November 29- December 03

Dear Student:
This week we are going to begin a new Chapter. We will begin to explore the alternative energy resources that are so important to conserve our environment.

Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources.
These are some of the alternative energy resources we will be studying:
Solar Energy for heating water, generating electricity and concentrating solar energy to create fuel for your vehicles.
Biomass Energy Discover ways to use corn, corn stalks, wheat, pine cones, twigs,bark....to generate fuel to heat your home or drive your vehicle. The technology has been around for over 100 years. Basically, anything that decomposes or burns can be used to generate energy for your home or car
Wind Energy Another of the more popular alternative energy resources. Though not a reliable resource for every household, it is a viable option, depending on your location. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy and see if it will be an asset for your energy needs.
Hydrogen You will see that this is my favorite. The must abundant element in the universe is Hydrogen. H2O. Ever think about driving your car on pure water? Apparently, it has been done.



Fossil Fuels

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Key Concepts
• How do fuels provide energy?
• What are the three major fossil fuels?
• Why are fossil fuels considered nonrenewable resources?
Key Terms
• fuel
• energy transformation
• combustion
• fossil fuel
• Hydrocarbon
• petroleum
• refinery
• petrochemical

Section 2 Renewable Sources of Energy

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Key Concepts
• What forms of energy does the sun provide?
• What are some renewable sources of energy?
Key Terms
• solar energy
• hydroelectric power
• biomass fuel
• gasohol
• geothermal energy

Section 3 Nuclear Energy

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Key Concepts
• What happens during a nuclear fission reaction?
• How does a nuclear power plant produce electricity?
• How does a nuclear fusion reaction occur?
Key Terms
• nucleus
• nuclear fission
• reactor vessel
• fuel rod
• control rod
• meltdown
• nuclear fusion

Section 4 Energy Conservation

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Key Concept
• What are two ways to preserve our current energy sources?
Key Terms
• efficiency
• insulation
• energy conservation