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AP Environmental Science (Energy) Flashcards

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6812410163NonrenewableA resource that can be depleted such as fossil fuels.0
6812410164Fossil fuelsDerived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. (Coal, Oil, Natural gas)1
6812410165Nuclear FuelsDerived from radioactive materials that give off energy2
6812410166Commercial energy sourcesThose that are bought and sold, (coal, oil, wood, etc)3
6812410167Subsistence energy sourcesThose gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. More used in developing countries.4
6812410168Energy CarrierSomething that can move and deliver energy into a convenient, usable form to end users.5
6812410169TurbineLarge device that will turn to spin a shaft of a generator which produces electricity.6
6812410170Electrical GridConnects power plants together and links them with end users of electricity.7
6812410171Combined CycleNatural gas-fired power plant. 2 turbines and generators. Natural gas is burned to spin a turbine and the waste heat will boil water which will turn another turbine.8
6812410172CapacityMaximum Electrical output of a plant9
6812410173Capacity FactorFraction of time a plant is operating.10
6812410174CogenerationCombined heat and power. Use of fuel to generate electricity and heat.11
6812410175CoalSolid fuel formed by remains of plants that were preserved at least 280 million years ago.12
6812410176PetroleumWidely used fossil fuel. Mixture of hydrocarbons, water and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits.13
6812410177Crude OilLiquid petroleum that is removed from the ground. Oil=crude oil=petroleum14
6812410178Oil SandsSlow flowing viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water and clay.15
6812410179Bitumen(Tar/Pitch) Degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock.16
6812410180PowerHow much electricity is used per unit of time17
6812410181Energy IntensityTotal energy is increasing, but energy per person is staying constant.18
6812410182Hubbert Curve (Dealing with Oil)19
6812410183Peak OilMaximum amount of oil that can be extracted before it begins to decline.20
6812410184FissionNuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus which then splits into 2 or more parts.21
6812410185Fuel RodsContainment structure enclosing the nuclear fuel which is contained in a cylindrical tube.22
6812410186Control RodsCylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons. thus slowing and stopping the fission reaction.23
6812410187Radioactive WasteWaste after the nuclear fuel is used up and can't produce heat, but still emits radioactivity.24
6812410188Becquerel (Bq)Measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays.25
6812410189CurieAnother unit of measure for radiation. 37 billion decays per second.26
6812410190Nuclear FusionReaction that powers the Sun and other stars. Lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Lots of heat is generated.27
6812410193Potentially RenewableAs long as we do not consume them more quickly than can be replenished. Wood Biofuel28
6812410194NondepletableSolar, Wind, Hydro etc. Energy for all time.29
6812410195RenewableA resource that is not depleatable and can be reused over time30
6812410196Energy ConservationFinding ways to use less energy31
6812410197Tiered Rate SystemCustomers pay a low rate for the first increment of electricity they use and pay higher rates as their use goes up.32
6812410198Peak DemandGreatest quantity of energy used at any one time.33
6812410199Passive Solar DesignTechnique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building.34
6812410200Thermal InertiaAbility of a material to retain heat or cold. Stay hot when heated or cold when cooled.35
6812410201BiofuelsBiomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.36
6812410202Modern CarbonCarbon in biomass37
6812410203Fossil CarbonCarbon in fossil fuels.38
6812410204Carbon NeutralAn activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations39
6812410205Net RemovalRemoving more timber than is replaced by growth. Unsustainable practice -> Deforestation.40
6812410206EthanolAlcohol. Made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.41
6812410207Flex-Fuel VehiclesCan run on either gas or E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gas) fuel.42
6812410208HydroelectricityElectricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water. 2nd most common form of renewable energy.43
6812410209Run-of-the-riverHydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.44
6812410210Water ImpoundmentStoring water in a reservoir behind a dam. Allows for on demand electricity generation.45
6812410211Tidal EnergyComes from the movement of water. This is driven by the gravitational pull of the moon.46
6812410212Active Solar EnergyTechnologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technologies. Includes, Small scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells etc.47
6812410213Photovoltaic Solar CellsCapture energy from the sun as light, not heat, and convert it directly to electricity.48
6812410214Geothermal EnergyHeat that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth.49
6812410215Ground Source Heat PumpsTake advantage of the high thermal inertia of the ground.50
6812410216Wind EnergyWidely used in some countries and making a comeback in others.51
6812410217Wind TurbineConverts kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.52
6812410218Fuel CellOperates like a battery. This reaction happens in a closed container to which no additional elements are added.53
6812410219ElectrolysisElectric current is applied to water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen.54
6812410220Smart gridEfficient, Self-Regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.55

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