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AP ES Chapter 12 Flashcards

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8163814170Fossil fuela fuel derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago0
8163818991Nonrenewable energy resourceAn energy source with a finite supply, primarily the fossil fuels and nuclear fuels1
8163826459Nuclear fuelFuel derived from radioactive materials that give off energy2
8163833147Commercial energy sourceAn energy source that is bought and sold3
8163838142Subsistence energy sourceAn energy source gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs4
8163881903Energy carriersomething that can move and deliver energy in a convenient, usable form to end users5
8163899945TurbineA device with blades that can be turned by water, wind, steam, or exhaust gas from combustion that turns a generator in an electricity-producing plant6
8163915372Electrical gridA network of interconnected transmissions lines that joins power plants together and links them with end users of electricity7
8163975931Combined cycleA power plant that uses both exhaust gases and steam turbines to generate electricity8
8163975932CapacityIn reference to an electricity-generating plant, the maximum electrical output9
8163975933Capacity factorThe fraction of time a power plant operates in a year10
8163975934CogenerationThe use of a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat. Also known as combined heat and power11
8163979209CoalA solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant materials preserved 280 million to 360 million years ago12
8164000544PetroleumA fossil fuel that occurs in underground deposits, composed of a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, water, and sulfur13
8164007582Crude oilLiquid petroleum removed from the ground14
8164010182Oil sandsSlow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay15
8164014985BitumenA degraded petroleum that forms when petroleum migrates to the surface of Earth and is modified by bacteria16
8164022962CTL (coal to liquid)The process of converting soil coal into liquid fuel17
8164029164Energy intensityThe energy use per unit of gross domestic product18
8164032932Hubbert curveA bell-shaped curve representing oil use and projecting both when world oil production will reach a maximum and when the world will run out of oil19
8164045548Peak oilThe point at which half the total known oil supply is used up20
8164048715FissionA nuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus, which then splits into two or more parts, releasing additional neutrons and energy in the form of heat21
8164063430Fuel rodA cylindrical tube that encloses nuclear fuel within a nuclear reactor22
8164067174Control rodA cylindrical device inserted between the fuel rods in a nuclear reactor to absorb excess neutrons and slow or stop the fission reaction23
8164075774Radioactive wasteNuclear fuel that can no longer produce enough heat to be useful in a power plant but continues to emit radioactivity24
8164082393Becquerel (Bq)Unit that measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays; 1 Bq = decay of 1 atom or nucleus per sec25
8164091669CurieA unit of measure for radiation; 1 curie = 37 billion decays per second26
8164095944Nuclear fusionA reaction that occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei27
8169945084Patterns of Energy UseOil-32%, Renewable-13%, Nuclear fuel-5%, Coal/Peat-29%, Gas-21%28
8170018182Types of CoalLignite, sub-Bituminous, Bituminous, Anthracite29
8170244140Advantages of CoalEnergy-dense; Plentiful; Easy to exploit by surface mining; Needs little refining; Inexpensive; Easy to handle and transport30
8170255098Disadvantages of CoalContains impurities; Releases impurities into air when burned; Trace metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic are found in coal; Combustion leads to increased levels air pollutants; Ash is left behind, leads to possible runoff; Carbon is released into the atmosphere31
8201379763Types of energiesCoal; Oil and Natural Gas; Wind; Hydroelectric(Dams); Tidal; Solar; Geothermal; Biofuels; Tar sands; Nuclear(fission&fusion)32
8242032042Nuclear energyAdv: No air pollution, less oil; Disadv: Possibility of accidents, difficult to dispose of waste, concern about nuclear material being misused33
8242090012Nuclear FusionA reaction when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Powers the sun34

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