Energy Crisis and Alternative Energy Resource Flashcards
the power to do work
Energy
those that cannot be replaced once they are used
EXHAUSTIBLE ENERGY
deposits of coal, petroleum (oil), and natural gas found underground. When we use these fuels, we are actually using the sun’s energy that was stored in plants and animals millions of years ago.
fossil fuels
two classifications of exhaustible energy sources
fossil fuels
nuclear fuels
fossil fuels
- COAL. Solid, combustible (burnable) substance that is brown to black in color obtained through mining operations. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel. Coal reserves could last 500 years at our present rate of use.
- OIL (PETROLEUM). Most common petroleum products are gasoline and diesel fuel. Many homes and large buildings use oil as an energy source for heating. These uses, plus its use in transportation, have made oil the world’s most important fuel.
- NATURAL GAS. Mixture of several types of gases: ethane, propane, butane and methane. Widely used for cooking and for heating homes.
Nuclear Fuels
Uranium
Plutonium
the most commonly used nuclear fuel. Uranium is a heavy substance that is found in many metal ores.
uranium
another substance that can be used to power nuclear reactors. If the breeder reactor became widely used, the energy available from our uranium supplies would increase sharply.
plutonium
Those that can be used indefinitely if they are properly managed and maintained. Wood and plants are renewable sources of energy.
renewable energy
A mixture of nine-tenths unleaded gasoline and one-tenth ethyl alcohol. It is used as a substitute for gasoline in cars and trucks.
Gasohol
a clean-burning liquid fuel. It can be made from natural gas and coal. These sources are non-renewable.
Methanol or Methyl Alcohol
the process of obtaining energy from society’s waste products. There are many sources of waste biomass: food product waste, animal waste, paper, cardboard and wood.
Bioconversion
Biomass
oldest sources of energy
wood
INEXHAUSTIBLE ENERGY
Solar energy
Hydroelectric energy
Geothermal energy
Wind energy
Hydrogen energy
Tidal Energy
Wave energy
Can be used directly or indirectly. It can provide both heating and electricity.
solar energy
simply electrical energy produced from flowing water.
Hydroelectric energy
Heat that is generated within the Earth. It is a renewable resource that can be harvested for human use. Magma heats nearby rocks and underground aquifers.
Geothermal energy
Kinetic energy produced by the movement of air, able to be converted to mechanical power.
wind energy
used as a clean-burning fuel, leading to fewer pollutants and a cleaner environment. We also use it for fuel cells. These are similar to batteries and are used to supply power to electric motors.
Hydrogen energy
With the movement of the tides, we get tidal energy when the kinetic energy of the water movement converts into electrical energy.
Tidal energy
an alternative energy source derived from waves as they move across the water. uses electricity generators placed on the ocean’s surface.
Wave energy
