| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| energy transformation | The conversion of energy from one form to another. |
| nonrenewable energy sources | Energy sources that exist in a fixed amount and cannot be easily replaced once consumed. |
| renewable energy sources | Energy sources that can be naturally replenished at or near the rate of consumption and reused. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| electric generator | A device that converts mechanical energy (such as steam pressure) into electrical energy. |
| geothermal energy | Heat energy stored in the Earth's interior that can be extracted and used for power generation and other applications. |
| hydrogen sulfide | A toxic gas (H₂S) that can be released during geothermal energy extraction and has environmental and health impacts. |
| power generation | The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| carbon dioxide | A greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels and respiration; a principal contributor to global climate change. |
| electricity | The form of energy released by fuel cells that can be used to power devices and systems. |
| environmental impact | The effect of human activities or technologies on the natural environment, including pollution, resource depletion, and ecosystem changes. |
| hydrogen | A chemical element used as fuel in fuel cells to generate electricity. |
| hydrogen fuel cells | Devices that generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing water as the primary byproduct. |
| nonrenewable energy sources | Energy sources that exist in a fixed amount and cannot be easily replaced once consumed. |
| oxygen | A chemical element from the air that reacts with hydrogen in fuel cells to produce energy. |
| power generation | The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources. |
| water | The product formed when hydrogen and oxygen combine in a fuel cell, representing a clean emission. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| kinetic energy | The energy of motion possessed by moving air in wind. |
| mechanical energy | The energy produced by the spinning turbine that is converted into electricity. |
| renewable energy sources | Energy sources that can be naturally replenished at or near the rate of consumption and reused. |
| turbine blades | The rotating blades of a wind turbine that convert kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy. |
| wind energy | Energy derived from moving air that can be harnessed for power generation. |
| wind turbines | Machines that use the kinetic energy of moving air to generate electricity by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| battery electric vehicles | Vehicles powered entirely by rechargeable electric batteries with no internal combustion engine. |
| conservation landscaping | Landscaping practices designed to reduce water and energy consumption, such as using native plants and reducing irrigation needs. |
| energy-efficient appliances | Household devices designed to use less energy while performing the same functions as standard appliances. |
| fuel economy | A measure of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, typically expressed as miles per gallon or kilometers per liter. |
| green building design | Architectural and construction practices that minimize environmental impact and energy consumption through efficient design features. |
| hybrid vehicles | Vehicles that use two or more power sources, typically combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. |
| public transportation | Shared transit systems such as buses, trains, and subways that transport multiple passengers and reduce individual energy consumption. |
| thermostat | A device that automatically regulates temperature by controlling heating and cooling systems in a home. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| developed country | Countries with higher levels of economic development, typically characterized by lower infant mortality rates and less reliance on child labor. |
| developing country | Countries with lower levels of economic development, typically characterized by higher infant mortality rates and greater reliance on child labor. |
| energy consumption | The amount of energy used by individuals, communities, or nations over a specific time period. |
| energy demand | The total amount of energy required by a population or economy at a given time. |
| energy resources | Sources of energy that can be used to produce power, including fossil fuels and renewable sources. |
| fossil fuels | Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned. |
| industrialization | The process of developing industries and manufacturing in a region or country, leading to increased economic activity and energy demand. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| anthracite | A type of coal with the highest carbon content and energy density, formed under the greatest heat and pressure. |
| bitumen | A thick, sticky petroleum product found in tar sands that can be extracted as crude oil. |
| bituminous coal | A type of coal with moderate carbon content and energy density, formed under moderate heat and pressure. |
| charcoal | A form of wood fuel created through partial combustion or heating of wood, used as an energy source. |
| cogeneration | The simultaneous generation of useful heat and electricity from a single fuel source. |
| crude oil | Unrefined petroleum extracted from the earth, used as an energy resource and raw material for various products. |
| firewood | Wood burned directly as a fuel source, commonly used in developing countries for heating and cooking. |
| fossil fuels | Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned. |
| lignite | A type of coal with lower carbon content and energy density, formed with less heat and pressure than other coal types. |
| methane | A greenhouse gas with global warming potential lower than nitrous oxide but higher than carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. |
| natural gas | A fossil fuel composed mostly of methane, considered the cleanest of the fossil fuels. |
| peat | Partially decomposed organic material that can be burned as a fuel source. |
| tar sands | A combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen from which crude oil can be recovered. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| coal | A fossil fuel formed from decomposed plant material, used as an energy resource for electricity and heat generation. |
| crude oil | Unrefined petroleum extracted from the earth, used as an energy resource and raw material for various products. |
| gas | A natural energy resource, typically natural gas, extracted from underground deposits and used for energy production. |
| geologic history | The sequence of geological events and processes that have shaped a region's rock formations and natural resources over time. |
| global distribution | The pattern of how natural resources are spread across different regions and countries worldwide. |
| natural energy resources | Energy sources found in nature that can be extracted and used, such as ores, coal, crude oil, and gas. |
