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Mr. Vaughan Unit 7
Unit 7 - Earth's Resources
Term | Definition |
---|---|
photosynthesis | the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food |
atmosphere | a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon |
ultraviolet radiation | invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun; ultraviolet radiation can burn the skin and cause skin cancer |
ozone | a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms |
natural resource | any natural material that is used by humans, such as water, petroleum, minerals, forests, and animals |
renewable resource | a natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed |
nonrenewable resource | a resource that forms at a rate that is much slower than the rate at which the resource is consumed |
fossil fuel | a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago; examples include oil, coal, and natural gas |
material resource | a natural resource that humans use to make objects or to consume as food and drink |
energy resource | a natural resource that humans use to generate energy |
energy | the capacity to do work |
kinetic energy | the energy of an object that is due to the object's motion |
potential energy | the energy that an object has because of the position, condition, or chemical composition of the object |
energy transformation | the process of energy changing from one form to another |
nuclear energy | the energy released by a fission or fusion reaction; the binding energy of the atomic nucleus |
fission | the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into smaller atoms, releasing energy |
wind energy | the use of the force of moving air to drive an electric generator |
hydroelectric energy | electrical energy produced by the flow of water |
solar energy | the energy received by Earth from the sun in the form of radiation |
biomass | plant material, manure, or any other organic matter that is used as an energy source |
geothermal energy | the energy produced by heat within Earth |
stewardship | the careful and responsible management of a resource |
conservation | the wise use of and preservation of natural resources |
cost-benefit analysis | the process of determining whether the cost of doing something is worth the benefits |