Energy and Change Glossary
- absorb: to take in
- biofuel: a fuel made from biological materials such as soya, maize or sugar cane; examples of these fuels are biodiesel and methanol
- conduction: the transfer of energy between objects that are in direct contact with each other
- conductor: a substance which allows heat, sound or electric charge to pass through it easily; a good conductor alls free passage whilst a poor conductor allows partial passage
- conservation: a quantity stays constant; something is not lost or destroyed
- conserve: to make something last longer by using it carefully
- consistent: reliable and predictable
- consumption: using up a resource
- convection current: the movement of liquid and gas particles as the substance warms up and rises and then cools and moves down again to form a current
- convection: transfer of energy through a liquid or gas by the movement of liquid or gas particles
- dynamo: a small generator that can be used for powering a bicycle light, a mine helmet or a wind up torch
- fossil fuel: non-renewable energy sources, namely coal, oil and natural gas
- generator: a machine used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy
- geyser: a cylindrical tank that is used to warm and store hot water
- greenhouse gases: gases in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect; these gases include carbon dioxide and methane
- heat: heat is the energy transferred between two objects as a result of the temperature difference between them; it is also when energy is transferred between a system and the environment as a result of the temperature difference between them; it is measured in joules (J).
- hydrocarbon: a molecule which consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms bonded together
- hydropower: the energy harnessed from a moving water source, like a river or a waterfall
- input: something that enters a system and is altered by the system to produce an output
- insulator: a substance which resists the movement of heat, sound or electric charge through it
- joule: the standard, international unit of measurement for energy
- kinetic energy: energy that a body has when it is moving
- law: in science, a law is a statement of what happens and it is based on repeated experiments and observations
- matt: not glossy or shiny
- methane: a colourless, odourless gas which is often called natural gas
- national electricity grid: the network of cables, pylons and transformers which transfer electricity throughout the country
- non-renewable: a resource, such as coal, that can not be replenished or there is a limited supply of it
- nuclear: the type of energy released when a large atomic nucleus breaks up or two smaller ones combine
- output: the end result of a process
- potential energy: energy that is stored in a system
- pylon: a large vertical steel tower which supports electrical power cables
- radiation: the transfer of energy from a source that does not require physical contact or movement of particles
- reflect: to throw back heat light or sound without absorbing it
- renewable: something which is continuously replenished or there is an unlimited supply of it
- reservoir: a large container or space in which a gas or liquid can be stored
- Sankey diagram: a Sankey diagram is used to show the difference between input and output energy
- solenoid: a current carrying coil or coils of conducting wire
- system: a system is any set of parts working together to carry out a particular function
- temperature: a measure of how hot or cold a substance feels; it is measured in degrees Celsius (oC).
- theory: in science, a theory is an explanation of why or how something happens
- thermal: relating to heat
- transfer: to move from one object or place to another; in an energy system, we say energy is transferred from one object to another
- transformer: an electrical device to transfer energy between two parts of the circuit in the national electricity grid
- turbine: a set of curved blades on a central, rotating spire