| A | B |
|---|
| anthracite coal | bright and shiny hard coal which is found deep in the earth and used as a fuel for generating electricity |
| atom | the basic component of all matter; the smallest of an element. Each atom consists of a nucleus (containing neutrons and protons) and electrons |
| biomass | substances originating in some living form that are used as a source of energy; a supplemental energy source |
| bituminous coal | medium soft coal found abundantly in the eastern half of the United States and used to generate electricity |
| blackout | an unintentional and total loss of electric service |
| brownout | the reduction of voltage (and thus power) when demand for electricity exceeds generating capacity |
| circuit | the completed path traveled by an electric current |
| circuit breaker | an automatic switch that operates like a fuse and interrupts a circuit when too strong an electric current is passing through it |
| coal | a black or brown rock-like substance that burns with a hot flame. It is made up of carbon hydrogen oxygen nitrogen and sulfur. It is a fossil fuel formed from the remains of trees and plants alive millions of years ago |
| conductor | any material that allows electric current to move through it easily such as copper wire |
| electricity | energy converted from natural resources or fuels and produced in a power plant; electricity occurs in nature as lightning or static/friction |
| energy | the ability to do works; heat light motion and electricity are all forms of this |
| fossil fuels | sources of energy that come from once living plant or animal materials; examples are coal, oil and natural gas |
| fuel | material used to make heat energy |
| fuse | a safety device which melts and breaks the circuit when too strong a current is flowing |
| generator | equipment made up of magnets and copper wire; the effect of the magnetic field on the copper wire creates a flow of electricity |
| geothermal | natural steam or hot water trapped below the surface of the earth's crust; when harnessed it can be used as a supplemental source of energy |
| hydroelectricity | producing electricity by using the force of falling water to turn the turbine blades usually accomplished by damming a river to create a source of falling water |
| insulation | materials that provide a high resistance to the flow of heat sound or electricity from one surface to another |
| insulator | any material that will not conduct electricity such as rubber |
| natural gas | mixture of hydrocarbon gases principally methane found in porous geologic formations beneath the earth's surface; a fossil fuel |
| nonrenewable | substances that exist in a finite and irreplaceable supply; such as coal oil and natural gas |
| nuclear energy | heat produced by the splitting of atoms (fission) in a nuclear power plant |
| oil | a mixture of hydrocarbons existing in a liquid state in natural underground reservoirs; a fossil fuel |
| renewable | naturally occurring fuels that are capable of being replaced by ecological cycles; such as the sun and wind |
| solar energy | the collection transfer and storage of the sun's heat for energy use; a supplemental energy source |
| supplemental energy sources | also known as alternatives energy sources; methods of producing energy other than those commonly in use. Solar wind tidal geothermal fusion and synfuels are examples |
| synfuels | fuels that exist in physical and chemical forms different from those in the naturally occurring state; supplemental energy sources |
| turbine | series of blades on a large rotating shaft used to spin a generator; the spinning generator makes electricity |
| uranium | a heavy naturally occurring radioactive element |
| wind power | using the energy of wind to turn turbine blades and spin a generator to produce electricity; a supplemental energy source |
