Resources and Energy

Biomass

Organic matter or animal waste that can be burned for energy. Biomass. Biomass is material from plants and animals that can be used as a renewable energy source.

Coal

A fossil fuel made of decayed plant material. Coal. It is a black or brownish-black rock that is burned to produce energy.

Conservation

The careful management and use of resources. Conservation. In simple terms, conservation in science is about protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment for future generations.

Efficiency

The percentage of energy input that a machine converts to work output. Efficiency. Efficiency is a measure of how well energy is converted into useful work by a machine or process.

Energy

The ability to do work. Energy. In simple terms, energy is what makes things happen or change.

Fossil fuel

An energy source made of the remains of organisms that lived long ago, like coal or oil. Fossil fuel is a natural fuel formed from the decomposed remains of ancient plants and animals.

Friction

The force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are touching. Friction is the resistance you feel when you slide one object over another.

Fuel

A material that releases energy when burned, like wood, coal or oil. Fuel. Fuel is a substance that provides energy when it undergoes a chemical reaction, such as burning.

Gasohol

A mixture of gasoline and alcohol that is used as a fuel. Gasohol is a blend of gasoline and ethanol used to power vehicles.

Geothermal energy

Heat energy released from within the Earth. Geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is the natural heat that comes from the Earth's interior, which we can use to generate electricity or heat buildings.

Heat

The thermal energy transferred from a warmer object to a cooler object. Heat. Heat is the energy that moves between things when one is warmer than the other.

Hydroelectric energy

Electricity generated from flowing water. Hydroelectric energy. It's a method of producing electricity using the movement of water, typically through dams, to turn turbines.

Insulation

A material that slows the transfer of heat energy. Insulation. It keeps heat inside during winter and outside during summer, acting like a thermal barrier.

Kinetic energy

the energy of a moving object

Natural gas

A fossil fuel often found in underground rock layers. Natural gas. Natural gas is a flammable gas mixture primarily made up of methane, used as an energy source.

Natural resource

A material or an energy source in the environment, like trees, water, or wind, is called a natural resource. Natural resources are materials or energy we find in nature that humans use for survival and development.

Nonrenewable resource

A natural resource that is consumed faster than it can be created nonrenewable resource. In simple terms, a nonrenewable resource is a resource like oil or coal that we can't replace once it's used up.

Nuclear energy

The energy released when the nuclei of atoms are split or combined. Nuclear energy. It is the powerful energy generated in the core of an atom when tiny particles are split apart or fused together.

Nuclear fission

The splitting of an atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei and neutrons, this releases energy. Nuclear fission is a process where a heavy nucleus breaks apart to release lots of energy.

Nuclear fusion

The combining of two nuclei to form a single nucleus, this releases energy. Nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is a process where two light atomic nuclei merge to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy, like in the sun.

Petroleum

A black liquid fossil fuel that is nonrenewable. Petroleum. It is a natural substance formed from ancient microorganisms that is used to produce energy and various products.

Potential energy

The energy an object has from its position or condition, like a ball on a hill or a stretched spring. Potential energy is stored energy that an object has due to its position or state, which can be released later.

Recycling

Recovering useful material from waste for reuse. Recycling. Recycling is the process of converting waste into reusable materials to conserve resources and reduce pollution.

Renewable resource

A resource that is replaced by nature more quickly than it is consumed. Renewable resource. A renewable resource is something that can be naturally replenished in a short period of time, like sunlight or wind.

Solar energy

The energy from sunlight. Solar energy. Solar energy is the power we get from the sun's rays, which can be converted into electricity or heat.

Temperature

How hot or cold something is, it is determined by the kinetic energy of its particles. Temperature is a measure of how fast the molecules in a substance are moving.

Thermal energy

The energy of the moving particles in an object. Thermal energy. Thermal energy is the heat produced by the movement of tiny particles inside a substance.

Wave

A repeating disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space. Wave. In simple terms, a wave is a way energy moves from one place to another, like how ocean waves travel across the sea.