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Energy & Environment
Energy & Environment
189
Science
Undergraduate 2
10/31/2010

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Term
earth formed
Definition
4.6 billion years old
Term
life developed
Definition
4 billion years ago
Term
photosynthetic life
Definition
.7 to 2.7 billion years ago
Term
earths early atmosphere
Definition
carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane, and other gases from the planet’s interio
Term
climate evolves regulated by:
Definition
actors including solar luminosity and atmospheric CO2, Rock weathering and volcanism
Term
earth's energy resources
Definition
fuels, Sunlight
Term
humankind's earliest ancestors
Definition
5 million years ago
Term
Aerobic respiration
Definition
respiration that uses oxygen and produces carbon monoxide
Term
anaerobic respiration
Definition
respiration in the absence of oxygen, often producing methane
Term
anthropogenic
Definition
of human origin
Term
energy flow
Definition
a movement of energy from one place to another, as in the flows of solar and geothermal energy that brings energy to Earth’s surface
Term
fossil fuel
Definition
a hydrocarbon fuel formed over tens to hundreds of millions of years from once-living matter, containing stored solar energy originally captures by photosynthetic plants: coal, oil, and natural gas are the common fossil fuels
Term
geothermal energy
Definition
energy form Earth’s interior
Term
greenhouse gas
Definition
an atmospheric gas that absorbs infrared radiation; water vapor and carbon dioxide are the most important greenhouse gases
Term
mesosphere
Definition
the atmospheric layer above the stratosphere, characterized by a temperature that decreases with altitude
Term
negative feedback
Definition
a feedback effect that tens to diminish the original charge
Term
ozone layer
Definition
the region of the stratosphere containing ozone that absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation
Term
photosynthesis
Definition
the process whereby green plants take in carbon dioxide and solar energy to make carbohydrates that serve as energy sources for life
Term
stratosphere
Definition
the second level of the atmosphere extending form the troposphere to some 50 km
Term
thermosphere
Definition
the atmospheric layer above the mesosphere, characterized by hot, diffuses gas whose temperature increases with altitude
Term
tidal energy
Definition
energy originating in the motions of Earth and Moon, resulting in ocean tides
Term
troposphere
Definition
the lowest level of the atmosphere, extending 8 to 18 km above the surface
Term
tropopause
Definition
the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere
Term
power
Definition
the rate at which we use or produce energy
Term
watt
Definition
standard unit for power - about one-hundredth of the power output of a typical human, equal to 1 J/s
Term
energy used by humans in north america
Definition
about 100x the energy our bodies produce
Term
4 energy consumption sectors
Definition
residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation
Term
worlds dominant energy source
Definition
fossil fuels
Term
Energy intensity
Definition
a measure of energy consumption per unit of GDP (gross domestic product)
Term
GDP
Definition
a measure of the total economic value of a country’s goods and services
Term
kinetic energy
Definition
the energy of moving objects
Term
potential energy
Definition
stored energy
Term
energy of chemical fuels is ultimately stored in...
Definition
the electric fields associated with molecular configurations
Term
joule
Definition
unit of energy
Term
work
Definition
the product of the force and the distance the object moves
Term
Doing work on an object...
