Energy Week 2.

Question 1

Passive solar

Answer 1

A use of energy from the Sun that takes advantage of solar radiation without active technology

Question 2

Active solar energy

Answer 2

A use of technology that captures and stores the energy of sunlight with electrical equipment and devices

Question 3

Photovoltaic cells

Answer 3

a device, usually made from silicon, which converts some of the energy from light (radiant energy) into electrical energy; another name for a solar cell

Question 4

Oil

Answer 4

a black, liquid fossil fuel found deep in the Earth; the raw material that petroleum products are made from; gasoline and most plastics are made from oil

Question 5

Refinery

Answer 5

an industrial plant that heats crude oil (petroleum) so that it separates into chemical components, which are then made into more useful substances

Question 6

Open-pit mining

Answer 6

A mining technique that creates a large visible pit or hole in the ground

Question 7

Mountaintop removal

Answer 7

A mining technique in which the entire top of a mountain is removed with explosives

Question 8

Placer mining

Answer 8

The process of looking for minerals, metals, and precious stones in river sediments

Question 9

Subsurface / underground mining

Answer 9

a coal mining that takes place several hundred feet below the surface of the Earth; workers and coal enter and exit through a vertical shaft

Question 10

Reserve

Answer 10

In resource management, the known quantity of a resource that can be economically recovered

Question 11

Strip mining

Answer 11

The removal of overlying vegetation and “strips” of soil and rock to expose underlying ore

Question 12

Mine tailings

Answer 12

Unwanted waste material created during mining including mineral and other rock residues that are left behind after the desired metals are removed from the ore

Question 13

Ore

Answer 13

A concentrated accumulation of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted

Question 14

Metal

Answer 14

An element with properties that allow it to conduct electricity and heat energy and to perform other important functions

Question 15

Overburden

Answer 15

soil, rock, and earth materials that are removed in order to mine for materials at the surface of the Earth

Question 16

Fossil fuels

Answer 16

Fuels derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago

Question 17

Coal

Answer 17

A solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant material that were preserved 280 million to 360 million years ago

Question 18

Natural gas

Answer 18

A relatively clean fossil fuel containing mostly methane (CH4). It is considered clean because it only produces CO2 and CH4 when burned and no pollutants or carcinogens

Question 19

Crude oil

Answer 19

A mixture of hydrocarbons such as oil, gasoline, kerosene as well as water and sulfur that exists in a liquid state underground, and when brought to the surface

Question 20

Tar sands

Answer 20

Slow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen or asphalt, mixed with sand, water, and clay; also known as oil sands

Question 21

Nonrenewable energy resource

Answer 21

An energy source with a finite supply, primarily fossil fuels and nuclear fuels

Question 22

Renewable energy resources

Answer 22

Sources of energy that are infinite

Question 23

Particulate matter

Answer 23

Solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. Also known as soot

Question 24

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Answer 24

A colorless, odorless gas that is formed during incomplete combustion of most materials

Question 25

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Answer 25

A by-product of combustion of any fuel in the atmosphere

Question 26

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Answer 26

A by-product of all combustion

Question 27

Fracking

Answer 27

Short for hydraulic fracturing, a method of oil and gas extraction that uses high-pressure fluids to force open existing cracks in rocks deep underground

Question 28

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Answer 28

A type of organic compound air pollutants that evaporate at typical atmospheric temperature

Question 29

Exploratory well

Answer 29

a well drilled by energy companies in an effort to locate a source of fuel, or geothermal activity

Question 30

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)

Answer 30

natural gas that has been converted to a liquid by cooling it to temperatures below -260°C; when cooled to become LNG, natural gas’ volume is reduced 600 times