APES Unit 6 Vocab

renewable resource

A natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed

nonrenewable resource

Something produced in nature more slowly than it is consumed by humans

3 types of Coal

lignite, bituminous, anthracite

Cogeneration

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

Combustion

A rapid reaction between oxygen and fuel that results in fire

Hydraulic Fracturing

the forcing open of fissures in subterranean rocks by introducing liquid at high pressure, especially to extract oil or gas.

nuclear energy

Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom

Radioactivity

the emission of ionizing radiation or particles caused by the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei.

Three Mile Island

1979 - A mechanical failure and a human error at this power plant in Pennsylvania combined to permit an escape of radiation over a 16 mile radius.

Chernobyl

nuclear power plant in Russia that had an explosion in 1986 & released radioactive materials into the air

Fukushima

A city in Japan damaged by the tsunami in 2011; the nuclear power plant released radiation

forms of biomass energy

Charcoal, Manure, MSW, Ethanol

Passive Solar Energy

Solar energy systems that collect energy without the use of mechanical devices

Active Solar Energy

solar radiation captured with photovoltaic cells that convert light energy to electrical energy

Geothermal Energy

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

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

a cell that generates electricity from a controlled reaction between hydrogen and oxygen

Energy Efficiency

The ratio of the amount of work done to the total amount of energy introduced to the system

Energy Conservation

the practice of finding ways to use less energy or to use energy more efficiently