat

Partially decayed plant matter found in bogs that is the precursor to coal.

Petroleum

Also known as crude oil, unrefined liquid fossil fuel.

Photovoltaic cells

Usually made from silicon, make up solar panels and collect solar rays to generate electricity.

Potential energy

Energy that is stored in an object or system.

Potentially renewable resources

Resources that can renew themselves over a short period of time, unless they are overused.

Radioactivity

The emission of radiation by an unstable atomic nucleus.

Renewable resources

Any natural resource that can replenish itself in a relatively short period of time, usually no longer than the length of a human life.

Reservoir

A large lake that is formed behind a dam.

Silting

When sediment becomes clogged behind a dam.

Solar energy

Energy from the sun.

Tar sands

Mixture of clay, sand, water, and bitumen- which can be extracted and refined into oil.

Thermal pollution

Nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a substantial change in the temperature of water.

Thermostat

A device that regulates temperature.

Three Gorges Dam

Largest dam in the world, located in China.

Three Mile Island

Nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania that experienced a partial meltdown and was the worst nuclear accident in the United States.

Tidal power

Method of harvesting energy from the movement of sea water caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

Turbines

A machine for producing continuous power that is powered by steam, water, gas or air movement.

Uranium-235

An unstable isotope that is used in nuclear fission reactors.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Potentially toxic gases emitted by certain organic solids and liquids and can evaporate readily from solid or liquid form.

Wind energy

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

intermittent

occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady

depletable

can run out if overused

ex: Biomass (wood, charcoal, ethanol)

non depletable

Cannot be depleted in the span of human time