Glossary Archimedes’ Law
an object completely or partially submerged in a fluid is acted upon by an upward, or buoyant, force, equal to the weight of the fluid
atom
a tiny unit of matter made up of protons and neutrons in a small dense core, or nucleus, with a cloud of electrons surrounding the core
benthic
organisms inhabiting the bottom of a body of water, such as a lake or the ocean
buoyant force
an upward push on an object in a fluid; objects that float are experiencing a buoyant force from the water
capacity factor
the amount of electrical power being generated by a power plant or turbine-generator system divided by its maximum generating capacity
center of gravity
an imaginary point within an object at which the force of gravity is focused
chemical energy
energy stored in the chemical bonds of a substance and released during a chemical reaction such as burning wood, coal, or oil
circuit
a conductor or a system of conductors through which electric current flows
current
flow of electric charge through a conductor; measured in amperes or amps
density
amount of volume a certain mass occupies; the mass of an object divided by its volume is its density
efficiency
the ratio of energy delivered by a machine to the energy supplied for its operation; often refers to reducing energy consumption by using technologically advanced equipment without affecting the service provided
elastic energy
energy stored through the application of a force to stretch or compress an item
electric grid
network of power stations, power lines, and transformers used to deliver electricity from generation to consumers
electrical energy
the energy associated with electric charges and their movements
electricity
a form of energy created by the movement of electrons
electromagnetism
the interaction of forces occurring between electrically charged particles that can create an electric field or magnetic field
electron
very tiny, negatively charged subatomic particle that moves around the nucleus of the atom
energy level
area where electrons can be found; describes the probable amount of energy in the atom
fossil fuel
energy-rich substance formed over long periods of time and under great pressure from the ancient remains of organic matter
generator
a device that produces electricity by converting motion energy into electrical energy with spinning coils of wire and magnets
gravitational energy
energy of position or place
hub
part of a wind turbine where the blades connect to the shaft of the motor
hydrophone
microphone that records underwater sounds
hydrothermal vent
opening in the floor of an ocean or lake where hot gases or water are pushed outward from the Earth’s crust
kinetic energy
the energy of a body which results from its motion
Law of Conservation of the law governing energy transformations and thermodynamics; energy may not be created or destroyed, it Energy simply changes form, and thus the sum of all energies in the system remains constant liquefaction
a solid suddenly turning to a liquid; soils or gravels mixing with water may liquefy and no longer be supportive of objects on top of them
magnet
material with pairs of non-cancelling, spinning electrons that line up to form a magnetic field; magnetic materials are attracted to each other
©2021 The NEED Project
Floating Offshore Wind Teacher & Student Guide
www.NEED.org
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