| ores | Naturally occurring minerals or rocks from which metals and other valuable substances can be extracted. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| carbon dioxide | A greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels and respiration; a principal contributor to global climate change. |
| combustion | A chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen that releases energy in the form of heat and light. |
| electricity | The form of energy released by fuel cells that can be used to power devices and systems. |
| extraction | The process of removing fossil fuels from the earth for use as energy sources. |
| fossil fuels | Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned. |
| groundwater contamination | The pollution of water found beneath the Earth's surface, often resulting from mining operations. |
| hydrologic fracturing | A process used to extract fossil fuels by injecting fluid at high pressure into rock formations to create fractures and release oil or natural gas. |
| power generation | The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources. |
| turbine | A machine with rotating blades that converts the energy from steam into mechanical energy to generate electricity. |
| volatile organic compounds | Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature and can be released into the environment during fossil fuel extraction and use. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| decay | The process by which a radioactive element transforms into a different element by emitting radiation. |
| fuel rods | Cylindrical containers that store fissionable material (such as Uranium-235) in a nuclear reactor. |
| half-life | The time required for half of a radioactive element's atoms to decay into a more stable form. |
| neutron | A subatomic particle with no electric charge that strikes atomic nuclei to initiate nuclear fission. |
| nonrenewable energy source | An energy source that cannot be replenished on human timescales, such as nuclear power derived from finite uranium deposits. |
| nuclear energy | Energy released from the nucleus of an atom, used in power generation through controlled fission reactions. |
| nuclear fission | The splitting of heavy atomic nuclei (such as Uranium-235) into smaller parts after being struck by a neutron, releasing large amounts of heat. |
| nuclear waste | Hazardous solid waste produced by nuclear power generation, including spent fuel rods that remain radioactive for long periods. |
| radiation | Energetic particles or waves emitted from radioactive materials that can damage living organisms and the environment. |
| radioactive element | An element with an unstable nucleus that spontaneously emits radiation as it decays. |
| radioactive isotope | An unstable form of an element whose nucleus emits radiation as it loses energy. |
| radioactivity | The process by which unstable atomic nuclei emit radiation and decay over time. |
| thermal pollution | The release of excess heat into the environment from nuclear power plants, which can harm aquatic ecosystems. |
| turbine | A machine with rotating blades that converts the energy from steam into mechanical energy to generate electricity. |
| Uranium-235 | A radioactive isotope of uranium used as fuel in nuclear reactors for power generation. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| biomass | The total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem. |
| carbon dioxide | A greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels and respiration; a principal contributor to global climate change. |
| carbon monoxide | A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion that is toxic and classified as an indoor air pollutant. |
| deforestation | The removal or clearing of forests, typically to make way for other land uses or to harvest timber. |
| energy return on energy investment | The ratio of energy produced by a fuel source compared to the energy required to produce and process that fuel; ethanol has a low ratio. |
| ethanol | A biofuel produced from plant material that can be used as a substitute for gasoline in vehicles. |
| nitrogen oxides | Gaseous compounds of nitrogen and oxygen produced primarily from motor vehicle emissions and combustion processes that contribute to photochemical smog formation. |
| particulate matter | Small solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air that contribute to air pollution. |
| power generation | The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources. |
| volatile organic compounds | Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature and can be released into the environment during fossil fuel extraction and use. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| active solar energy systems | Solar energy systems that use mechanical and electric equipment to collect, transfer, and store heat energy captured from the sun. |
| clean energy | Energy produced with little to no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution during generation. |
| desert ecosystems | Communities of organisms and their physical environment in arid regions with low precipitation and sparse vegetation. |
| environmental impact | The effect of human activities or technologies on the natural environment, including pollution, resource depletion, and ecosystem changes. |
| passive solar energy systems | Solar energy systems that absorb heat directly from the sun without mechanical or electric equipment, and do not collect or store energy. |
| photovoltaic solar cells | Devices that capture light energy from the sun and convert it directly into electrical energy. |
| power generation | The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources. |
| solar energy | Energy from the sun in the form of light and heat that is captured by living organisms. |
| solar energy farms | Large-scale installations of solar panels or concentrated solar systems designed to generate electricity for widespread distribution. |
| solar energy systems | Technology and infrastructure designed to capture and convert sunlight into usable energy for electricity generation or heating. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| air pollution | Contamination of the atmosphere by harmful substances such as gases, particulates, or other pollutants. |
| dams | Structures built across rivers to collect and store water in reservoirs for hydroelectric power generation. |
| habitat destruction | The degradation or removal of natural environments where organisms live, often caused by human activities. |
| hydroelectric power | Electrical power generated by converting the energy of flowing or falling water into electricity using turbines. |
| reservoir | A storage location or system that holds compounds (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, or water) for varying periods of time in biogeochemical cycles. |
| tidal energy | Energy generated by the movement of tides that is converted into electricity using turbines. |
| turbine | A machine with rotating blades that converts the energy from steam into mechanical energy to generate electricity. |