Energy Flashcards
What is energy
Energy is the ability or capacity to do work; It is essential to all life forms
What is work
It is the transfer of energy
What does the Sun have to do with energy
Sun is the primary and major source of energy
We rely on the natural flows of energy
Solar radiation is responsible for various geophysical and ecological systems processes
Thermodynamics Law?
- Energy is neither created nor destroyed but it can be transferred
- With each energy transfer, less energy is available to be transferred because it is transformed to heat
What is electricity
It is the most common form of energy and it is convenient
Renewable and Non Renewable Energy
Non-renewable
Exhaustible
Cannot be replenished within human timescales
Renewable
Vituraly inexhaustible
Can regenerate, are more sustainable than non-renewable energy
What is ROI in energy?
Return on investment. It takes energy to create energy
Fossil fuels had the highest form of ROI before
What are the effects of fossil fuels?
Increased concentrations of GHGs
Threats to ecosystem integrity through destruction and pollution
Negative health effects on both human and nonhuman
What are the Characteristics of Wind?
Fast growing energy source
Wind turbines have less downtime producing 90%
Prices have fallen sharply and are now cheaper than charcoal
Issues of Wind?
Conventional turbines use steel which is a carbon-intensive material (switching to wood)
Bird and Bat mortality
Collisions with wind turbines
Loss of habitats
Characteristics of solar energy
It creates a connection we have with the sun since it gives power
Ways to harness solar energy?
Solar thermal systems
photovoltaic cells
What is solar thermal systems
They produce extremely hot water to make steam and run a turbine producing electricity
The heat from the fluid can be stored if there is no sun making it an alternative to generating power
What are the issues of solar energy
Occupy land at a greater rate than wind
May occupy desert land since it has great potential of heat
Land disputes
What is geothermal energy?
Refers to the heat directly from the earth
Collecting methods is when they extract heat directly from the bottom of the world