Definition
...increases its energy
Term
K=1/2mv^2
Definition
formula for kinetic energy where m is the objects mass and v is its speed
Term
Friction
Definition
a force that dissipates energy, turning the energy of motion into less useful forms (like heat)
Term
Barrel of oil equivalent
Definition
an energy unit equal to 6.12 GJ: the energy contained on one 42-gallon barrel of oil
Term
Battery
Definition
a device that uses chemical reactions to separate electric charge and thus supply electrical energy
Term
BTU
Definition
an energy unit equal to 1,054 joules; the energy needed to raise 1 pound of water by 1 degree F
Term
electric charge
Definition
a fundamental property of matter that comes in two kinds (+ and-) and that gives rise to electric fields
Term
electric current
Definition
a flow of electric charge
Term
electric field
Definition
the influence of electric charge on the space around it, giving rise to electric forces on other charges; also arises form a changing magnetic field
Term
elastic potential energy
Definition
energy stored in the altered configuration of elastic materials such as rubber bands and springs
Term
electromagnetic induction:
Definition
a fundamental phenomenon whereby a changing magnetic fields produces an electric fields; the basis of electric generators and essential for the existence of electromagnetic wavs
Term
electromagnetic radiation
Definition
a flow of electromagnetic energy in the forms of electromagnetic waves
Term
electromagnetic wave
Definition
a wave of self-regenerating electric and magnetic fields that propagates through empty spaces, carrying electromagnetic energy; light is one example of an electromagnetic wave
Term
force
Definition
a push or pull
Term
frictional force
Definition
a force that ate between two surfaces to oppose their relative motion
Term
fuel cell
Definition
a device that uses a steady stream of fuel to produce electricity directly, without combustion; hydrogen fuel cells, which combine hydrogen and oxygen are particularly promising and produce only water as a by product
Term
gravitational force
Definition
the force tat every piece of matter exerts on every other piece
Term
gravitational potential energy
Definition
potential energy associated with objects that have been lifted against gravity
Term
horsepower
Definition
unit of power equal to 746 watts
Term
magnetic field
Definition
the influence of moving electric charge on the space around it, giving rise to magnetic forces on other moving charged; also arises from a changing electric field
Term
newton
Definition
the SI unit of force, equal to 1 kg*m/s2
Term
nuclear force
Definition
he strong, short-ranging force that binds neutrons and protons in the atomic nucleus
Term
photon
Definition
a particle-like bundle of electromagnetic wave energy
Term
photovoltaic cell
Definition
a semiconductor device that converts light energy directly into electricity
Term
Planck's constant
Definition
a fundamental constant of nature that quantifies the essential “ graininess” of nature in quantum physics
Term
quad
Definition
1 quadrillion (10^15) btu
Term
rechargeable battery
Definition
a battery capable of storing electrical energy via chemical reactions when current is run “backward” through the battery
Term
ton,tonne, metric ton
Definition
unit of mass; 1 ton is 1 English ton, or 2000 pounds; 1 tonne (or metric ton)is 1,000kg or 2,200 pounds, roughly the same as 1 ton
Term
tonne oil equivalent
Definition
an energy unit equal to 41.9GJ; the energy contained in 1 metric ton of oil
Term
weight
Definition
the force that gravity exerts on an object; near Earth’s surface, weights is the product of mass and the strength of gravity (mg)
Term
Heat
Definition
energy that flows because of temperature difference.
Term
internal energy
Definition
the kinetic energy of random molecular motion
Term
The first law of thermodynamics
Definition
the change in internal energy is the sum of the mechanical work done on an object and the heat that flows into it
Term
Temperature
Definition
measures the average thermal energy of molecules
Term
common temperature scales
Definition
(Celcius) C) and Fahrenheit (F) as well as the Kelvin (K), which is based on absolute zero
Term
Heat-transfer mechanisms
Definition
conduction, convection, radiation
Term
highest quality energy
Definition
mechanical and electrical energy
Term
example of lower quality energy
Definition
internal energy
Term
second law of thermodynamics
Definition
prohibits the transformation of low-quality energy into high-quality energy with 100 percent efficiency
Term
Entropy
Definition
the lowest possible temperature, corresponding to a system’s state of minimal energy
Term
carnot engine
Definition
a heat engine that provides the theoretical maximum efficiency
Term
cogeneration
Definition
