Energy Vocab

3. Occurs when a neutron slams into a larger atom, forcing it to excite and split into two smaller atoms.
5. A reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nuclei, nuclei/neutron by-products.
6. A system that uses the sun's energy to generate electricity or heat.
8. A renewable energy source that comes from organic materials like plants, animals, and wood.
10. The practice of using less energy.
12. A fossil fuel that's found underground and used as a fuel and raw material.
13. Electricity generated from sunlight.
14. A method of extracting minerals by removing the soil and rock that covers them.
15. A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.
16. A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon gases, primarily composed of methane, found beneath the Earth's surface.
17. A sedimentary rock that's primarily carbon and is used as a fuel
18. A renewable energy source that uses the motion of tides to generate electricity.
20. A valuable mineral found in a rock or sediment that's concentrated enough to be mined and processed.
21. A renewable energy source that uses falling water to generate electricity.
23. Uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity.
25. The process of restoring land after mining to a safe, productive, and environmentally sound state.
26. A form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons.

1. Uses the sun's heat and light to warm and cool buildings without mechanical or electrical devices.
2. Convert sunlight into electricity.
4. The process of digging tunnels and shafts to extract minerals from underground.
7. Heat energy that comes from the Earth's interior.
9. Energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.
11. Energy that comes from finite resources.
19. A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
22. The practice of using less energy to accomplish the same task.
24. Nonrenewable energy sources that are created from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago