Unit 6 Energy Resources and Consumption

These flashcards cover key vocabulary from Unit 6 lecture notes on energy issues in environmental science.

Chemical energy

Stored energy in the bonds between atoms in a molecule.

Electrical energy

Energy resulting from the motion of electrons.

Mechanical energy

Consists of potential and kinetic energy.

Potential energy

Stored energy in an object based on its position or configuration.

Kinetic energy

Energy of motion.

Nuclear energy

Energy stored in atomic nuclei, released by fission or fusion.

Thermal energy

Energy an object has due to the movement of its molecules.

Energy

The capacity to do work or produce heat.

Power

The rate at which energy is transferred or used.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A unit of energy commonly used to measure electricity consumption.

British thermal unit (Btu)

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1°F.

Horsepower (HP)

A unit of power commonly used in the automobile industry.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

States thermal equilibrium between bodies A, B, and C if A is in equilibrium with both B and C.

First Law of Thermodynamics

The law stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

States that energy conversions result in increased disorder (entropy) and some energy becomes less useful.

Energy efficiency

The ratio of useful output of energy to the total input, often expressed as a percentage.

Cogeneration

A process that captures waste heat from electricity generation for useful heating.

Fossil fuels

Energy-rich materials formed from ancient organic matter over geologic time.

Natural gas

A fossil fuel mainly composed of methane, used widely for electricity and heating.

Nuclear fission

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

Photovoltaic (PV) cells

Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Concentrated solar power (CSP)

Technology that uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight, producing steam for electricity generation.

Hydroelectric power

Electricity generated from flowing water using turbines.

Geothermal energy

Energy derived from heat contained in underground rocks and fluids.

Biomass

Biological material from living organisms that can be burned for energy.

Methane leakage

The release of methane into the atmosphere during natural gas extraction and transport.

Energy carrier

A substance or system that stores and transports energy, such as electricity.

Externality

A cost or benefit of an activity not reflected in its market price.