Glossary
absorption
process of light energy changing into heat energy occurring
when light falls on an object and is taken into it (can be
compared to a sponge soaking up water)
active
solar energy
solar energy provided by equipment; examples: PV cells, solar
collectors
alternative
fuel
any fuel for vehicles other than petroleum-based fuels
examples: solar, electric, compressed natural gas, propane,
alcohol, and hydrogen
biomass
renewable source of energy that has been stored as plant and
animal material; producing fuels from living materials or
decayed waste materials; examples: manure, wood, compost,
ethanol from corn, methane from landfills
calorie
amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1
kilogram of water 1o C
carbon
dioxide (CO2)
colorless, odorless, non-poisonous gas normally present in
air; vital to plant function
Celsius
(C)
temperature scale used in the metric system in which water
freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees
central
receiver system
high-temperature solar thermal system that uses mirrors (heliostats)
to reflect solar energy atop a tower to heat fluid
concentrator
a system that focuses the sun on an area to obtain a higher
temperature
conduction
movement of heat or cold through materials that are solid
current
flow of electric charge
DC
meter
device used to measure direct current energy output
desalinization
process of removing salt and other chemicals and minerals
direct
radiation
sunlight that hits at least one surface of an object
dish
system
high-temperature solar thermal system that uses a parabolic
tracking concentrator to focus the sun's rays onto a receiver
earth
materials
substances that make up or come from the earth; examples:
rocks, water, soil, sand, minerals
electricity
flow of electrons
energy
source
object or material that produces energy by changing it from
one source to another
energy
transfer
transformation from one type of energy into another; example:
light energy changing into heat energy resulting in temperature
change
evaporation
process of changing into vapor
Fahrenheit
Measurement scale on which under standard atmospheric pressure
the boiling point of water is at 212 degrees above the zero
of the scale, the freezing point is at 32 degrees above zero
fossil
fuels
nonrenewable energy sources that come from fossilized plants
and animals and cannot be replenished; examples: coal, oil,
natural gas
geothermal
renewable source of energy from the internal heat in the core
of the earth;
examples: hot springs, steam, volcanoes
geothermal
energy
harnessing heat and steam generated below Earth's surface
gnomon
sundial; a stick or pole placed in the ground
heliostat
a sun-tracking mirror
high-temperature
solar thermal system
dishes, troughs, and other concentrators that convert the
sun's heat into both electricity and hot water at the same
time
hydropower
renewable source of energy that comes from water and is harnessed
to produce electricity
indirect
radiation
sunlight that bounces from one surface to another
infrared
light
invisible radiation or light contiguous to red in the visible
spectrum;
light energy we feel as heat
insulation
process of keeping heat or cold in one place and preventing
it from escaping with little or no air movement
load
a device to which power is delivered
molecule
the smallest particle of a substance that retains the properties
of the substance an is composed of one or more atoms
nonrenewable
energy source
source of energy that is either unable to be replaced naturally
or are naturally replaced very slowly; examples: fossil fuels
(coal, oil, natural gas) and nuclear fuels (uranium).
nuclear
energy
splitting radioactive uranium atoms to create heat energy
orientation
set in any definite position with reference to the points
of the compass
oxygen
an element that at standard temperature and pressure is colorless,
tasteless and odorless; required for nearly all combustion
and in the cellular functioning of animals
parabolic
reflector
concave mirror to focus and reflect the sun's rays
passive
solar design
construction technique of using structural elements of a building
to bring in heat in cold weather and deflect or vent heat
in hot weather through the use of materials, coating, eaves,
windows, landscape;
examples: north, south, east, west orientation, sun/shade,
insulation
photovoltaic
(PV)
the effect of producing electric current using light
photo: light
voltaic: producing direct electric current by chemical action
photovoltaic
(PV) cell
device that converts solar energy directly into electricity
primary
energy source
source of energy found or stored in nature; examples: biomass,
coal, oil, natural gas, the sun, wind, water, nuclear power
from radioactive substances, thermal power stored in the earth's
interior and oceans, and potential energy from the earth's
gravity
radiation
process of emitting energy in the form of waves or particles;
sunlight is solar radiation
reflection
return of light from a shiny surface at an angle
reflector
shiny device used to alter the path of light; a mirror is
a reflector
renewable
energy resource
source of energy that is virtually inexhaustible and is naturally
and quickly replenished; examples: solar, wind, hydropower
(water), geothermal, and biomass
secondary
energy source
source of energy produced from primary energy sources using
technology; examples: production of electricity by burning
coal, using photovoltaic cells to harness solar energy, producing
alcohol/methane fuel from corn and other crops
solar
(electric) cell
photovoltaic (PV) cell
solar
energy
energy derived from the sun
solar
oven
solar-powered device that is able to cook food
solar
thermal energy
using the sun to heat water; the simplest type of solar technology
sun
protection factor (SPF)
rating which determines how many times longer your skin can
tolerate UV rays when sunscreen is applied. For example, if
it takes you 5 minutes to burn and you use an SPF 15 sunscreen,
it should take you 75 minutes to burn (5 minutes times 15
SPF equals 75 minutes)
trough
system
high-temperature solar thermal system that focuses sunlight
onto steel pipes or glass tubes to transfer heat into steam
to power generators
ultraviolet
(UV) light
invisible radiation or light just beyond violet in the visible
spectrum
waves
and tides
renewable sources of energy that use the force of ocean waves
and tides
wind
energy
renewable source of energy that uses wind to turn a windmill
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