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unit 5-7
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| fuel | material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power. |
| Fossil fuel | a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms |
| Hydrocarbon | a compound of hydrogen and carbon, such as any of those which are the chief components of petroleum and natural gas. |
| Petroleum | a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil; oil. |
| Refinery | an industrial installation where a substance is refined. "an oil refinery" |
| Petrochemical | relating to or denoting substances obtained by the refining and processing of petroleum or natural gas |
| Solar energy | radiant energy emitted by the sun |
| Hydroelectric power | electricity produced from generators driven by turbines that convert the potential energy |
| Biomass fuel | renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals. |
| Gasohol | a mixture of gasoline and ethyl alcohol used as fuel in internal combustion engines. "gasohol cars" |
| Geothermal energy | a type of renewable energy taken from the Earth's core. |
| nuclear fission | a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, with the release of energy. |
| Reactor vessel | the container surrounding and protecting the core of a nuclear reactor. |
| Fuel rod | a rod-shaped fuel element in a nuclear reactor. |
| Control rod | a rod of a neutron-absorbing substance used to vary the output power of a nuclear reactor. |
| Efficiency | the state or quality of being efficient. |
| Insulation | the action of insulating something. |
| Energy conservation | the prevention of the wasteful use of energy, especially in order to ensure its continuing availability. |