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AP Environmental Science (Energy) Flashcards

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8088429035Chapter 120
8088429036NonrenewableOnce they're gone, there's no more1
8088429037Fossil fuelsDerived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. (Coal, Oil, Natural gas)2
8088429038Nuclear FuelsDerived from radioactive materials that give off energy3
8088429039Commercial energy sourcesThose that are bought and sold, (coal, oil, wood, etc)4
8088429040Subsistence energy sourcesThose gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. More used in developing countries.5
8088429041Energy CarrierSomething that can move and deliver energy into a convenient, usable form to end users.6
8088429042TurbineLarge device that will turn to spin a shaft of a generator which produces electricity.7
8088429043Electrical GridConnects power plants together and links them with end users of electricity.8
8088429044Combined 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
8088429045CapacityMaximum Electrical output of a plant10
8088429046Capacity FactorFraction of time a plant is operating.11
8088429047CogenerationCombined heat and power. Use of fuel to generate electricity and heat.12
8088429048CoalSolid fuel formed by remains of plants that were preserved at least 280 million years ago.13
8088429049PetroleumWidely used fossil fuel. Mixture of hydrocarbons, water and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits.14
8088429050Crude OilLiquid petroleum that is removed from the ground. Oil=crude oil=petroleum15
8088429051Oil SandsSlow flowing viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water and clay.16
8088429052Bitumen(Tar/Pitch) Degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock.17
8088429053CTLCoal to liquid. Process to make solid coal a liquid fuel18
8088429054Energy IntensityTotal energy is increasing, but energy per person is staying constant.19
8088429055Hubbert Curve (Dealing with Oil)20
8088429056Peak OilMaximum amount of oil that can be extracted before it begins to decline.21
8088429057FissionNuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus which then splits into 2 or more parts.22
8088429058Fuel RodsContainment structure enclosing the nuclear fuel which is contained in a cylindrical tube.23
8088429059Control RodsCylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons. thus slowing and stopping the fission reaction.24
8088429060Radioactive WasteWaste after the nuclear fuel is used up and can't produce heat, but still emits radioactivity.25
8088429061Becquerel (Bq)Measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays.26
8088429062CurieAnother unit of measure for radiation. 37 billion decays per second.27
8088429063Nuclear FusionReaction that powers the Sun and other stars. Lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Lots of heat is generated.28
8088429064Chapter 1329
8088429065NonrenewableOnce gone, no more. Oil Coal Nuclear30
8088429066Potentially RenewableAs long as we do not consume them more quickly than can be replenished. Wood Biofuel31
8088429067NondepletableSolar, Wind, Hydro etc. Energy for all time.32
8088429068RenewablePotentially Renewable and Nondepletable33
8088429069Energy ConservationFinding ways to use less energy34
8088429070Tiered Rate SystemCustomers pay a low rate for the first increment of electricity they use and pay higher rates as their use goes up.35
8088429071Peak DemandGreatest quantity of energy used at any one time.36
8088429072Passive Solar DesignTechnique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building.37
8088429073Thermal InertiaAbility of a material to retain heat or cold. Stay hot when heated or cold when cooled.38
8088429074BiofuelsBiomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.39
8088429075Modern CarbonCarbon in biomass40
8088429076Fossil CarbonCarbon in fossil fuels.41
8088429077Carbon NeutralAn activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations42
8088429078Net RemovalRemoving more timber than is replaced by growth. Unsustainable practice -> Deforestation.43
8088429079EthanolAlcohol. Made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.44
8088429080Flex-Fuel VehiclesCan run on either gas or E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gas) fuel.45
8088429081HydroelectricityElectricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water. 2nd most common form of renewable energy.46
8088429082Run-of-the-riverHydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.47
8088429083Water ImpoundmentStoring water in a reservoir behind a dam. Allows for on demand electricity generation.48
8088429084Tidal EnergyComes from the movement of water. This is driven by the gravitational pull of the moon.49
8088429085Active Solar EnergyTechnologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technologies. Includes, Small scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells etc.50
8088429086Photovoltaic Solar CellsCapture energy from the sun as light, not heat, and convert it directly to electricity.51
8088429087Geothermal EnergyHeat that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth.52
8088429088Ground Source Heat PumpsTake advantage of the high thermal inertia of the ground.53
8088429089Wind EnergyWidely used in some countries and making a comeback in others.54
8088429090Wind TurbineConverts kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.55
8088429091Fuel CellOperates like a battery. This reaction happens in a closed container to which no additional elements are added.56
8088429092ElectrolysisElectric current is applied to water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen.57
8088429093Smart gridEfficient, Self-Regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.58

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