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| 5861189294 | kilowatt-hour | how many kilowatts of energy are used per hour | 0 | |
| 5861189295 | joule | way to measure energy | 1 | |
| 5861191275 | BTU | British Thermal Unit. Amount of energy needed to heat 1 pound of water by 1 degree F | 2 | |
| 5861193129 | calorie | the amount of energy needed to heat 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree C | 3 | |
| 5861208480 | most used energies in US (electricity) | - coal (39%) - natural gas (27%) - nuclear (19%) - hydroelectric (7%) - other renewables (6%) - petroleum (1%) - other (1%) | 4 | |
| 5861210094 | most used energies in US (overall use) | - petroleum (36%) - natural gas (27%) - coal (18%) - renewables (9%) - nuclear (8%) - other (2%) | 5 | |
| 5861211377 | efficiency | measures the amount of given energy to a device that actually is used to run the device for its intended purposes __________________ = useful power out/total power in | 6 | |
| 5861211378 | incandescent bulbs | 95% inefficient | 7 | |
| 5861213746 | cfls | compact fluorescent bulbs. 80% inefficient | 8 | |
| 5861213747 | leds | Light Emitting Diodes. least efficient | 9 | |
| 5861215143 | cogeneration | using "waste" energy of one function for another function | 10 | |
| 5861215144 | energystar | more efficient appliance brand | 11 | |
| 5861217712 | environmentally friendly building | - super insulated - orienting the house south to get winter sun for heating - planting trees on west side of the house. These shade the house in the summer to reduce air conditioning costs. - using energy efficient windows - plugging leaks and insulate them - having efficient furnaces and heaters - reusing prior construction materials | 12 | |
| 5861217713 | LEED | leadership in energy efficiency and design. When buildings have a high efficiency and "green" design, they can become _______ certified | 13 | |
| 5861219019 | cafe | Corporate average fuel economy. | 14 | |
| 5861220662 | fuel efficiency in the us | - large use and popularity of SUVs and other inefficient car models - gas prices are subsidized to make costs lower, causing more consumption. - government has rarely increased the CAFE standards for car manufacturers, so companies continue to make inefficient cars. | 15 | |
| 5861220663 | hybrid cars | combination of a gas-powered engine and an electric motor in the car. When braking, kinetic energy of the slowing car is used to power the electric motor and store it. Then the electric motor is used to start the car and run it at a lower speed, and the gas motor kicks in at higher speeds | 16 | |
| 5861222640 | fully electric cars | most will run on electricity until charge runs out. then a gas engine will switch in. They run quiet, have no used for oil, and is non-polluting bc of tailpipe | 17 | |
| 5861222641 | hydrogen power | H2 + O2 = H2O + energy ADVANTAGES: - only byproduct is water - no air pollution or CO2 emissions - provides lots of energy - hydrogen is found in water DISADVENTAGES: - it takes energy to combines the H2 and the O2 - hydrogen cells are very expensive - most hydrogen production comes from the processing of methane and coal which makes greenhouse gases - would need hydrogen gas stations | 18 | |
| 5861224471 | standby power | also called vampire power, is the way electric power is consumed by electronic and electrical appliances while they are switched off. | 19 | |
| 5861224472 | renewable energy | any source of energy that can be replaced as fast as it is used. Examples are wind, hydroelectric, biofuels, and solar | 20 | |
| 5861226378 | nonrenewable energy | any source of energy that is used faster than it is replaced. Examples are coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy | 21 | |
| 5861226379 | fossil fuels | decomposed organisms that have chemically converted to a usable fuel. Include petroleum, coal, and natural gas | 22 | |
| 5861227480 | turbine | what steam turns |  | 23 |
| 5861227481 | generator | what the turbine is connected to. This creates electricity. |  | 24 |
| 5861229137 | petroleum | Made from decayed marine animals pressurized over time. Indicates that water must have been present at some point in time. Pros: - NO ENVIRONMENTAL PROS - easily transported - current supply can last a long time - high energy yield - low cost - low land use - versatile Cons: - water pollution - air pollution - more greenhouse gases - nonrenewable - reserves will run out - government subsidizes | 25 | |
| 5861229138 | fractional distillation | when you boil oil slowly to separate parts of it out. Gasoline, wax, asphalt, jet fuel are often boiled out. | 26 | |
| 5861230667 | opec | organization of petroleum exporting countries. Group of 11 nations that control over 78% of the worlds oil production. They also control the production, pricing, and exportation of oil. | 27 | |
| 5861230668 | tar sands | Also called oil sands, sandy earth layers with bitumen. They are mined, separated, and processed into low quality oil. Canada has largest area of mining. Problems that occur: - destruction of land - lots of air pollution - uses large amounts of water - water becomes polluted - produces more greenhouse gases | 28 | |
| 5861232026 | bitumen | combustible oily material | 29 | |
| 5861232027 | keystone xl pipeline | A pipe that already exists and carries oil sands from Canada to Illinois and Oklahoma. The XL pipe is an extension that links the pipeline to Texas, bc of oil refineries. Pros: - jobs - more money for US - enhanced trade - US can capitalize - reduces need to import from other nations Cons: - lots of pollution - more greenhouse gas emissions - potential for spills - high cost - loss of land | 30 | |
| 5861233938 | natural gas | mixture of gases, with most of it (50-90%) being methane. Also has heavier hydrocarbons. Most of it is used for cooking and heating | 31 | |
| 5861234974 | conventional natural gas | deposits found above oil (drillable deposits). If NG is used, a pipeline is built; if NG is not unused, it is burned to get to oil | 32 | |
| 5861234975 | unconventional natural gas | gas found in other forms. Liquified natural gas. | 33 | |
| 5861236990 | methane hydrates | is a solid clathrate compound in which a large amount of methane is trapped within a crystal structure of water, forming a solid similar to ice. | 34 | |
| 5861238549 | hydraulic fracturing | Most commonly known as fracking. Used to get natural gas, coal, and oil. When a normal well is drilled large amounts of pressurized fluid/water is injected into the well to cause fissures in the rock the resource is stored in. The fluid cracks the rock and releases more oil/gas to the surface. Problems: - often contaminates aquifers with natural gas bc it occurs lower than aquifers. - uses lots of water - wastewater needs to be stored somewhere - water contains highly toxic chemicals. - creates small earthquakes - methane can leak into air - habitat destruction - heavy metal contamination of land - water can get radioactive tracers in them | 35 | |
| 5861238550 | coal | fossilized remains of plants under heat and pressure with time. Mainly carbon-filled, but also has sulfur. Generates 40% of worlds electricity. Most abundant fossil fuel. Pros: - NO ENVIRONMENTAL PROS - easily transportable - currently have 300 year supply - found lots of places - low cost - high energy yield Cons: - air pollution - high land destruction - linked to acid mine drainage - high mercury emissions - acid rain formation - energy is not priced to include potential environmental costs | 36 | |
| 5861238551 | peat | NOT COAL. partially decayed plant matter; high moisture; low heat; found in bogs | 37 | |
| 5861239828 | lignite | low heat and sulfur | 38 | |
| 5861250161 | bituminous coal | high heat and high sulfur; most coal is in this form | 39 | |
| 5861250162 | anthracitic coal | high heat and low sulfur; limited supplies; most desirable coal | 40 | |
| 5861260281 | clean coal technology | - washing coal before burning - try to wash air pollutant stream before entering the air | 41 | |
| 5861260310 | coal gasification | Another example is Coal liquefaction. These two processes that convert coal into alternate fuels like gasoline or natural gas. It is expensive and less energy efficient, but does make new forms of energy sources in need. | 42 | |
| 5861263317 | nuclear energy | ADVANTAGES: - fairly decent supply of uranium - low CO2 emissions - low air pollution - low land destruction - low risk of accidents - lower dependence of foreign oil - newer reactors are safer DISADVANTAGES: - expensive to install at first - low energy yield - need to store wastes safely for billions of years - nuclear accident could be catastrophic - power plants have a lifespan | 43 | |
| 5861264640 | U-235 | Most common atom used in fission | 44 | |
| 5861264641 | chain reaction | the sequence of a growing fission cycle | 45 | |
| 5861264642 | fission | when an atom is split. Most commonly use uranium | 46 | |
| 5861265940 | critical mass | the amount of uranium to start and sustain a chain reaction, without the reaction dying out or getting too large and dangerous | 47 | |
| 5861265941 | subcritical mass | when you have too little uranium to start and sustain a chain reaction | 48 | |
| 5861268263 | supercritical mass | when you have too much uranium which causes the chain reaction to grow so big that too much energy will be created and cause an explosion | 49 | |
| 5861268268 | how a nuclear reactor works | energy is released through nuclear fission (U-235 to U-236). Uranium fuel rods each have a subcritical mass so each rod cannot react on its own. When the fuel rods are moved closer together, the reaction begins and the energy created enters the surrounding water, which will turn to steam. The steam will then turn a turbine, which is connected to a generator which creates electricity. | 50 | |
| 5861270146 | control rods | made of lead or other materials that block nuclear activity between the fuel rods | 51 | |
| 5861271621 | three mile island | coolant system malfunction; resulting in partial meltdown. Explosion occurred, but it was contained and minimal radiation leakage occurred. | 52 | |
| 5861271622 | chernobyl | worst nuclear accident in history. Cooling malfunction led to meltdown and explosion, there was not containment are built, so the explosion caused 100x more radiation exposure that an atomic bomb. Made surrounding area unlivable. | 53 | |
| 5861272929 | fukushima | 2011 tsunami set off chain reaction of events. It knocked out the power plant's connection to the power grid. Multiple reactor unit did not have cooling, so the rods kept generating heat and melted off cooling water. Sea water was pumped over the units to provide cooling, which caused permanent loss of reactors. Radiation leaks occurred. | 54 | |
| 5861274507 | nuclear meltdown | is term for a severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage from overheating. | 55 | |
| 5861275941 | reasons for nuclear accidents | - nuclear meltdown - cooling systems - explosions | 56 | |
| 5861275942 | half-life | how long it takes for the chemical to lose half of its radiation | 57 | |
