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AP Environmental Science (Energy) Flashcards

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6445575891Chapter 120
6445575892NonrenewableOnce they're gone, there's no more1
6445575893Fossil fuelsDerived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. (Coal, Oil, Natural gas)2
6445575894Nuclear FuelsDerived from radioactive materials that give off energy3
6445575895Commercial energy sourcesThose that are bought and sold, (coal, oil, wood, etc)4
6445575896Subsistence energy sourcesThose gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. More used in developing countries.5
6445575897Energy CarrierSomething that can move and deliver energy into a convenient, usable form to end users.6
6445575898TurbineLarge device that will turn to spin a shaft of a generator which produces electricity.7
6445575899Electrical GridConnects power plants together and links them with end users of electricity.8
6445575900Combined 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
6445575901CapacityMaximum Electrical output of a plant10
6445575902Capacity FactorFraction of time a plant is operating.11
6445575903CogenerationCombined heat and power. Use of fuel to generate electricity and heat.12
6445575904CoalSolid fuel formed by remains of plants that were preserved at least 280 million years ago.13
6445575905PetroleumWidely used fossil fuel. Mixture of hydrocarbons, water and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits.14
6445575906Crude OilLiquid petroleum that is removed from the ground. Oil=crude oil=petroleum15
6445575907Oil SandsSlow flowing viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water and clay.16
6445575908Bitumen(Tar/Pitch) Degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock.17
6445575909CTLCoal to liquid. Process to make solid coal a liquid fuel18
6445575910Energy IntensityTotal energy is increasing, but energy per person is staying constant.19
6445575911Hubbert Curve (Dealing with Oil)20
6445575912Peak OilMaximum amount of oil that can be extracted before it begins to decline.21
6445575913FissionNuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus which then splits into 2 or more parts.22
6445575914Fuel RodsContainment structure enclosing the nuclear fuel which is contained in a cylindrical tube.23
6445575915Control RodsCylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons. thus slowing and stopping the fission reaction.24
6445575916Radioactive WasteWaste after the nuclear fuel is used up and can't produce heat, but still emits radioactivity.25
6445575917Becquerel (Bq)Measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays.26
6445575918CurieAnother unit of measure for radiation. 37 billion decays per second.27
6445575919Nuclear FusionReaction that powers the Sun and other stars. Lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Lots of heat is generated.28
6445575920Chapter 1329
6445575921NonrenewableOnce gone, no more. Oil Coal Nuclear30
6445575922Potentially RenewableAs long as we do not consume them more quickly than can be replenished. Wood Biofuel31
6445575923NondepletableSolar, Wind, Hydro etc. Energy for all time.32
6445575924RenewablePotentially Renewable and Nondepletable33
6445575925Energy ConservationFinding ways to use less energy34
6445575926Tiered Rate SystemCustomers pay a low rate for the first increment of electricity they use and pay higher rates as their use goes up.35
6445575927Peak DemandGreatest quantity of energy used at any one time.36
6445575928Passive Solar DesignTechnique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building.37
6445575929Thermal InertiaAbility of a material to retain heat or cold. Stay hot when heated or cold when cooled.38
6445575930BiofuelsBiomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.39
6445575931Modern CarbonCarbon in biomass40
6445575932Fossil CarbonCarbon in fossil fuels.41
6445575933Carbon NeutralAn activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations42
6445575934Net RemovalRemoving more timber than is replaced by growth. Unsustainable practice -> Deforestation.43
6445575935EthanolAlcohol. Made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.44
6445575936Flex-Fuel VehiclesCan run on either gas or E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gas) fuel.45
6445575937HydroelectricityElectricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water. 2nd most common form of renewable energy.46
6445575938Run-of-the-riverHydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.47
6445575939Water ImpoundmentStoring water in a reservoir behind a dam. Allows for on demand electricity generation.48
6445575940Tidal EnergyComes from the movement of water. This is driven by the gravitational pull of the moon.49
6445575941Active Solar EnergyTechnologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technologies. Includes, Small scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells etc.50
6445575942Photovoltaic Solar CellsCapture energy from the sun as light, not heat, and convert it directly to electricity.51
6445575943Geothermal EnergyHeat that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth.52
6445575944Ground Source Heat PumpsTake advantage of the high thermal inertia of the ground.53
6445575945Wind EnergyWidely used in some countries and making a comeback in others.54
6445575946Wind TurbineConverts kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.55
6445575947Fuel CellOperates like a battery. This reaction happens in a closed container to which no additional elements are added.56
6445575948ElectrolysisElectric current is applied to water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen.57
6445575949Smart gridEfficient, Self-Regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.58

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