peat
a brownish black material formed from the partial decomposition of plant remains
nonrenewable resources
energy resources that exist in limited amounts and cannot be quickly replaced
fossil fuels
a nonrenewable energy resource that formed from the remains of organism that lived long ago such as: coal, oil, and natural gas
hydrocarbons
compounds made of hydrogen and carbon
carbonization
when partially decomposed plant material is buried in swamp mud and becomes peat
lignite
a type of coal formed when peat is exposed to heat and pressure
bituminous coal
when increased temperature and pressure are added to lignite; 80% carbon
anthracite
the hardest form of coal formed from high temperature and pressure
petroleum
liquid hydrocarbons, also called oil, that forms from the remains of living organisms
nuclear energy
energy that is produced by technologies to help create atomic weapons and to generate electricity
nuclear fission
the splitting of the nucleus of a large atom into two or more smaller nuclei
uranium-235
a rare isotope of the element uranium that is used for nuclear fission
nuclear fusion
when the nuclei of hydrogen atoms combine to form larger nuclei of helium
renewable resources
resources that can be replaced within a human lifespan or as they are used
geothermal energy
energy produced by heat within the Earth
solar energy
the energy received by Earth from the sun in the form of radiation
hydroelectric energy
electrical energy produced by the flow of water
biomass
plant material, manure, or any other organic matter that is used as an energy source
natural gas
hydrocarbons in the form of a gas created from microorganisms and plants decaying over time and transformed due to heat and pressure
wind energy
a type of energy in which turbines are used to convert the movement of air into mechanical energy
tides
the rising and falling of sea level at certain times of the day
chemical energy
energy stored in the chemical bonds of a substance and released during a chemical reaction such as burning wood, coal, or oil
ethanol
a colorless liquid that burns to produce water and carbon dioxide; the vapor forms an explosive mixture with air and can be used as a fuel in internal combustion engines, usually blended with gasoline
thermal energy
the total potential and kinetic energy associated with the random motions of the atoms and molecules of a material; the more the molecules move and vibrate, the more energy they possess
mechanical energy
the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. It is the energy associated with the motion and position of an object.
coal
a black, solid hydrocarbon formed from the remains of ancient plants in swamps from hundreds of millions of years ago
propane
a colorless odorless fossil fuel found with petroleum and natural gas
hydrogen
the simplest element known to man and the most abundant element in the Universe