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AMS SOL 6.2 part 2
Question | Answer |
---|---|
generator | a piece of equipment used at power plants to convert mechanical energy to electricity |
renewable energy | will not run out or can be replaced in a short amount of time |
nonrenewable energy | cannot be replaced and may run out |
fossil fuels | coal, oil, and natural gas which contain chemical energy |
advantages of fossil fuels | inexpensive, well understood, can be built anywhere |
disadvantages of fossil fuels | causes air pollution from too much Carbon Dioxide |
effects of air pollution | smog, breathing problems, global warming, acid rain |
nuclear power | using the energy stored in the nucleus of atoms to generate electricity |
Uranium | an element that is used as a fuel at nuclear power plants |
fission | splitting atoms |
radioactive waste | causes serious harm to humans and animals including cancer, birth defects, and death |
advantages of nuclear | does not create air pollution and is very efficient |
disadvantages of nuclear | radioactive waste and the possibility of an explosion |
hydroelectric power | using the mechanical energy of moving water to generate electricity |
advantages of hydroelectric | clean and inexpensive once built |
disadvantages of hydroelectric | flooding, blocks fish, and is not available everywhere |
wind turbine | uses the mechanical energy of wind to generate electricity |
advantages of wind power | clean and renewable |
disadvantages of wind power | turbines are expensive to build, noisey, and dangerous to birds |
geothermal | heat energy from inside the Earth |
Ring of Fire | edge of the Pacific Ocean where geothermal heat is abundant |
Geothermal Reservoir | underground pool of hot water or steam |
Advantages of geothermal | clean and renewable |
disadvantages of geothermal | very limited availability |
solar power | using heat and light energy from the sun to generate electricity |
photovoltaic cells | solar panels which convert sunlight into electricity |
parabolic trough | curved mirror used to focus sunlight onto a pipe filled with water in order to make steam |
batteries | used to store energy at a solar power plant for use when the sun it not shining |
advantages of solar power | clean and renewable |
disadvantages of solar power | panels are expensive, sun doesn't shine at night |
biomass power | using the chemical energy stored in living material to generate electricity |
advantages of biomass | renewable and easy to find, can be built anywhere |
disadvantages of biomass | burning causes air pollution |