Unit 3 Chapter 10 - Energy

Question 1

Aesthetics

Answer 1

The issue of the appearance of things eg the intrusion of power stations, windfarms and pylons on the landscape

Question 2

Barrage

Answer 2

A dam built across an estuary to generate tidal power

Question 3

Coppiced woodland

Answer 3

Woodland where the trees are cut to ground level every 3 - 15 years. The regrowing branches can be harvested and used as a biofuel

Question 4

Deplete

Answer 4

To reduce the amount of a resource that is available

Question 5

Electrolysis

Answer 5

The splitting of molecules using electricity (lysis = splitting)

Question 6

Energy density

Answer 6

The amount of energy in a particular mass of fuel or that can be harnessed by a particular mass of equipment

Question 7

Finite resource

Answer 7

A resource where the amount available is fixed and cannot be increased

Question 8

Fissile fuel

Answer 8

A fuel where the nuclei of the atoms can be split by neutron bombardment, releasing large amounts of energy eg uranium 235

Question 9

Fuel cell

Answer 9

An electrochemical device that produces electricity from the chemical reaction between two substances, usually hydrogen or an alcohol, and oxygen.

Question 10

Half-life

Answer 10

The time it takes for half the original material to be lost.

Question 11

Heliostat

Answer 11

A device that tracks the sun so the angle of incident sunlight stays the same

Question 12

Intermittent

Answer 12

A process that is not constantly available.

Question 13

Isotopes

Answer 13

Variety of an element where the number of neutrons varies

Question 14

Kinetic energy

Answer 14

The energy of movement

Question 15

Non-renewable resource

Answer 15

A resource which is renewed so slowly that the amount that is available for use is effectively finite

Question 16

Parabolic reflector

Answer 16

A mirror system that reflects incoming light onto a single point

Question 17

Peak shaving

Answer 17

The process of storing surplus energy to satisfy later peaks in demand

Question 18

Photothermal

Answer 18

A system that converts light into heat

Question 19

Photovoltaic/photoelectric

Answer 19

A system that converts light into electricity

Question 20

Potential gravitational energy

Answer 20

The energy of raised position

Question 21

Primary fuel

Answer 21

An energy source that can be harnessed from the environment

Question 22

Reliable (energy resource)

Answer 22

An energy source where availability can be predicted (although it is not necessarily available constantly)

Question 23

Renewable resource

Answer 23

A resource that is reformed relatively quickly

Question 24

Secondary fuel

Answer 24

An energy source that is produced by the conversion of a primary fuel

Question 25

Viscosity

Answer 25

A measure of the ease with which a fluid can flow

Question 26

Viscous

Answer 26

A material that does not flow quickly