Physics Work Definitions

a system that uses electricity to produce thermal energy for heating

a system that moves hot air to heat a building

a system that uses hot water to heat a building

a system that transfers thermal energy from under Earth's surface into a building to heat it, and transfers thermal energy from the building into the ground to cool the building

a positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom

an uncharged particle in the nucleus of an atom

particles in the nucleus of an atom; protons and neutrons

a negatively charged particle found in the space surrounding the nucleus of an atom

state in which all electrons are at their lowest possible energy levels

state in which one or more electrons are at higher energy levels than in the ground state

a form of an element that has the same atomic number, but a different mass number than all other forms of that element

an unstable isotope that spontaneously changes its nuclear structure and releases energy in the form of radiation

energy released when the nucleus of an unstable isotope undergoes a change in structure

a process by which the nucleus of an atom spontaneously disintegrates

the decomposition of large, unstable nuclei into smaller, more stable nuclei

the process by which the nucleus of an atom sometimes changes

the force of attraction or repulsion due to electric charges

the very strong force of attraction between nucleons

the process by which a radioactive atom's nucleus breaks apart and forms different atoms

nuclear reaction in which an alpha particle is emitted

a particle emitted during alpha decay; composed of a helium nucleus containing two protons and two neutrons

the reactant atom in a nuclear reaction

the product atom in a nuclear reaction

a nuclear decay process in which daughter atoms are different elements from parent atoms

nuclear reaction in which a beta particle is emitted or captured

a high-energy electron or positron ejected or captured by a nucleus during beta decay

a particle with a positive charge and the same mass as an electron

a high-energy particle with no mass

a reaction in which an excited nucleus returns to a lower, more stable energy state, releasing a very high-energy gamma ray in the process.

the average length of time it takes radioactive material to decay to half of its original mass

a unit of mass equal to 1.66 x 10^(-27) kg

the energy required to accelerate an electron through a potential difference of 1 million volts; 1.602x10^(-13) J

the repeated series of reactions in which the products of one reaction generate subsequent reactions

core of the reactor, consisting of fuel bundles, control rods, and moderator

fuel elements consisting of uranium pellets

adjustable cadmium rods used to control nuclear reaction rates

heavy water used to slow neutrons and absorb thermal energy

absorbs thermal energy from the heavy water in the primary loop, producing steam

closed loop through which heavy water flows

closed loop through which normal water, which becomes steam, flows

energy-rich substances

a substance that cannot be replenished as it is used in energy-transforming processes

a substance with an unlimited supply or a supply that can be replenished as the substance is used in energy-transforming processes

fuel produced by the decayed and compressed remains of plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago

a nuclear reaction in which the nuclei of two atoms fuse together to form a larger nucleus

radiant energy from the sun

building design that uses the sun's radiant energy directly for heating

a device that transforms radiant energy into electrical energy

electricity produced by transforming the kinetic energy of rushing water into electrical energy

• thermal energy from deep underground; can be used directly or transformed into electrical energy

• accessible only in certain areas

• in some locations, deep holes need to be drilled into the ground to reach pockets of thermal energy

• wind strikes the blades of a turbine, which turns an electricity generator that generates electrical energy

• can only be used in windy locations

• turbines are noisy, and the blades may strike birds and other wildlife

• energy generated from the rise and fall of tides/movement of water

• may disrupt aquatic ecosystems

• solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels derived from the bodies of living or dead plants and animals

• can include wood, biological waste, and gases such as methane produced during the decomposition of plant matter

• burning fuels may produce air pollutants; including carbon dioxide, which is linked to climate change

a transfer of mechanical energy (scalar; measured in joules)

a unit of measurement of work and energy, equivalent to a newton times a metre

the capacity to do work (scalar; measured in joules)

the energy possessed by an object because of its position relative to a lower or higher position

the energy possessed by an object due to its motion

the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit of time (scalar; measured in watts)

unit of measurement of power, equivalent to a joule divided by one second

the percentage of energy remaining after the energy transformation

• transforms chemical to kinetic energy

• wastes thermal energy

• 8-15% efficient

• produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change

• creates air pollution

• transforms electrical to kinetic energy

• wastes thermal energy 24-45% efficient

• currently more expensive than gasoline vehicles more efficient than gasoline vehicles but uses heavy batters that must be constructed and discarded in special ways to limit environmental contamination

• transforms kinetic energy from the pedal to kinetic energy in motion

• wastes thermal energy 90% efficient

• most efficient self powered vehicle

• weather dependent

• road safety issues

• transforms electrical to sound energy

• wastes thermal energy

• 1% efficient

• efficiency seems low, but useful output energy is more than enough to produce audible sound

• most of electrical input is transformed into thermal energy

• transforms electrical to thermal energy

• wastes radiant energy

• 98% efficient

• very efficient transformer of electrical energy into thermal energy

• transforms kinetic to electrical energy

• wastes thermal energy

• 80% efficient

• efficient method of generating electricity

• damming rivers may flood land and disrupt ecosystems

• transforms nuclear to electrical energy

• wastes thermal energy

• 30-40% efficient

• relatively efficient for generating electricity

• produces radioactive waste

• transforms radiant to electrical energy

• wastes thermal energy

• 20-40% efficient

• relatively efficient for generating electricity

• transforms radiant to chemical energy

• wastes thermal energy

• 5% efficient

• although it seems relatively inefficient, its the only process that transforms radiant energy into chemical energy in organisms

• directly or indirectly responsible for maintaining virtually all life on Earth

• transforms chemical to kinetic energy

• wastes thermal energy

• 20% efficient

• although it seems to be relatively inefficient, this energy-transforming process provides all the energy animals use to perform work

the kinetic energy of the atom plus the energy between the attraction of the atom; the total quantity of kinetic and potential energy possessed by the atoms or molecules of a substance

measure of the kinetic energy of atom

the transfer of thermal energy

process of transferring heat by particle collision

process of transferring heat by a circulating path of fluid

process of transferring heat through a wave form of electromagnetic radiant energy

wood, plastic

metal

the amount of energy (heat) required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree celsius; measured in joules per kg times celsius

• all matter is made up of moving particles

• each atom or molecule exert forces (attraction and repulsion) on each other

• strength of force determines the overall state of the object

the amount of thermal energy absorbed or released during a change of state

the amount of thermal energy needed to melt or released to freeze an object; measured in joules

the amount of thermal energy needed of vaporize or released to condense an object; measured in joules

the thermal energy required for 1kg of a substance to melt or freeze; measured in J/kg

the thermal energy required for 1kg of a substance to vaporize or condense; measured in J/kg

the temperature scale based on the boiling point and freezing point of water

the temperature scale based on the boiling point and freezing point of brine

the temperature scale developed using absolute zero as the point at which there is virtually no motion in the particles of a substance

a current that occurs when a fluid is continuously heated; caused by warmer, less dense fluid being constantly pushed upward as colder, denser fluid falls downward