Unit 6 notes (apes)

Non-Renewable

Refers to energy resources that have a finite amount and cannot be replenished naturally or within a short period of time.

Nuclear Energy

The energy released from the splitting or combining of atomic nuclei, typically through nuclear reactions, which can be harnessed to generate electricity.

Coal

Energy produced by burning ancient plant remains called coal, releasing heat energy for electricity and heat production. It has environmental drawbacks, including carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution.

Oil

Versatile energy source used for transportation, electricity generation, heating, and the production of plastics, lubricants, and chemicals.

Natural Gas

Energy source used for heat and electricity generation, obtained by burning natural gas to produce heat, which is then used to generate electricity or provide heat for various purposes.

Biomass

Organic matter, like plants and wood, used for renewable energy through biofuels or burning for heat/electricity. It is renewable because it comes from living organisms and reduces emissions.

Hydropower

Uses flowing or falling water to generate electricity, relying on the continuously replenished water cycle. It is sustainable, clean, and helps reduce carbon emissions.

Solar

Converts sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells, a renewable resource with low maintenance and cost-effectiveness.

Geothermal

Heat derived from the Earth's internal heat, harnessed by drilling wells to access hot water or steam for electricity generation or direct heating purposes.

Fracking

Method used to extract natural gas and oil from deep underground by injecting a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into rock formations. It has both environmental benefits and concerns.

Coal Powerplant

Generates electricity by burning coal to produce steam, which drives a turbine connected to a generator.

Nuclear Powerplant

Utilizes nuclear fuel to produce heat through fission, which is then used to convert water into steam and generate electricity.

Hydroelectric Dam Powerplant

Operates by collecting water in a reservoir, releasing it through turbines to generate electricity, and maintaining the natural flow of the river.

Run-Off River Hydroelectric Powerplant

Harnesses the energy of flowing water in a river without the need for a large reservoir, diverting a portion of the river's flow to generate electricity.

Tidal Energy Powerplant

Captures and controls the flow of water in tidal basins through barrages, using the ebb tide to generate electricity through turbines connected to generators.

Active Solar System

Utilizes solar energy through mechanical or electrical devices like solar panels or collectors to convert sunlight into electricity or heat energy.

Passive Solar Home Design

Architectural approach that maximizes the use of natural sunlight for heating, cooling, and lighting a building, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.

Photovoltaic Panels (Solar Panels)

Convert sunlight into electricity using the photovoltaic effect, where solar cells absorb photons and generate an electric current.

Wind Power

Harnesses the kinetic energy of wind through wind turbines, converting it into electrical energy.

Geothermal Powerplant

Generates electricity by harnessing the heat from the Earth's core through drilling wells into geothermal reservoirs and using the extracted fluid to drive a turbine connected to a generator.

Hydrogen Powered Car

A fuel cell vehicle that converts hydrogen gas into electricity through electrolysis, storing the hydrogen gas in high-pressure tanks and feeding it into a fuel cell stack.

Protons

Positively charged particles that pass through the electrolyte membrane in a fuel cell.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles that are forced to travel through an external circuit in a fuel cell.

Electric current

The flow of electric charge, created by the movement of electrons through the external circuit in a fuel cell.

Electrolyte membrane

A barrier that allows the passage of protons but not electrons in a fuel cell.

Cathode

The electrode where oxygen from the air combines with protons and electrons to form water in a fuel cell.

Water (H2O)

The only byproduct of the process in a fuel cell, formed when oxygen combines with protons and electrons at the cathode.

Exhaust

The water vapor released as a result of the fuel cell process, which is emitted from the car.