Energy Resources Flashcards
Natural Resource
materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.
Renewable Resource
an organic natural resource which can replenish to overcome usage and consumption, either through biological reproduction or other naturally recurring processes.
Nonrenewable Resource
resources like gas or oil that are not sustainable for billions of years.
Fossil Fuel
a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
Nuclear Fission
a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, with the release of energy.
Nuclear Fusion
a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehical
A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is a type of vehicle which uses a fuel cell to power its on-board electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles create electricity to power an electric motor, generally using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen.
Solar Energy
radiant energy emitted by the sun.
Wind Energy
energy conversion in which turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical or electrical energy that can be used for power. Wind power is considered a renewable energy source.
Hydroelectric Energy
energy derived from the movement of water. Water has mass. It falls and flows downward due to gravity. When it moves, it has kinetic energy which can be harnessed. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
Biomass
the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.
Ethanol (E85)
E85 is an abbreviation for an ethanol fuel blend of 85% denatured ethanol fuel and 15% gasoline or other hydrocarbon by volume, although the exact ratio of fuel ethanol to hydrocarbon can vary considerably while still carrying the E85 label.
Geothermal Energy
thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter.
Petrolem
a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil; oil.
Natural Gas
flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons, occurring naturally underground (often in association with petroleum) and used as fuel.
