Vocab 55-62 (General and Nuclear Energy)

Spontaneous flow of heat from warmer to cooler bodies

Enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming ions; capable of causing cancer (gamma, x-rays, UV)

organized and concentrated; can perform useful work (fossil fuel and nuclear)

disorganized, dispersed (heat in the ocean, air wind, or solar)

energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another (conservation of Energy)

when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower-quality energy, usually heat

conservation, increase efficiency, explore alternative energy options

wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells

unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles

the time it takes for 1/2 the mass of a radioisotope to decay

How long a radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to safe levels

nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons

two isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus (He). Process is expensive; break-even point not reached uet

not all matter is converted into matter in a fusion reaction - some (the mass deficit) is converted into energy. E= mc^2. Explains the energy released in a fusion reaction.

core, control rods, steam generator, turbine, containment building

Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986) and Three Mile Island, PA (1979)