Science 30 Energy and the Environment

Flashcards related to energy sources, sustainability, and nuclear reactions.

Energy

Capacity to do work

Joule (J)

Unit of measure for energy

Per-capita energy use

Energy usage per person

Energy efficiency

Measure of useful output energy vs the input energy of the device.

Sustainable

Capable of being maintained at length without interruption, weakening, or loss of essential characteristics such as matter and energy.

Passive Solar Energy

EMR hits the surface and is absorbed and converted into thermal energy, which is distributed by convection, conduction, and radiation.

Solar heat collector

Device that absorbs solar energy and converts it into thermal energy, which is then carried by a fluid and distributed.

Photovoltaic Cells (Solar Panels)

Photons of EMR are absorbed by the photovoltaic cell causing the material in the cell to eject electrons, which produce a current that flows through a circuit.

Wind Power

Solar energy is absorbed by the Earth and converted into thermal energy, which affects the kinetic energy and temperature of air molecules to create air currents and winds.

Hydroelectric Power

Moving water's kinetic energy is used to power a generator and converted to electrical energy, originally powered by the sun's water cycle.

Fossil Fuels

Plants absorbed energy through photosynthesis, died or were eaten, were buried, and were transformed into fossil fuels.

Biomass

Burning modern plants or plant materials to produce thermal energy and electricity.

Combustion reaction

A highly exothermic reaction when a fuel source reacts with oxygen to form the most common oxides of the atoms involved.

Standard Heat of Combustion, ΔH

Amount of heat released when a substance undergoes complete combustion.

Standard Molar Heat of Formation, ΔH

Amount of energy absorbed or released when 1 mole of a substance is formed from its elements.

Nuclear Reaction

Reaction that involves the nucleus of an atom; includes nuclear decay, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion.

Nuclear Notation

Representation of an atom that lists the chemical symbol for the element, its atomic number, and its mass number.

Nuclear Radiation

Energy released as high-speed charged particles or in the form of electromagnetic waves; ionizing radiation.

Alpha Radiation

Releases alpha particles (helium nuclei) due to nuclear decay or reactions; least penetrating type of radiation.

Beta Radiation

Release of beta particles (electrons) during nuclear decay or reactions; stopped by a thin sheet of metal, plastic, or wood.

Gamma Radiation

Stream of gamma photons; most damaging of the three principal types of radiation, stopped by dense materials like concrete or lead.

Radioactive Decay

Large unstable nulcei emits radiation

Nuclear Fusion

Two small nuclei combine to form one larger, heavier nucleus, releasing enormous amounts of thermal energy.

Nuclear Fission

Large nucleus is broken down into two smaller nuclei, releasing significant energy.

Geothermal Energy

Energy originating from radioactive decay in the Earth's core, providing direct heat and electricity.

Tidal Energy

Movement of Earth's oceans due to the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon; used to generate electricity.

Hydrogen-Fuel Cells

Uses the formation of water from its elements, hydrogen and oxygen, to generate energy; produces only pure distilled water as emission.