the process whereby fuel energy is used to produce both electricity and heat for industrial use for space heating, thus putting to use the waster heat required by the second law of thermodynamics
Term
conduction
Definition
heat flow by physical contact, when energy s transferred by collisions among molecules
Term
convection
Definition
heat transfer by the bulk motion of a fluid (or air)
Term
emissivity
Definition
a number between 0 and 1 that gives the efficient with which material radiates electromagnetic waves; equal to the efficient of absorptions at a given wavelength
Term
entropy
Definition
a measure of disorder; systems with higher entropy have lower energy quality
Term
external-combustion engine
Definition
a heat engine in which combustion takes place outside the cylinders or other chambers holding the engines working fluid; an example is a steam power plant
Term
forced convection
Definition
convection driven by a mechanical device such as a fan or pump, or by wind
Term
heat capacity
Definition
a measure of the energy required to raise a particular objects temperature, in SI, its units are J/K or J/C
Term
heat engine
Definition
a device that extracts thermal energy from a hot source and delivers mechanical energy; the second law of thermodynamics states that this process cannot be 100 percent efficient
Term
heat of fusion
Definition
the energy per unit mass required to change a material form the solid to the liquid state
Term
heat of transformation
Definition
the energy per unit mass required to effect a phase transition
Term
heat of vaporization
Definition
the energy per unit mass required to change material from a liquid to a gas
Term
heat pump
Definition
a refrigerator operated so as to transfer heat form exterior air or the ground into a building for purposes of heating; can also operate in reverse to provide summer cooling
Term
internal-combustion engine
Definition
a heat engine in which combustions takes place within closed chamber, such as the cylinders of a gasoline engine
Term
irreversible process
Definition
a thermodynamics process that converts some mechanical energy into random thermal energy, resulting in a loss of energy quality
Term
kelvin scale
Definition
the SI temperature scale; a temperature difference of 1K is the same as a difference of 1 C, but the zero in the Kelvin scale is absolute zero (-273K)
Term
latent heat
Definition
the energy stored in a material as a result of its having changed from a lower to a high-energy phase
Term
natural convection
Definition
convection that occurs naturally when a fluid is heated and the warm fluid then ruses, carrying energy upwards
Term
primary energy
Definition
the energy input to a system such as a power plant, including any that ends up as waste
Term
radiation
Definition
energy flow by electromagnetic waves
Term
R value
Definition
a measure of the insulating value of a material; in English units, an R value of 1 corresponds to an energy loss rate of 1 btu/hour through every square foot for every degree Fahrenheit temperature difference across the material
Term
sensible heat
Definition
thermal energy associated with an objects being at a given temperature; as opposed to latent heat
Term
specific heat
Definition
a measure of the energy per unit mass required to raise a materials temperature; in SI, its units are J/kg*K or J/kg*C
Term
Stefan-Boltzmann constant
Definition
the constant in the Stefan-Boltzman law, given by o=5.67X10^-8W/m2*K4
“ law: the statement that the power radiated form an object with surface area A and emissivity e at temperature T is given by P=eoAT4
Term
temperature
Definition
a measure of the average thermal energy of the molecules in a a substance (T)
Term
thermal conductivity
Definition
(k) a measure of a materials ability to conduct heat
Term
thermal energy
Definition
energy associated with random thermal motion of molecules; also called internal energy
Term
thermal pollution
Definition
waste heat typically from a power plant, discharged to the environment and possibly disrupting the local ecology
Term
thermodynamic efficiency
Definition
the theoretical maximum efficiency for heat engine, given by e=1-(Tc/Tb), where Tb and Tc are the maximum and minimum temperatures, respectively
Term
total primary energy supply
Definition
the total primary energy supplied to a country or the world
Term
fossil fuels
Definition
coal, oil, and natural gas
Term
fossil fuels contain
Definition
solar energy captured by plants tens to hundreds of million of years ago
Term
hydrocarbons
Definition
made of carbon & hydrogen (fossil fuels)
Term
burning fossil fuels produces
Definition
CO2 and water vapor
Term
extract energy from fossil fuels with
Definition
external-combustion engines such as electric power plants and with internal-combustion engines for transportation
Term
Resources limitations become severe when...
