Unit 3 Chapter 10 - Energy Flashcards
Aesthetics
The issue of the appearance of things eg the intrusion of power stations, windfarms and pylons on the landscape
Barrage
A dam built across an estuary to generate tidal power
Coppiced woodland
Woodland where the trees are cut to ground level every 3 - 15 years. The regrowing branches can be harvested and used as a biofuel
Deplete
To reduce the amount of a resource that is available
Electrolysis
The splitting of molecules using electricity (lysis = splitting)
Energy density
The amount of energy in a particular mass of fuel or that can be harnessed by a particular mass of equipment
Finite resource
A resource where the amount available is fixed and cannot be increased
Fissile fuel
A fuel where the nuclei of the atoms can be split by neutron bombardment, releasing large amounts of energy eg uranium 235
Fuel cell
An electrochemical device that produces electricity from the chemical reaction between two substances, usually hydrogen or an alcohol, and oxygen.
Half-life
The time it takes for half the original material to be lost.
Heliostat
A device that tracks the sun so the angle of incident sunlight stays the same
Intermittent
A process that is not constantly available.
Isotopes
Variety of an element where the number of neutrons varies
Kinetic energy
The energy of movement
Non-renewable resource
A resource which is renewed so slowly that the amount that is available for use is effectively finite
Parabolic reflector
A mirror system that reflects incoming light onto a single point
Peak shaving
The process of storing surplus energy to satisfy later peaks in demand
Photothermal
A system that converts light into heat
Photovoltaic/photoelectric
A system that converts light into electricity
Potential gravitational energy
The energy of raised position
Primary fuel
An energy source that can be harnessed from the environment
Reliable (energy resource)
An energy source where availability can be predicted (although it is not necessarily available constantly)
Renewable resource
A resource that is reformed relatively quickly
Secondary fuel
An energy source that is produced by the conversion of a primary fuel
