1. Module Five Earth and Environmental ScienceENERGY CONVERSIONSENERGY CONVERSIONSENERGY CONVERSIONSENERGY CONVERSIONSENERGY CONVERSIONS

2. Energy Conversions Vocabulary Assembled for Earth andEnvironmental Science by Kella Randolph, M.Ed. 3. Energy moves from one form to another. 4. Solar Energy 5. chemical energyenergy stored in the bonds that hold molecules together. 6. electrical currentenergy that results from the movement of charged particles. 7. energythe ability to cause changes, exert forces or do work. (In other words, energy is the ability to makethings happen!) 8. Energy can exist in many forms. It can be stored or expressed actively.Energy can be converted to another form, but can never be created or destroyed. 9. fossil fuela fuel formed deep in Earths crust from the remains of plants and animals.Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. 10. global warminga gradual rise in Earths average temperature. 11. gravitational potential energystored energy that is due to an objects position.The higher an object is, the greater its gravitational potential energy. 12. hydroelectricityelectrical current produced by water flowing through a turbine. 13. kinetic energyenergy of motion. The faster an object moves, the greater its kinetic energy. Kinetic energy alsoincludes sound and thermal energy: 14. Sound energy of vibrating materials or air molecules. 15. Thermal energyenergy that comes from the movement of tiny particles. As an object heats up its particles movefaster, increasing thermal energy. 16. lighta form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the eye 17. electromagnetic radiationOther forms of electromagnetic radiation include gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet light, infrared radiation,and radio waves. 18. nonrenewable resourcea natural resource that cannot be replaced reasonably soon. 19. nuclear energyenergy released by changes to the nuclei of atoms. 20. nuclear fissionIn nuclear fission, atoms are split apart. It is used in power plants and weapons. 21. nuclear fusionIn nuclear fusion, atoms are joined together. This occurs deep inside the Sun. There is hope that we willsoon be able to harness this type of energy, essentially solving the energy supply problem. 22. renewable resourcea natural resource that can be replaced in a reasonable amount of time. 23. renewable resourcesWind power, solar power, hydroelectricity, and ethanol are renewable resources. 24. soundSound is energy that travels as a result of vibration. It can be characterized by frequency, pitch,and loudness, which is measured in decibels. 25. thermal energyThermal energy is the energy a substance or system has related to its temperature, i.e., the energyof moving or vibrating molecules.Thermal energy is not the same as heat. Heat is energy transferred between substances or systemsdue to a temperature difference between them. 26. SourcesClipArt from Bing Online and Commonshares