Energy Vocabulary You must define 15 words for quiz
Biomass – any organic matter that can be used as an energy source
such as wood, crops, or animal waste
Biodiesel-a vegetable oil based fuel that can be burned in diesel
automobile engines
Methane-a gas that can be used as fuel, produced by bacteria when a
plant or animal decomposes
Thermal energy-heat produced by the movement of atoms and
molecules within substances
Mechanical energy-energy stored in objects by the application of a
force
Geothermal energy – energy generated from heat within the earth
Hydropower – energy generated from the force of moving water
Petroleum – unprocessed crude oil drilled from the earth
Propane – a natural gas used in homes and to fuel appliances
Solar energy – energy that radiates directly from the sun
Nuclear energy – energy stored in the nucleus of an atom that can be
split apart in power plants
Uranium – a non-renewable fuel used by nuclear plants for fission
Fission – the process by which atoms are split apart to form smaller
atoms, releasing energy
Fusion – the process by which atoms are combined together to form
larger atoms which releases energy
Absorbtion – the process of light energy soaking into another object
Reflection- the process of light energy bouncing off an object
Photovoltaic cell-solar cells that convert sunlight into energy
Conversion-the transformation of one material into another material
Potential energy-any energy that is stored and not moving
Kinetic energy-any energy in motion
Renewable energy- energy sources that can be replenished in a short
amount of time
Non-renewable energy-energy sources that come from limited
supplies
Molecule-multiple atoms bonded together
Atom-the smallest unit of matter
Generator-a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical
energy by an electromagnet
Fossil fuel-fuel formed by the remains of plants and animals millions of
years ago
Turbine- a machine consisting of rotating blades, driven by a flow of
water, steam, or wind to produce electrical energy
Electricity-the movement of electrons
Electron-tiny particles found in atoms
Sustainability-the concept that every generation should meet its
energy needs, without compromising the energy needs of future
generations