APES Unit 6A: Non Renewable Energy Vocab

Anthracite

The cleanest-burning, highest quality grade of coal.

Biomass

A measure of the total dry mass of organisms within a particular region

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.

Crude oil

Also known as petroleum, unrefined liquid fossil fuel.

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.

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.

Fission

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

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 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.

Half-life

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

Hydraulic fracturing

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

Isotope

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

Lignite

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

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.

Particulate matter

Small solids that are dispersed in gas emissions.

Peat

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

Petroleum

Also known as crude oil, unrefined liquid fossil fuel.

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.

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.

Three Mile Island

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

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.

Finite resources

Natural resources that can be worn out (all used up) and cannot be replaced. (i.e. coal)

Depletion time

the time it takes to use up a certain proportion of the reserves of a mineral at a given rate of use

Fractional distillation

A process of petroleum refining, by which a chemical mixture such as petroleum is separated into its components depending on the different boiling points of components.

shale oil

Slow-flowing, dark brown, heavy oil obtained when kerogen in oil shale is vaporized at high temperatures and then condensed. Shale oil can be refined to yield gasoline, heating oil, and other petroleum products.