energy resources Flashcards
natural resource
any natural material that is used by humans, such as water, petroleum, minerals, forests, and animals.
renewable resource
a natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed.
nonrenewable resource
a resource that forms at a rate much slower than the rate at which is consumed.
fossil fuel
a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago; examples include oil, coal, and natural gas.
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
the combination of the nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases energy.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
fuel cell cars and trucks combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which runs a motor.
solar energy
the energy received by the Earth from the sun in the form of radiation.
wind energy
the use of a windmill to drive an electric generator.
hydroelectric energy
electrical energy produced by falling water.
biomass
organic matter that can be a source of energy.
gasohol
a mixture of gasoline and alcohol that is used as a fuel.
geothermal energy
the energy produced by heat within the earth.
petroleum
a liquid mixture of complex hydrocarbon compounds; used widely as a fuel source.
natural gas
a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons located under the surface of the earth, often near petroleum, deposits; used as fuel.
Coal
a fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material.
propane
a flammable hydrocarbon gas of the alkane series, present in natural gas and used as bottled fuel.
tidal energy
is a form of hydro-power that converts the energy obtained from tides into useful forms of power, mainly electricity.
wave energy
is the capture of energy of wind waves to do useful work.
smog
photo-chemical haze that forms when sunlight acts on industrial pollutants and burning fuels.
acid precipitation
precipitation, such as rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids, often because of the pollution of the atmosphere.
recycling
the process of recovering valuable or useful materials from waste or scrap; the process of reusing some items.
