Conservation and Energy Concepts

Conservation

• Definition: Protection of animals, plants, and natural resources.
• Law of Conservation of Energy: A fundamental law of nature.
• Minimizing Impact: Can be minimized by practicing water and energy conservation.

Importance of Energy Conservation

• Environmental Impact: Helps to reduce our impact on the environment.

Geothermal Energy

• Definition: Energy generated when the earth’s temperature rises (heat energy, thermal energy).
• Geographical Focus: Tectonically active areas are hubs for geothermal energy.
• Environmental Impact: Minimal environmental impact.
• Combination Use: Can be used with other renewable sources.

Potential Energy

• Definition: Energy stored in an object due to its position in a system.
• Thermodynamics: A fundamental concept in the study.
• Gravitational Potential Energy: Determined by an object's height and mass.

Global Warming

• Definition: Gradual increase in the Earth's average temperature.
• Effects: Far-reaching; understanding is crucial for prevention.
• Ozone Layer: Thinning could accelerate global warming.

Combustion

• Definition: Act or process of burning (incineration, oxidization).
• Pollution: Internal combustion engines emit harmful pollutants.
• Use Cases: Kerosene for heating and lighting; natural gas for homes.

Renewable Energy

• Sources: Derived from the sun, wind, or water.
• Cost: Solar and renewable energy costs are decreasing.
• Growth: Use has grown faster than anticipated.

Nuclear Power

• Definition: Power generated by a nuclear reactor.
• Current Use: All commercial nuclear power is from fission.
• Country Focus: Japan plans to increase nuclear power generation.
• Exclusions: Portugal has ruled out introducing nuclear power plants.

Harnessing Energy

• Definition: Utilizing power from various sources.
• Innovations: Scientists and engineers are finding new ways to harness solar, wind, and renewable energy.

Fossil Fuels

• Sources: Made from decomposed plants and animals (e.g., gasoline, kerosene).
• Environmental Impact: Burning releases carbon dioxide.
• Economic Growth: Past 150 years built on fossil fuels.

Crude Oil

• Definition: Petroleum from the ground before refining.
• Extraction Impact: Can have negative environmental impacts.

Carbon Footprint

• Definition: Total greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduction Importance: Critical for combating climate change.

Tidal Power

• Definition: Energy from the rise and fall of tides.
• Sustainability: Part of making processes greener.

Sustainable Resources

• Definition: Able to continue over time.
• Applications: Promoting sustainable electricity supply.

Reservoirs

• Definition: Artificial lakes for storage.

Biofuels

• Definition: Fuels from plants and animals.
• Commercial Scale: Not yet produced on a large scale.

Blackout

• Definition: Period of darkness due to electricity failure.

Drilling

• Definition: Extracting materials from the earth.
• Technological Advances: Latest drilling technology in use.

Methane

• Definition: Main component of natural gas.
• Environmental Impact: Contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Utilities

• Definition: Public services like gas, water, electricity.

Entropy

• Definition: Measure of randomness or disorder in a system.

Mechanical Energy

• Definition: Total kinetic and potential energy.

Efficiency

• Energy Efficiency: Top priority for reducing resource waste.

Power Plant

• Definition: Industrial facility for electricity generation.

Chemical Energy

• Definition: Energy from chemical reactions.

Windmill

• Definition: Wind-driven electric generator.

Furnace

• Definition: Place with intense heat.

Kilowatt

• Definition: Unit of power, common in utilities.