AP Environmental Science (Energy) Flashcards

9201179854	Nonrenewable	Once they're used, they will not be replaced in a human lifetime	0
9201179855	Fossil fuels	Derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. (Coal, Oil, Natural gas)	1
9201179856	Nuclear Fuels	Derived from radioactive materials that give off energy	2
9201179857	Commercial energy sources	Those that are bought and sold, (coal, oil, wood, etc)	3
9201179858	Subsistence energy sources	Those gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. More used in developing countries.	4
9201179859	Energy Carrier	Something that can move and deliver energy into a convenient, usable form to end users.	5
9201179860	Turbine	Large device that will turn to spin a shaft of a generator which produces electricity.	6
9201179861	Electrical Grid	Connects power plants together and links them with end users of electricity.	7
9201179863	Capacity	Maximum Electrical output of a plant	8
9201179865	Cogeneration	Combined heat and power. Recycling of materials used to generate electricity for other purposes: like water from a thermal power plant used to create heat in the building.	9
9201179866	Coal	Solid fuel formed by remains of plants that were preserved at least 280 million years ago.	10
9201179867	Petroleum	Widely used fossil fuel. Mixture of hydrocarbons, water and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits.	11
9201179868	Crude Oil	Liquid petroleum that is removed from the ground. Oil=crude oil=petroleum	12
9201179869	Oil Sands	Slow flowing viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water and clay.	13
9201179870	Bitumen	(Tar/Pitch) Degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock.	14
9201179872	Energy Intensity	Total energy is increasing, but energy per person is staying constant.	15
9201179873	Hubbert Curve- Peak Oil (Dealing with Oil)		16
9201179874	Peak Oil	Maximum amount of oil that can be extracted before it begins to decline.	17
9201179875	Fission	Nuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus which then splits into 2 or more parts.	18
9201179876	Fuel Rods	The fuel- usually uranium- that experiences a chain nuclear fission reaction to generate heat in a nuclear power plant	19
9201179877	Control Rods	Cylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons. thus slowing and stopping the fission reaction.	20
9201179878	Radioactive Waste	Waste after the nuclear fuel is used up and can't produce heat, but still emits radioactivity.	21
9201179881	Nuclear Fusion	Reaction that powers the Sun and other stars. Lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Lots of heat is generated.	22
9201179883	Nonrenewable	Once gone, no more. Oil Coal Nuclear	23
9201179884	Potentially Renewable	As long as we do not consume them more quickly than can be replenished. Wood Biofuel	24
9201179886	Renewable	Potentially Renewable and Nondepletable	25
9201179887	Energy Conservation	Finding ways to use less energy	26
9201179889	Peak Demand	Greatest quantity of energy used at any one time.	27
9201179890	Passive Solar Design	Technique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building.	28
9201179892	Biofuels	Biomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.	29
9201179897	Ethanol	Alcohol. Made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.	30
9201179899	Hydroelectricity	Electricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water. 2nd most common form of renewable energy.	31
9201179900	Run-of-the-river	Hydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.	32
9201179901	Water Impoundment	Storing water in a reservoir behind a dam. Allows for on demand electricity generation.	33
9201179902	Tidal Energy	Comes from the movement of water. This is driven by the gravitational pull of the moon.	34
9201179903	Active Solar Energy	Technologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technologies. Includes, Small scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells etc.	35
9201179904	Photovoltaic Solar Cells	Capture energy from the sun as light, not heat, and convert it directly to electricity.	36
9201179908	Wind Turbine	Converts kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.	37
9201179909	Hydrogen Fuel Cell	Operates like a battery. This reaction isolates Hydrogen and Oxygen and happens in a closed container to which no additional elements are added.	38
9201179910	Electrolysis	Electric current is applied to water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen.	39
9201179911	Smart grid	Efficient, Self-Regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users. Adds in energy produced by solar panels on consumers houses.	40