| A | B |
|---|
| Term: | Definition: |
| Active solar system | A method of capturing the sun's energy and distibuting it using pumps and fans |
| Biomass fuels | Fuel made from things that were once alive |
| Combustion | The burning of a fuel |
| Control rods | Cadmium rod used in a nuclear reactor to absorb neutrons from fission |
| Efficiency | The percentage of energy that is used by a device to perform work |
| Energy conservation | The practice of reducing energy use |
| Fossil Fuels | An energy-rich substance (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) formed from the remains of organisms |
| Fuel rods | Uranium rod that undergoes fission in a nuclear reactor |
| Gasohol | A mixture of gasoline and alcohol |
| Geothermal energy | Heat energy in Earth's interior from water or steam that has been heated by magma |
| Hydrocarbons | A compound that contains carbon and hydrogen atoms |
| Hydroelectric power | Electricity produced by the kinetic energy of water moving over a waterfall or dam |
| Insulation | Building materialthat blocks heat transferbetween the air inside and outside |
| Meltdown | A dangerous condition caused by overheating inside a nuclear reactor |
| Nonrenewable resources | A natural resource that is not replaced as it is used |
| Nuclear fission | The splitting of an atom's nucleus into similar nuclei |
| Nuclear fusion | The combining of two atomic nuclei into a larger nucleus, as when two hydrogen atoms join together to form helium, releasing energy |
| Nucleus | The central core of an atom that contains the protons and neutrons |
| Passive solar system | A method of converting solar energy into heat without pumps or fans |
| Petrochemicals | Compund made from oil |
| Petroleum | Liquid fossil fuel;oil |
| Reactor vessel | The part of a nuclear reactor where nuclear fission occurs |
| Refinery | A factory where crude oil is seperated into fuels and other products |
| Reserves | A known deposit of fuels |
| Solar energy | Energy produced by converting sunlight |
