Energy resoures Flashcards
Natural resource
materials from the Earth that are used to support life and meet people’s needs
renewable resource
resources that continue to exist despite being consumed or can replenish themselves over a period of time even as they are used.
nonrenewable resource
coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy. Once these resources are used up, they cannot be replaced
fossil fuel
A fossil fuel is a hydrocarbon-containing material such as coal, oil, and natural gas, formed naturally in the Earth’s crust from the remains of dead plants and animals that is extracted and burned as a fuel.
nuclear fission
a neutron collides with a uranium atom and splits it
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy.
hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
A fuel, such as hydrogen, is fed to the anode, and air is fed to the cathode. In a hydrogen fuel cell, a catalyst at the anode separates hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons, which take different paths to the cathode.
solar energy
Solar energy is a renewable resource, and many technologies can harvest it directly for use in homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals.
wind energy
Wind energy suffers from what is called intermittency, which is a disruption caused by the inconsistency of the wind itself.
Hydroelectric energy
a form of energy that harnesses the power of water in motion—such as water flowing over a waterfall—to generate electricity.
Biomass
organic matter used as a fuel, especially in a power station for the generation of electricity.
Gasohol
a mixture of gasoline and ethyl alcohol used as fuel in internal combustion engines
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is heat within the earth.
petroleum
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
a fossil energy source that formed deep beneath the earth’s surface
coal
a sedimentary deposit composed predominantly of carbon that is readily combustible
propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C₃H₈. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid.
tidal energy
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C₃H₈. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid.
wave energy
Wave energy is a form of renewable energy that can be utilized from the motion of the waves
smog
Smog, or smoke fog, is a type of intense air pollution
Acid Precipitation
any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms
Recycling
recovery and reprocessing of waste materials for use in new products.
