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AP Environmental Science -Energy Flashcards

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9867376544Chapter 120
9867376547NonrenewableOnce they're gone, there's no more1
9867376548Fossil fuelsDerived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. (Coal, Oil, Natural gas)2
9867376549Nuclear FuelsDerived from radioactive materials that give off energy3
9867376550Commercial energy sourcesThose that are bought and sold, (coal, oil, wood, etc)4
9867376551Subsistence energy sourcesThose gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. More used in developing countries.5
9867376552Energy CarrierSomething that can move and deliver energy into a convenient, usable form to end users.6
9867376553TurbineLarge device that will turn to spin a shaft of a generator which produces electricity.7
9867376554Electrical GridConnects power plants together and links them with end users of electricity.8
9867376555Combined 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.9
9867376556CapacityMaximum Electrical output of a plant10
9867376557Capacity FactorFraction of time a plant is operating.11
9867376558CogenerationCombined heat and power. Use of fuel to generate electricity and heat.12
9867376559CoalSolid fuel formed by remains of plants that were preserved at least 280 million years ago.13
9867376560PetroleumWidely used fossil fuel. Mixture of hydrocarbons, water and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits.14
9867376561Crude OilLiquid petroleum that is removed from the ground. Oil=crude oil=petroleum15
9867376562Oil SandsSlow flowing viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water and clay.16
9867376563Bitumen(Tar/Pitch) Degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock.17
9867376564CTLCoal to liquid. Process to make solid coal a liquid fuel18
9867376565Energy IntensityTotal energy is increasing, but energy per person is staying constant.19
9867376545Hubbert Curve (Dealing with Oil)20
9867376566Peak OilMaximum amount of oil that can be extracted before it begins to decline.21
9867376567FissionNuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus which then splits into 2 or more parts.22
9867376568Fuel RodsContainment structure enclosing the nuclear fuel which is contained in a cylindrical tube.23
9867376569Control RodsCylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons. thus slowing and stopping the fission reaction.24
9867376570Radioactive WasteWaste after the nuclear fuel is used up and can't produce heat, but still emits radioactivity.25
9867376571Becquerel (Bq)Measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays.26
9867376572CurieAnother unit of measure for radiation. 37 billion decays per second.27
9867376573Nuclear FusionReaction that powers the Sun and other stars. Lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Lots of heat is generated.28
9867376546Chapter 1329
9867376574NonrenewableOnce gone, no more. Oil Coal Nuclear30
9867376575Potentially RenewableAs long as we do not consume them more quickly than can be replenished. Wood Biofuel31
9867376576NondepletableSolar, Wind, Hydro etc. Energy for all time.32
9867376577RenewablePotentially Renewable and Nondepletable33
9867376578Energy ConservationFinding ways to use less energy34
9867376579Tiered Rate SystemCustomers pay a low rate for the first increment of electricity they use and pay higher rates as their use goes up.35
9867376580Peak DemandGreatest quantity of energy used at any one time.36
9867376581Passive Solar DesignTechnique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building.37
9867376582Thermal InertiaAbility of a material to retain heat or cold. Stay hot when heated or cold when cooled.38
9867376583BiofuelsBiomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.39
9867376584Modern CarbonCarbon in biomass40
9867376585Fossil CarbonCarbon in fossil fuels.41
9867376586Carbon NeutralAn activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations42
9867376587Net RemovalRemoving more timber than is replaced by growth. Unsustainable practice -> Deforestation.43
9867376588EthanolAlcohol. Made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.44
9867376589Flex-Fuel VehiclesCan run on either gas or E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gas) fuel.45
9867376590HydroelectricityElectricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water. 2nd most common form of renewable energy.46
9867376591Run-of-the-riverHydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.47
9867376592Water ImpoundmentStoring water in a reservoir behind a dam. Allows for on demand electricity generation.48
9867376593Tidal EnergyComes from the movement of water. This is driven by the gravitational pull of the moon.49
9867376594Active Solar EnergyTechnologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technologies. Includes, Small scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells etc.50
9867376595Photovoltaic Solar CellsCapture energy from the sun as light, not heat, and convert it directly to electricity.51
9867376596Geothermal EnergyHeat that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth.52
9867376597Ground Source Heat PumpsTake advantage of the high thermal inertia of the ground.53
9867376598Wind EnergyWidely used in some countries and making a comeback in others.54
9867376599Wind TurbineConverts kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.55
9867376600Fuel CellOperates like a battery. This reaction happens in a closed container to which no additional elements are added.56
9867376601ElectrolysisElectric current is applied to water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen.57
9867376602Smart gridEfficient, Self-Regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.58

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