APES 2
Terms
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Ionizing radiation
1 - enough energy to knock electrons from atoms forming ions, capable of causing cancer (ex gamma-Xrays-UV)
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High Quality Energy
2 - organized & concentrated, can perform useful work (ex fossil fuel & nuclear)
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Low Quality Energy
3 - disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air wind, solar)
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First Law of Thermodynamics
4 - energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another
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Second Law of Thermodynamics
5 - when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat)
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Natural radioactive decay
6 - unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles
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Half life
7 - the time it takes for ½ the mass of a radioisotope to decay
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Estimate of how long a radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level
8 - approximately 10 half-lives
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Nuclear Fission
9 - nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons
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Nuclear Fusion
10 - 2 isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus. Expensive, break even point not reached yet
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Ore
11 - a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine
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Organic fertilizer
12 - low acting & long lasting because the organic remains need time to be decomposed
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Best solution to Energy shortage
14 - onservation and increase efficiency
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Surface mining
14 - cheaper & can remove more mineral, less hazardous to workers
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Hummus
15 - organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms