Energy Resources Vocabulary 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 that is much slower than the rate at which it is consumed.
Fossil Fuel
A nonrenewable energy source formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago.
Nuclear Fission
When the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller pieces.
Nuclear Fusion
The combination of the nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases energy.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle
A vehicle with a fuel cell and a hydrogen tank.
Solar Energy
The energy recieved 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; the total mass of the organisms in a given area.
Ethanol
A type of 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.
Coal
A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material.
Propane
A gas at standard temperature and pressure.
Tidal Energy
A form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power, mainly electricity.
Wave Energy
The transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work.
