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Chapter 12
Alternative Energy Sources
18
Geology
Undergraduate 2
12/09/2009

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Term
Natural gas provides the most amount of energy (measured in BTU's) with the least amount of pollution.
Definition
Term
Increased consumption will be made up by importing _____________ (LNG) from the Middle East and Africa.
Definition
Liquefied Natural Gas
Term
A crude oil is referred to a as a light is if has less sulfur and lighter molecules.
Definition
A heavy oil has heavier molecules and more sulfur.
Term
Tar Sands or Oil Sands
Definition
Highly viscous fluid (closer to asphalt than crude oil) found in sand deposits close to the surface. *Hydrocarbons* are in form *bitumen*.
Term
Hydropower
Accounts for __% of the world's total energy consumption.
Definition
Using the mechanical energy obtained from falling water. Usually used to spin a turbine to make electricity.
Disadvantage: damming creates environmental problems, the number of damming sites is limited.
6% of total energy consumed.
Term
Solar energy, wind energy, hydro power, geothermal energy, and nuclear power are all _____-free renewable energy sources.
Definition
Carbon-free energy sources, making it not harmful to the environment.
Term
_____ energy is Earth's most important energy sources.
Definition
Solar energy
Term
Solar-Thermal
(Solar Heating)
Definition
Solar radiation that is transformed into thermal energy.
Passive form - requires no mechanical effort.
Active form - Solar collector panel
Term
Solar-Electrical
Definition
Transformation of solar energy into electricity through the displacement of electrons when sunlight strikes a semiconductor.
**Disadvantages: depends on intensity and amount of sunlight received by, for example, a solar panel.
Term
Solar Cell (photovoltaic)
Definition
The electrical current created when a dislodged electron moves in a circular path between the surface and different layers within the semiconductor.
Term
Wind
Definition
The horizontal movement of air that results from differences in air pressure.
**Results from solar radiation, like solar energy, when the land of earth absorbs more solar radiation than the oceans, causing warmer air to rise creating lower air pressure over the land.
Term
Geothermal Energy
Definition
The heat contained within the Earth, most of which comes form the decay of radioactive elements.
Term
Inexhaustible and renewable sources (2):
Definition
The Sun and Earth's interior.
Term
The Western coast may harvest more geothermal energy than the East Coast because.....
Definition
The west coast of the U.S lies along convergent and active plate boundaries - which serve as locations for heat from Earth's interior to escape. The east coast lies along a divergent-soreading center.
Term
How do u utilize the heat (energy) from geothermal rocks (hot rocks).
Definition
By extracting the water that has come into contact with the hot rocks.
Today we can drill straight into the aquifers near the hot rocks in earth's interior and draw the water out to the surface.
Term
Geothermal Electricity
Definition
The electricity created when steam (from water above its boiling point 212 degrees F) is used to power a turbine/produce power.
Term
Significant shared difference among fuel/power/electricity sources.
Definition
The way in which steam is generated.
i.e - steam from hot water, steam from burning coal.
Term
Tidal power is different than all the other energy sources because it's not ultimately derived from ________ or ______________.
Definition
Tidal power is not ultimately derived from sunlight or radioactive elements. Tidal power on earth represents a large amount of kinetic energy, which could be used to spin a generator.
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