APHG Chapter 9 – Key Issue 3 – Flashcards

The quantity of something that producers have available for sale.

The quantity that consumers are willing and able to buy.

An energy source formed from the residue of plants and animals buried millions of years ago. Petroleum, natural gas and coal are all examples of these.

Demand highest in developed countries. Supply greatest in developing countries - but only certain regions. Creates major source of instability between developed and developing countries.

China, United States

1. Businesses - coal 2. Homes - natural gas 3. Transportation - petroleum

Coal is plant matter. Found in old tropical locations (lush, swampy areas rich in plants) which have relocated to mid-latitudes due to continence drift. Proven reserves in China. US is 2nd.

Liquid fuel formed from residue deposited on sea floor (including current land that used to be under water). Russia and Saudi Arabia, SW and Central Asia, US

Gas mixture primarily methane. Formed from sediment deposited on sea floor. Russia & SW Asia, US (esp Texas, Oklahoma, Appalachian Mountains).

Renewable energy - unlimited supply. Examples - wind, solar, fusion... Nonrenewable energy - can be used up as rate of consumption exceeds supply/formation. Example - fossil fuels

The supply of energy remaining in deposits that have been discovered.

Supply of energy in deposits that are undiscovered but thought to exist.

1. Finding undiscovered fields through exploration. 2. Enhanced recovery from already discovered fields though better extraction. 3. Figuring out how to mine Unconventional sources such as oil sands or hydraulic fracturing of natural gas (fracking).

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela

US consumption rising due to increased trucks, SUVs (poor gas mileage) and more driving. US imports a lot of petroleum - cost & supply depending on other countries.

1970s oil shocks - OPEC refused to sell oil to US in protest of their support of Israel - prices skyrocketed. 2008 oil shock - prices rose again as demand for oil in developing countries increases.

Advantages: 1. Large amount of energy from small amount material. 2. Alternative to fossil fuels. Disadvantages: 1. Not renewable. 2. Radioactive waste 3. Potential accidents (meltdowns)

Radioactive waste Potential accidents (meltdowns)

The splitting of an atomic nucleus to release energy.

Materials from a nuclear reaction that emit radiation; contact with such particles may be harmful or lethal to people, therefore the materials must be safely stored isolated for thousands of years.

Atomic bombs used twice in 1945 on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Dropped by US in WWII.

Uranium is a nonrenewable resource.

A nuclear power plants that creates its own fuel from plutonium.

Elaborate safety measures; complexities of safe transportation.

1. Hydroelectric power 2. Biomass fuel 3. Wind power 4. Geothermal energy 5. Nuclear fusion. 6. Passive solar energy 7. Active solar energy

Generating energy from the movement of water. Leading source of renewable energy. Esp used in Latin America, Brazil, Africa

Fuel derived from plant material and animal waste such as wood and crops. Sugarcane, corn and soybeans can be processed into motor vehicle fuels. Limited potential as burning inefficient, already serves essential purposes other than energy.

Windmills, sailboats. Windmills criticized as ugly, noisy, lethal to birds and bats. Wind turbines can be expensive.

Energy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks. More at sites where crustal plates meet.

Fusing of hydrogen atoms to form helium; releases lots of energy however can occur only at very high temperatures (millions of degrees) and we don't quite have the technology to sustain this.

Passive solar energy systems capture energy without using devices. Example - windows, greenhouses, dark surfaces

Active solar energy systems collect solar energy and convert it either to heat energy or to electricity.

A solar energy cell, usually made from silicon, that collects solar rays to generate electricity.