Definition
production peaks and then declines even as demand continues to increase
Term
one approach to reducing fossil fuel consumptions
Definition
carbon tax
Term
Coal
Definition
black solid fossil fuel high in carbon
Term
combined-cycle power plant
Definition
a power plant using gas turbines whose waste heat then drives a conventional steam cycle, result ins in high overall efficiency
Term
compression-ignitions engine
Definition
an intermittent-combustion engine in which fuel ignites as the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders heated by compression to ignition temperature, as in diesel engines
Term
condenser
Definition
i a steam power plant, the device in which steam is re condensed to water
Term
continuous-combustion engine
Definition
a heat engine in which combustion takes place continuously, as in a power plant, in contrast to the intermittent combustion gasoline and diesel engines
Term
cooling tower
Definition
a structure used in power plants to cool the water that flows through the plant’s condenser; extracts waste heat and discharges it to the atmosphere
Term
cornucopian
Definition
one who believes that human ingenuity will alleviated the problem of finite resources through new discoveries and technologies
Term
crankshaft
Definition
a rotating shaft in an engine that converts the back-and-forth motion pistons into rotary motion
Term
crude oil
Definition
oil that comes form the ground, before refining or other processing
Term
gas-electric hybrid
Definition
a vehicle propulsion system that uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor; the batteries powering the electric motor are charged directly by the gasoline engine or by the vehicles motions
Term
gas turbine
Definition
a continuos-combustions rotary engine operating at high temperature; used in advanced power plants and jet aircraft engines
Term
Hubert's peak
Definition
the point at which production of a resource peaks, after which there may be discrepancy between falling productions and rising demand
Term
intermittent-combustion engine
Definition
refers to a heat engine in which combustion takes place within a closed chamber, such as the cylinders of a gasoline engine
Term
kerogen
Definition
a waxy substance formed from organic material that is an intermediate stage in the formation of petroleum
Term
methane hydrate/methane clathrate
Definition
a compound formed underwater at great depth, containing methane(natural gas) trapped in an ice-like structure
Term
natural gas
Definition
a gaseous fossil fuel, consisting mostly of methane
Term
oil shale
Definition
rock containing kerogen that can be extracted and processed into oil
Term
parallel hybrid
Definition
a hybrid vehicle in which gasoline engine provided most of the motive power, assisted occasionally by the electric motor
Term
peat
Definition
a crumbly, brown material formed form decaying vegetation; a first step in the formations of coal, peat itself is burned as a fuel in some parts of the world
Term
petroleum
Definition
strictly speaking; a liquid or gaseous fossil fuel, but often used as a synonym for oil
Term
plankton
Definition
tiny marine organisms at the bast of the marine food chain; plankton are important precursors of petroleum
Term
refine
Definition
the process of chemically altering crude oil to form a variety of products, including heavy oils, aviation's fuels, and gasoline
Term
regenerative braking
Definition
braking in a hybrid vehicle by using an electric generator to slow the wheels; the generator chargers the battery, thus recovering some of the energy of the vehicles motions
Term
reserve
Definition
the amount of a fuel that is known or reasonably certain to exist
Term
reserve/production ratio
Definition
a time obtained by dividing the reserves of fuel by the current rate of productions; provides a rough estimate of how ling the fuel will lat, assuming the production rate stays approx. constant
Term
resource
Definition
the total amount of a fuel in the ground, whether or not it’s been discovered or even estimated to exist
Term
series hybrid
Definition
a hybrid vehicle in which the gasoline engine is used solely to generate electricity that runs the electric motor; not in widespread use
Term
spark-ignition engine
Definition
an intermittent-combustion engine in which a a spark initiated combustion, as in gasoline engines
Term
tar sands
Definition
sand containing a heavy tar form which oil can be extracted
Term
thermal power plant
Definition
a power plant that extracts energy from a hot source, usually a fossil-fuel coiler or nuclear fission reactor
Term
turbine
Definition
a fanlike arrangement of blades driven by a fluid flow; includes steam turbines in power plants and wind turbines
Term
Pollutants
Definition
oxic by-products of combustion, removable in principles by engineering the fuel, the combustion process, or the treatment of combustion products
Term
an essential product of fossil fuels combustion
Definition
Carbon dioxide
Term
