d
e
chemical energy
energy stored in the chemical bonds of a substance and released during a chemical reaction such as burning wood, coal, or oil
chemical reaction
a reaction occurring between elements or compounds when chemical bonds are broken or formed through digestion, or combustion, for example; items formed in a chemical reaction are transformed, thus gaining new properties
circuit(s)
a conductor or a system of conductors through which electric current flows
climate change
a term used to refer to all forms of climatic inconsistency, but especially to significant change from one prevailing climatic condition to another
coal
a fossil fuel formed by the breakdown of plant material hundreds of millions of years ago
coal bed methane
natural gas that forms within a coal deposit and can be extracted from the coal bed
commercial sector (of the economy)
the part of the economy having to do with the buying and selling of goods and services; the commercial sector is made up of merchants, businesses, etc.
compact fluorescent light bulb
a light bulb consisting of a gas-filled tube and an electronic ballast; electricity flows from the ballast through the gas, causing it to give off ultraviolet light; the ultraviolet light causes a white phosphor coating inside of the tube to emit visible light; a compact fluorescent light bulb uses less energy and transforms a smaller fraction of that energy into thermal energy than a comparable incandescent bulb
concentrated solar power
technologies that focus the energy from the sun onto one smaller area creating high temperatures that can produce electricity
conversion
changing or transforming one material into another
cooling tower
a tower typically used to remove waste heat from fluids used in industry or generation
core
the innermost layer of the Earth composed of both solid and liquid contents under extreme heat and pressure
crude oil
see petroleum
crust
the uppermost, brittle, thin layer of the Earth that is divided into moving plates
dam
structure or barrier built upon a waterway to retain water or prevent flooding
derrick
a frame tower that supports the drill equipment used to find oil and natural gas in the Earth
direct current
an electric current that flows in only one direction through a circuit, as from a battery; typically abbreviated as DC
distribution line
power lines that carry electricity at a safer voltage to consumers
distribution terminal
facility used by propane companies to store propane before shipping to retailers
drilling rig
equipment used for drilling and producing oil and natural gas from an on-shore well
dry steam plant
power plant that relies on steam produced from a geothermal reservoir, but uses very little water in liquid form
elastic energy
energy stored through the application of a force to stretch or compress an item
Š2019 The NEED Project
Intermediate Energy Infobook
www.NEED.org
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