1 / 2
APES Unit 6A: Non-Renewable Energy Complete Study Review
Anthracite - -The cleanest-burning, highest quality
grade of coal.
Biomass - -A measure of the total dry mass of
organisms within a particular region
Bitumen - -A black sticky substance obtained from
petroleum that can be used for covering roads or roofs.
Bituminous - -The second highest grade of coal.
Chernobyl - -A nuclear power plant in Russia that
had an explosion in 1986 that released radioactive
materials into the air and is the worst nuclear accident in
the world.
Coal - -Solid fossil fuel.
Cogeneration - -Production of two useful forms of
energy, such as high-temperature heat or steam and
electricity, from the same fuel source.
Combustion - -Reaction of a fuel with oxygen to
produce heat and carbon dioxide.
Crude oil - -Also known as petroleum, unrefined
liquid fossil fuel.
Developed countries - -Wealthy countries with
relatively high levels of industrialization and income, as
measured by GDP.
Developing countries - -Poorer countries with
relatively low levels of industrialization and income, as
measured by GDP.
Electricity - -A form of energy caused by the flow of
electrons.
Emissions - -Pollutants that are released into the
air.
Energy conservation - -The practice of reducing
energy use.
Energy efficiency - -The percentage of energy put
into a system that does useful work.
Fission - -The splitting of an atomic nucleus due to
bombardment by neutrons which releases a large amount
of energy.
Fossil fuels - -Coal, oil, and natural gas that are
formed from the ancient remains of plants and animals
that have been compressed and subject to high heat.
Fuel rods - -Hollow metal cylinders filled with
Uranium fuel pellets for use in fission reactors.
Fukushima - -Nuclear power plant in Japan that
experienced a meltdown following an earthquake &
tsunami and is the second worst nuclear disaster in
history.
Fusion - -The joining of two lightweight atomic nuclei
into a single, heavier nucleus which releases a large
amount of energy.
Half-life - -The length of time required for half of the
radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.
Hydraulic fracturing - -Also known as fracking,
process of extracting natural gas by injecting a
pressurized mixture of water and other chemicals into
fissures underground.
Isotope - -Atoms of the same element that have
different numbers of neutrons.
Lignite - -Lowest grade of coal that has low energy
density and more water content.
