| A | B |
|---|
| fossil fuel | oil, natural gas, and coal; formed from the decayed remains of ancient plants and animals |
| petroleum | liquid fossil fuel formed from decayed remains of ancient organisms; can be refined into fuels and used to make plastics |
| nonrenewable resource | natural resource, such as fossil fuels, that cannot be replaced by natural processes as quickly as it is used |
| nuclear reactor | uses energy from a controlled nuclear chain reaction to generate electricity |
| nuclear waste | radioactive by-product that results when radioactive materials are used |
| renewable resource | energy source that is replaced almost as quickly as it is used |
| photovoltaic cell | device that converts solar energy into electricity; also called a solar cell |
| hydroelectricity | electricity produced from energy of falling water |
| geothermal energy | thermal energy in hot magma; can be converted by a power plant into electrical energy |
| biomass | renewable organic matter from plants and animals, such as wood and animal manure, that can be burned to provide heat |
