Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Sources

Flashcards covering definitions and concepts related to renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, their technologies, and environmental impacts.

Renewable energy

Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.

Nonrenewable energy

Energy sources that cannot be replenished in a short time frame, including fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Fossil fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of ancient organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Industrialization

The process of transforming an economy from agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods.

Governmental regulations

Laws and rules set by governments to control how industries operate, often concerning environmental impact.

Charcoal, Peat, Coal, Lignite

Forms of solid fossil fuels derived from organic materials; charcoal is produced from wood, peat is an early stage of coal formation, lignite is low-grade coal, and coal is a widely used sedimentary rock.

Bituminous

A type of coal that is intermediate in carbon content and energy potential, commonly used for electricity generation.

Anthracite

The highest rank of coal, characterized by its high carbon content and heating value.

Natural gas

A fossil fuel consisting mainly of methane, used extensively for heating and electricity generation.

Crude oil, Tar sands

Crude oil is a liquid fossil fuel extracted from the earth, while tar sands are mixtures of clay, sand, water, and bitumen.

Cogeneration

The simultaneous production of electricity and useful heat from the same energy source.

Combustion reaction

A chemical reaction that occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen to produce energy, typically in the form of heat and light.

Turbine

A machine that converts kinetic energy from fluids into mechanical energy.

Generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Hydraulic fracturing

A method for extracting natural gas and oil by injecting high-pressure fluid into subterranean rocks.

Volatile organic compounds

Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature, contributing to air pollution.

Uranium-235

A naturally occurring isotope of uranium that is used as fuel in nuclear reactors.

Nuclear fission

A nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing energy.

Nuclear fusion

A nuclear reaction in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons, and hence different mass numbers.

Radiation

Energy that comes from a source and travels through space, which can take the form of particles or electromagnetic waves.

Nuclear waste

Byproducts of nuclear reactions, including spent fuel and other radioactive materials.

Thermal pollution

The degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature.

Three Mile Island

The site of a partial meltdown of a reactor in Pennsylvania in 1979, significant for nuclear safety in the US.

Chernobyl, Fukushima

Major nuclear disasters, with Chernobyl occurring in 1986 in Ukraine, and Fukushima in 2011 in Japan, both resulting in widespread radioactive contamination.

Half-life

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

Biomass

Organic material that comes from plants and animals, used as a renewable energy source.

Ethanol, Photovoltaic solar cells

Ethanol is a biofuel made from fermented plant materials; photovoltaic solar cells are devices that convert sunlight into electrical energy.

Active solar heating

A system that collects and converts solar energy into heat for space or water heating.

Passive solar heating

A design approach that uses building orientation, materials, and shape to maximize solar gain without mechanical systems.

Hydroelectric dams

Dams built to harness the energy of flowing water to generate electricity.

Tidal energy

Energy derived from the movement of tides, typically captured using turbines.

Geothermal energy

Energy produced from the heat stored beneath the Earth's surface.

Hydrogen sulfide

A colorless gas with a characteristic foul odor, often associated with geothermal energy and natural gas production.

Hydrogen fuel cells

Devices that convert chemical energy from hydrogen into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen.

Emissions

Substances discharged into the atmosphere, often as a byproduct of combustion processes.

Wind turbines

Devices that convert the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy for electricity generation.

Thermostat, Energy-efficient, Battery electric vehicles

Thermostats control temperature in buildings, energy-efficient products use less energy for the same performance, and battery electric vehicles are powered entirely by electric batteries.

Hybrid vehicles

Vehicles that use more than one type of power source, typically a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

Green building design

Sustainable design practices to minimize negative environmental impact and create energy-efficient structures.