| A | B |
|---|
| biomass | fuel made from things that were once alive |
| chemical energy | energy stored in the bonds between atoms in molecules |
| coal | solid form of fossilized plants; the most important mineral resource in VA |
| Law of Conservation of Energy | when energy changes to a different form, it is neither created nor destroyed |
| elastic potential energy | the energy of stretching or compressed objects |
| electrical energy | energy of moving electrons |
| electromagnetic energy | form of radiant energy that includes all forms of light |
| energy | usable power that has the capacity for doing work or causing change |
| energy transformation | the change from one form of energy to another; the change from light and heat to mechanical, chemical, and electrical energy |
| force | the strength of a push or pull one body exerts on another |
| fossil fuels | formed from ancient plants and animals; coal, oil, and natural gas |
| generate | to make or produce |
| geothermal energy | heat energy obtained from hot magma beneath the Earth's surface |
| gravitational potential energy | energy an object has as a result of its position or height |
| hydro | having to do with water |
| hydroelectric power | the production of electricity by the kinetic energy of moving water, usually over a waterfall or dam |
| kinetic energy | form of energy an object has because of its motion; energy that is in use |
| mechanical energy | both kinetic and potential energies involved in the motion of machines |
| motion | a change in position |
| natural gas | mixture of hydrocarbon gases that occurs wit petroleum deposits |
| nonrenewable energy sources | energy sources such as fossil fuels that can not be replenished as fast as they are used |
| nonrenewable resource | any natural resource that can be used up faster than it can be replenished |
| nuclear power | energy found in the nucleus of an atom |
| nuclear fission | the splitting of an atom's nucleus into smaller nuclei; |
| nuclear fusion | combining of two atomic nuclei into a single larger nucleus; happens in the sun when two hydrogen atoms join to form helium releasing energy |
| oil/petroleum | liquid fossil fuels |
| pollution | contamination of air, soil, or water by the discharge of harmful substances |
| potential energy | energy that is stored and available for use later; energy not in use |
| renewable energy sources | wood, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, wave |
| renewable resource | a natural resource that is in great abundance and is continually being produced so that is can be replaced in a short period of time if used wisely |
| reservoir | place where something (especially water) is kept in storage |
| solar energy | electromagnetic radiation from the sun |
| thermal energy | energy of motion in the molecules of a substance |
| turbine | an engine whose central driving shaft is fitted with a series of blades spun around by the pressure of a fluid |
| work | when force moves and object through a distance |