| 5861278112 | decommissioned | what power plants do when they are retired due to corrosion or use | 58 | |
| 5861278113 | yucca mountain | one of the proposed long-term waste disposal sites for nuclear waste | 59 | |
| 5861279717 | wipp | waste isolation pilot plant. New Mexico. Much public outcry and legal battles have prevented waste storage here. | 60 | |
| 5861279718 | biogas | gas collected from decomposition of organic materials. Primarily made of methane, but does contain other gases. Could be burned to generate heat or electricity. | 61 | |
| 5861283040 | anaerobic methane digesters | A bin that is an area with no oxygen. These conditions are ideal for decomposing bacteria to eat wastes. By-product is gas that can be burned off. | 62 | |
| 5861283041 | hydroelectric energy | using the power of falling/moving water to make electricity. Water behind the dam falls down the spillway of the dam and turns a turbine which is connected to a generator. ADVANTAGES: - efficient - non-polluting - low greenhouse gas emissions - can help prevent floods - provides source of water - long life span DISADVANTAGES: - high costs - danger of collapse/terrorism - can destroy habitats - impacts abiotic and biotic parts of river - lots of CO2 in tropical reservoirs | 63 | |
| 5861285327 | tidal power | where the tidal actions of the ocean turns turbines. Only a small number exist. Mostly in Alaska, France, and England, bc there are limited places they can be. Expensive and difficult to build. | 64 | |
| 5861285328 | geothermal energy | energy from the earths interior. most places are near plate tectonics. - drill/pump dry steam from the ground to turn a turbine that is connected to a generator. or - pump hot water from ground, create steam, turn turbine, activates generator ADVANTAGES: - low greenhouse gas emissions - no air pollution - efficient - low cost to run DISADVANTAGES: - expensive to build - limited sites - often has an odor - can overpump | 65 | |
| 5861286959 | geothermal heat pumps | system that pumps air from the interior of earths crust to the surface and back again. Used to heat homes. | 66 | |
| 5861286960 | solar energy | using the sun to create energy. Divided into passive and active. ADVANTAGES: - can work on cloudy days - fairly easy to install - no greenhouse gas emissions - no air or water pollution - no use of fossil fuels - can be moved easily DISADVANTAGES: - need to be in sunny areas - inefficient - high costs - high land use - panels make DC current, should use AC - difficult to dispose of | 67 | |
| 5861289727 | passive solar energy | solar energy that requires no mechanical power to collect or distribute the energy. Examples are solar cookers, water tank in sunlight to heat water, or skylights | 68 | |
| 5861289728 | solar cookers | cooking food in a solar radiation reflecting oven | 69 | |
| 5861291271 | active solar energy | solar energy that is collected or distributed via mechanical power. For example, some solar panels absorb the suns radiation and transfers heat to a heat absorbing fluid which is pumped to the home to warm it. | 70 | |
| 5861295273 | photovaltic cells | another name for solar panels. Made of silicon and other trace amounts of metals. Sun hits the silicon, causes electrons to move into wires of the solar panels and out as electricity. | 71 | |
| 5861296820 | DC v AC currents | Direct Current v Alternating Current. Alternating current describes the flow of charge that changes direction periodically. Direct current oscillates back and forth and provides a constant voltage or current. | 72 | |
| 5861296821 | wind energy | having wind move a turbine for the generation of electricity. Only produces 1% of US electricity ADVANTAGES: - no air pollution - no greenhouse gases - efficient - easy to build - can be on land or sea DISADVANTAGES: - need steady winds - hard to store excess electricity - can be noisy - can interfere with migratory patterns - requires lots of money | 73 | |
| 5861297952 | biomass energy | plant materials or animal wastes used in some way to make energy. Renewable, and can be grown quickly | 74 | |
| 5861297953 | fuelwood | wood burned for direct heat | 75 | |
| 5861297954 | biofuels | liquid or gas conversions of biomass solids to fuel. Two main examples are ethanol and biodiesel ADVANTAGES: - cleaner burning than fossil fuels - no net carbon emissions - reduces use of fossil fuels - can be used in a variety of ways - can use a variety of materials/wastes DISADVANTAGES: - could be nonrenewable - uses food products for fuel - higher cost - need land to grow - low energy yield - can corrode engines | 76 | |
| 5861299354 | ethanol | any organic material with sugar is broken down into simple sugars. The sugars are fermented, which creates alcohol and then it is mixed with gasoline to create gasohol. Sugar ________ makes a lot more energy than corn _________. | 77 | |
| 5861299355 | biodiesel | fuel primarily made from vegetable oils from soybeans, sunflowers, palms, and fats. Oils undergo transesterification which separates biodiesel from the glycerin in the oils. It is considered cleaner burning than ethanol. Also more energy efficient. | 78 | |
| 5861300634 | fermentation | the chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts, or other microorganisms, typically involving effervescence and the giving off of heat. | 79 | |
| 5861300635 | gasohol | alcohol + gasoline. Used in flex-fuel vehicles. | 80 | |
| 5861339307 | flex-fuel cars | vehicles that can use a variety of fuels in the engine | 81 |
