Ch. 2 Flashcards
Low-quality energy
Dispersed and has little ability to do useful work. Like dispersed heat with low temp
Low-quality matter
Dilute, located deep underground or dispersed in the ocean or atmosphere, and has little potential as a material resource
Material efficient or resource productivity
Total amount of material needed to produce each unit of goods or services
Multivariable analysis
Mathematical models ran through a computer that analyzes many variables.
Natural radioactive decay
Nuclear change in which unstable isotopes simultaneously emit chunks of matter or high energy radiation.
Syllogism
A series if logically connected statements
Synergistic interaction
When two or more processes interact so that the combined effect is greater than the sum of their separate effects.
throughputs
Occur within the system at certain rates
Uncontrolled nuclear fusion
Develop powerful hydrogen or thermonuclear weapons. Uses D-T fusion reaction that uses hydrogen-2 and hydrogen-3 are fused to form helium-4, a neutron, and energy
Biodegradable pollutants
Complex chemical pollutants that living organism break down into simpler chemicals, like human sewage.
Degradable pollutants
Broken down completely
Slowly degradable pollutants
Take decades or longer to degrade, like DDT and most plastics
nondegradable pollutants
Cannot be broken down naturally, like lead, mercury, arsenic.
Inductive reasoning
Uses specific observations and measurements to arrive at a general conclusion or hypothesis
Junk science
Scientific results that are presented a sound science without having undergone review or that are discarded because of review.
