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 source that forms at a rate that is much slower than the rate at which it is consumed
fossil fuel
A non-renewable energy resource formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago
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
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions.
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
The electrical energy produced by Falling Water
biomass
organic matter that can be a source of energy; the total mass of the organisms in a given area
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 a fuel
