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AP Environmental Science (Energy) Flashcards

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9833823154Chapter 120
9833823157NonrenewableOnce they're gone, there's no more1
9833823158Fossil fuelsDerived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. (Coal, Oil, Natural gas)2
9833823159Nuclear FuelsDerived from radioactive materials that give off energy3
9833823160Commercial energy sourcesThose that are bought and sold, (coal, oil, wood, etc)4
9833823161Subsistence energy sourcesThose gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. More used in developing countries.5
9833823162Energy CarrierSomething that can move and deliver energy into a convenient, usable form to end users.6
9833823163TurbineLarge device that will turn to spin a shaft of a generator which produces electricity.7
9833823164Electrical GridConnects power plants together and links them with end users of electricity.8
9833823165Combined 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
9833823166CapacityMaximum Electrical output of a plant10
9833823167Capacity FactorFraction of time a plant is operating.11
9833823168CogenerationCombined heat and power. Use of fuel to generate electricity and heat.12
9833823169CoalSolid fuel formed by remains of plants that were preserved at least 280 million years ago.13
9833823170PetroleumWidely used fossil fuel. Mixture of hydrocarbons, water and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits.14
9833823171Crude OilLiquid petroleum that is removed from the ground. Oil=crude oil=petroleum15
9833823172Oil SandsSlow flowing viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water and clay.16
9833823173Bitumen(Tar/Pitch) Degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock.17
9833823174CTLCoal to liquid. Process to make solid coal a liquid fuel18
9833823175Energy IntensityTotal energy is increasing, but energy per person is staying constant.19
9833823155Hubbert Curve (Dealing with Oil)20
9833823176Peak OilMaximum amount of oil that can be extracted before it begins to decline.21
9833823177FissionNuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus which then splits into 2 or more parts.22
9833823178Fuel RodsContainment structure enclosing the nuclear fuel which is contained in a cylindrical tube.23
9833823179Control RodsCylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons. thus slowing and stopping the fission reaction.24
9833823180Radioactive WasteWaste after the nuclear fuel is used up and can't produce heat, but still emits radioactivity.25
9833823181Becquerel (Bq)Measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays.26
9833823182CurieAnother unit of measure for radiation. 37 billion decays per second.27
9833823183Nuclear FusionReaction that powers the Sun and other stars. Lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Lots of heat is generated.28
9833823156Chapter 1329
9833823184NonrenewableOnce gone, no more. Oil Coal Nuclear30
9833823185Potentially RenewableAs long as we do not consume them more quickly than can be replenished. Wood Biofuel31
9833823186NondepletableSolar, Wind, Hydro etc. Energy for all time.32
9833823187RenewablePotentially Renewable and Nondepletable33
9833823188Energy ConservationFinding ways to use less energy34
9833823189Tiered Rate SystemCustomers pay a low rate for the first increment of electricity they use and pay higher rates as their use goes up.35
9833823190Peak DemandGreatest quantity of energy used at any one time.36
9833823191Passive Solar DesignTechnique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building.37
9833823192Thermal InertiaAbility of a material to retain heat or cold. Stay hot when heated or cold when cooled.38
9833823193BiofuelsBiomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.39
9833823194Modern CarbonCarbon in biomass40
9833823195Fossil CarbonCarbon in fossil fuels.41
9833823196Carbon NeutralAn activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations42
9833823197Net RemovalRemoving more timber than is replaced by growth. Unsustainable practice -> Deforestation.43
9833823198EthanolAlcohol. Made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.44
9833823199Flex-Fuel VehiclesCan run on either gas or E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gas) fuel.45
9833823200HydroelectricityElectricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water. 2nd most common form of renewable energy.46
9833823201Run-of-the-riverHydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.47
9833823202Water ImpoundmentStoring water in a reservoir behind a dam. Allows for on demand electricity generation.48
9833823203Tidal EnergyComes from the movement of water. This is driven by the gravitational pull of the moon.49
9833823204Active Solar EnergyTechnologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technologies. Includes, Small scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells etc.50
9833823205Photovoltaic Solar CellsCapture energy from the sun as light, not heat, and convert it directly to electricity.51
9833823206Geothermal EnergyHeat that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth.52
9833823207Ground Source Heat PumpsTake advantage of the high thermal inertia of the ground.53
9833823208Wind EnergyWidely used in some countries and making a comeback in others.54
9833823209Wind TurbineConverts kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.55
9833823210Fuel CellOperates like a battery. This reaction happens in a closed container to which no additional elements are added.56
9833823211ElectrolysisElectric current is applied to water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen.57
9833823212Smart gridEfficient, Self-Regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.58

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