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13 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Ionizing Radiation
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Enough energy to knock electrons from atoms forming ions, capable of causing cancer (ex. gamma, X Rays, UV)
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High Quality Energy
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organized and concentrated, can perform useful work (ex. fossil fuel and nuclear energy)
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Low Quality Energy
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disorganized, dispersed (heat in the ocean or air wind, solar)
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First Law of Thermodynamics
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Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but ay be converted from one form to another
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Second Law of Thermodynamics
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When energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat)
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Natural radioactive decay
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Unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles
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Half life
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The ttime it takes for 1/2 the mass fo a radioisotope to decay
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Estimate of how long radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level?
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10 half lives approximately
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Nuclear Fission
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nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons
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Nuclear Fusion
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2 isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus, Helium (He). Expensive break even point not reached yet. Tempterature needs to be about 100 million degrees.
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Ore
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a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mines
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MIneral Reserve
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Identified deposits currently profitable to extract
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Best solution to Energy shortage
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conservation and increase efficiency
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