Energy (APES/IB)

fossil fuels

a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

nonrenewable energy resources

a source of energy that exists in limited quantities and, once used, cannot be replaced except over the course of millions of years (i.e. coal, natural gas, oil, etc.)

renewable energy sources

sources of energy able to be replaced through ongoing natural processes (i.e. wind, water, solar, etc.)

nuclear fuel

Fuel derived from radioactive materials that give off energy

Commercial energy sources

those that are bought and sold, such as coal, oil, and natural gas

subsistence energy sources

energy sources gathered by individuals for their own use such as wood, charcoal, and animal waste

coal

A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material

petroleum

liquid fossil fuel; oil

crude oil

petroleum that has not been processed (unrefined)

tar sands/oil sands

sand or clay formations that contain a heavy-density crude oil (crude bitumen); extracted by surface mining

bitumen

A degraded petroleum that forms when petroleum migrates to the surface of Earth and is modified by bacteria.

fission

The splitting of an atomic nucleus to release energy.

fuel rod

A cylindrical tube that encloses nuclear fuel within a nuclear reactor

control rod

A cylindrical device inserted between the fuel rods in a nuclear reactor to absorb excess neutrons and slow or stop the fission reaction

radioactive waste

Materials from a nuclear reaction that emit radiation; contact with such particles may be harmful or lethal to people; therefore, the materials must be safely stored for thousands of years

nuclear fusion

a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy.

energy conservation

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

Passive solar energy systems

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

potentially renewable resources

renewable if left to nature but can be destroyed if people use them carelessly

biofuel

Liquid fuel created from processed or refined biomass

carbon neutral

making no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, especially through offsetting emissions by planting trees.

net removal

The process of removing more than is replaced by growth, typically used when referring to carbon

ethanol

Alcohol made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.

biodiesel

A diesel substitute produced by extracting and chemically altering oil from plants

hydroelectricity

electricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water

tidal energy

The energy captured by transforming the wave motion of water into electrical energy using a turbine

active solar energy

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

photovoltaic solar cell

A system of capturing energy from sunlight and converting it directly into electricity

wind energy

The energy captured by transforming the motion of air into electrical energy using a turbine

wind turbine

A propeller driven by the wind and connected to a generator. The wind makes it turn the generator, which produces electricity.

geothermal energy

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

fuel cells

an electrochemical cell that uses replenishable substances such as hydrogen or oxygen or water to produce electricity