the most serious traditional impact of fossil fuels combustion
Definition
air pollution
Term
Air pollutants
Definition
particulate matter, sulfur compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and other heave metals, and even radiation
Term
Other impacts of fossil fuels
Definition
environmental degradation during extraction, refining and transportation of fuels. discharger of waste heat from power plants constitutes thermal pollution
Term
Acid mine drainage
Definition
seepage of acidic water from coal mines into surface streams
Term
acid rain
Definition
precipitation of higher than normal acidity, resulting from the reaction of sulfur dioxide pollution with water
Term
baghouse
Definition
a chamber filled with fabric nags used for filtering articulates from an exhaust stream
Term
catalytic converter
Definition
a device that uses catalyst to accelerate chemical reactions that render pollutants less harmful; for example catalytic converts in cars convert nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen; carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide; and unburned hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water
Term
clean air act
Definition
a law, first enacted in 1963 and subsequently mended substantially, that has been instrumental in improving air quality in the us
Term
criteria pollutant
Definition
one of the 6 substances- carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur oxides, and two classes of particulates- for which the Clean air act sets maximum concentrations in ambient air
Term
cyclone
Definition
a device that swirls exhaust gases in a high speed vortex to extract particulate pollutants
Term
dry cooling tower
Definition
structure designed to transfer waste heat from a power plant’s cooling water to the atmosphere
Term
electrostatic precipitator
Definition
device that uses a strong electric field to extract particulates from an exhaust stream
Term
flue gas desulfurization
Definition
chemical process for removing sulfur compounds from flue gas before it is emitted to the atmosphere
Term
fly ash
Definition
the ash produced in coal-burning power plants
Term
inversion
Definition
an atmospheric condition in which temp increases with altitude, resulting in a lose of energy quality
Term
lapse rate
Definition
the rate at which temp changes with altitude, normally a decrease of about 6.5C per kilometer
Term
mountaintop removal
Definition
Term
National Ambient Air-quality standards
Definition
the maximum allowed concentrations of the criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act
Term
ozone
Definition
the oxygen compound O3; a greenhouse gas;in the stratosphere, ozone is an absorber of solar ultraviolet radiation, but is highly reactive, toxic pollutants near ground level
Term
particulate pollution
Definition
fine articles of solid material suspended in the air
Term
photochemical smog
Definition
a mix of harmful chemicals formed by the action of sunlight on air pollutants
Term
photochemical reaction
Definition
reaction driven by the energy of sunlight; important in forming smog from other air pollutants
Term
pH scale
Definition
the scale used to designate acidity, with 7 being neutral and lower values being acidic
Term
primary standards
Definition
air-quality standards aimed at protecting human health
Term
scrubbing
Definition
removal of chemical pollutants, especially sulfur compounds, from flue gas by reacting it with another substance
Term
secondary standards
Definition
air-quality standards aimed to protecting the general welfare, including property and environmental quality
Term
strip mining
Definition
extracting coal by stripping off overlying surface layers
Term
sulfate aerosol
Definition
sulfur-based particulates, particularly from coal burning; these are highly reflective and thus have a cooling effect on climate
Term
wet cooling tower
Definition
structure designed to transfer waste heat from a power plant’s cooling water to the atmosphere; wet towers do so by evaporation from the water exposed directly to the air
Term
scientific theories
Definition
can't be proven correct - can only be proven wrong - if it can't be disproven it's accepted as a theory
Term
scientific method
Definition
Hypothesis --> Test/Experiment --> Generalization (or if it fails go back to hypothesis)
Term
Kilo
Definition
hundreds
Term
Mega
Definition
thousands
Term
giga
Definition
millions
Term
milli
Definition
10^-3
Term
micro
Definition
10^-6
Term
nano
Definition
10^-9
Term
ice age ended
Definition
around 14,000 years ago
Term
current population
Definition
around 7 billion
Term
7 types of energy
Definition
kinetic, potential, solar, chemical (photosynthesis), hydro, electrical, thermal
Term
alternating current
Definition
it goes from positive to negative to positive
Term
light crude/heavy crude
Definition
the larger the molecule the heavier it is considered
Term
how clean a fuel is
Definition
depends on how much sulfur & carbon there is
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