Untitled Flashcards Set

Fossil Fuels

Natural substances formed from decomposed organic materials, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Combustion

The chemical reaction involved in burning fossil fuels, typically hydrocarbon combustion to produce CO₂ and H₂O.

Environmental Impact

The effects of energy production and use on the environment, including CO₂ emissions, global warming, and pollutants.

Renewable Energy

Energy sources that can be replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass.

Nuclear Fission

The splitting of a large atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei, releasing energy.

Uranium-235

An isotope commonly used in nuclear fission as fuel in nuclear reactors.

Photovoltaic Cells

Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials like silicon.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases, including CO₂ and CH₄, that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of CO₂ emissions produced directly and indirectly by human activities.

Galvanic Cells

Electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy through spontaneous reactions.

Electrolysis

A process that uses electrical energy to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction.

Energy Density

The amount of energy stored per unit volume or mass of a fuel.

Efficiency of Energy Conversions

A measure of how effectively energy is converted from one form to another, often expressed as a percentage.

Fuel Cells

Devices that generate electricity through redox reactions, often using hydrogen and oxygen as reactants.

Active Solar Heating

A heating system that uses equipment such as pumps and fans to circulate heat from the collector to the desired area.

Passive Solar Heating

A design strategy that maximizes natural heating through building orientation and materials without mechanical assistance.

Electrolytic Cell

A type of cell used to drive an electrochemical reaction that would not occur spontaneously.

Hydrogen Fuel Production

The process of producing hydrogen, often through electrolysis, for use as a clean energy source.

Energy Conservation

Efforts to reduce energy consumption through being more efficient and reducing waste.