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7Sci CH13
7th Science CH13 Energy Resources
Term | Definition |
---|---|
fossil fuel | coal, natural gas, and oil formed millions of years ago from the remains of once-living organisms; contains chemical potential energy and when burned produces thermal energy; fossil fuels are nonrenewable natural resources |
generator | any machine that can convert kinetic energy to electrical energy |
hydroelectric | power plant that uses water power to generate electricity; hydroelectric energy is a clean,plentiful, renewable alternative to fossil fuels but ecosystems may be destroyed in power plant construction |
nonrenewable resource | any natural resource that people use up more quickly than it can be replaced by natural processes, or may never be replaced, or can be replaced only over a very long period of time |
renewable resource | any natural resource that can be replaced by natural processes in less than a century; examples are trees and crops |
solar cell | converts sunlight into electricity; solar energy is clean, efficient, and renewable; however, solar energy is only available when there is sunlight, and solar cells are expensive to manufacture |