Paul M. Jones
Coal- plant based fossil fuel, burned for energy
Conservation of Energy- physics law, energy cannot be created or destroyed
Electricity- the current of electrons flowing through a conductor; usable form of energy
Energy- the ability to change or move matter
Fossil Fuels- any fuel formed from the remains of ancient plant or animal life
Generator- device using electromagnets to convert mechanical energy to potential
Gigawatt- one billion watts
Global Climate Change- an increase in temperature, due to increased greenhouse gases
Greenhouse Effect- process by which the atmosphere traps some of the energy from the sun in the troposphere
Heat- transfer of energy from particles of objects due to a temperature difference
Kilowatt- one thousand watts
Kinetic Energy- energy of a moving object due to its motion
Light- electromagnetic waves, carrying energy through empty space
Megawattt- one million watts
Natural gas- methane based gas, often found with coal and oil, burned for energy
Nonrenewable Energy- any energy source that is used faster than it can be replaced
Nuclear Fission- process that splits an atom in two or more pieces, releasing energy and neutrons
Nuclear Power- electricity derived from nuclear fission
Petroleum- oil, liquid predominately animal based fossil fuel, burned for energy
Photovoltaic- devices that convert sunlight into electricity
Potential Energy- stored energy resulting from the relative position of the object
Renewable Energy- any energy source that can be continually replaced
Sustainable energy- any energy source that can be continually replaced and has little or no effect on the environment or local ecosystem
Terawatt- one trillion watts
Turbine- motor producing torque, used to spin generators
Watt- unit of electric power