Term | Definition |
Internal combustion engine | an engine that burns fuel inside cylinders within the engine |
Kelvin scale | the temperature scale on which zero is the temperature at which no more energy can be removed from matter |
Kinetic Energy | energy in motion, or an object in motion that does work |
Liquid | has a fixed volume, but takes on the shape of the container |
Mechanical Energy | energy associated with the motion or position of an object; potential and Kinetic energy together are considered as this type of energy |
Melting point | the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid. |
Nuclear Energy | potential Energy that is stored in the nucleus of an atom and is released during nuclear reactions |
Nuclear Fission | the nuclear reaction that occurs when the nucleus of an atom is split. This is used by nuclear power plants to make electricity |
Nuclear Fusion | the nuclear reaction that occurs when nuclei from more than one atom are joined together |
Nuclear reaction | A reaction that changes the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. |
Peat | the layer of materials formerly known as dead plants; it has all the water squeezed out of it and eventually turns to fossil fuel |
Petrochemical | Any material made from substances found in oil or natural gas. |
Physical Change: | a change in the form, but not in the substance |
Potential Energy | energy that is stored and held in readiness, or an object that is about to move |
Pyrometer | a device that measures very high temperatures |
Radiation | the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles |
Radioactive waste | Radioactive materials that may be left after a commercial or laboratory process has been carried out |
Renewable resource | Any resource, such as wood or solar energy, that can or will be replenished naturally in the course of time. |
Sedimentary | the layer of sand and clay that cover and create the peat |