Energy & Environment Vocabulary

Plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel

• Biomass

• Fuel Cell

• Fossil Fuel

• Radiation

The way in which heat travels through air in the form of electromagnetic waves.

• Convection

• Conduction

• Radiation

• Microwave

Any significant change in measures of climate, such as temperature, precipitation, or wind, lasting for an extended period of a decade or longer.

• Greenhouse effect

• Climate change

• Thermal Energy

• Heat Transfer

Energy derived from wind by means of windmills or wind turbines.

• Solar Energy

• Wind Energy

• Tidal Energy

• Nuclear Energy

The movement of heat through a solid material or between two solid materials that touch each other.

• Conduction

• Convection

• Radiation

• Microwave

A machine for producing power in which a wheel or rotor is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water, steam, gas, or air.

• Generator

• Turbine

• Nacelle

• Tower

The way in which heat travels by movement or circulation within liquids or gases. Warmer masses of fluid usually rise while cooler masses usually sink.

• Conduction

• Convection

• Radiation

• Microwave

Energy from the sun.

• Wind Energy

• Nuclear Energy

• Tidal Energy

• Solar Energy

A natural fuel such as coal or gas formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

• Renewable Energy

• Biomass

• Ecology

• Fossil Fuel

A resource that can be replaced when needed.

• Nonrenewable Energy

• Renewable Energy

• Fossil Fuel

• Nuclear Energy