ERC: Overview 📖
Introduction
Energy resources are the sources of energy that humans use to power their activities, such as fossil fuels, nuclear power, renewable energy, and biomass. Different energy sources have different impacts on the environment, such as climate change, pollution, and habitat loss. By the end of this module, you will be able to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources, such as their availability, cost, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
Learning Objectives
In this module, you will learn how to....
- Identify...
- differences between nonrenewable and renewable resources.
- types of fuels and their uses.
- where natural energy resources occur.
- Describe...
- trends in energy consumption.
- the use and methods of fossil fuels in power generation.
- the effects of fossil fuels on the environment.
- the use of nuclear energy in power generation.
- the effects of the use of nuclear energy on the environment.
- the effects of the use of biomass in power generation on the environment.
- the use of solar energy in power generation.
- the effects of the use of solar energy in power generation on the environment.
- the use of hydroelectricity in power generation.
- the effects of the use of hydroelectricity in power generation on the environment.
- the use of geothermal energy in power generation.
- the effects of the use of geothermal energy in power generation on the environment.
- the use of hydrogen fuel cells in power generation.
- the effects of the use of hydrogen fuel cells in power generation on the environment.
- the use of wind energy in power generation.
- the effects of the use of wind energy in power generation on the environment.
- methods for conserving energy.
Module Lessons Preview
In this module, each lesson will focus on teaching you the following topics:
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources (⏳15-17 mins): Sustainable management of renewable resources supports long-term ecological health, while the extraction and depletion of nonrenewable resources can lead to habitat disruption, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Global Energy Consumption (⏳5-7 mins): Global energy consumption influences air and water quality, habitat disruption, and climate change, underscoring the importance of transitioning to sustainable energy sources to mitigate environmental impacts and preserve ecosystem health.
Fuel Types and Uses (⏳7-9 mins): The choice between renewable and nonrenewable fuel sources influences air quality, climate patterns, and habitat integrity.
Distribution of Natural Energy Resources (⏳6-8 mins): The distribution of natural energy resources shapes biodiversity, habitat suitability, and overall ecological balance, emphasizing the need for sustainable management.
Fossil Fuels (⏳11-13 mins): Fossil fuels, while serving as a primary energy source, pose a threat to ecosystems through habitat disruption, air and water pollution, and climate change.
Nuclear Power (⏳11-13 mins): Nuclear power offers a low-carbon energy alternative.
Impacts of Nuclear Power (⏳11-13 mins): Nuclear power poses potential environmental risks such as radioactive waste and the potential for accidents.
Energy from Biomass (⏳5-7 mins): Energy from biomass offers a renewable energy source, yet sustainable practices are essential to prevent habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and competition with food production.
Solar Power (⏳6-8 mins): Solar power provides renewable energy with minimal direct environmental impact.
Hydroelectric Power (⏳10-13 mins): Hydroelectric power provides renewable energy with minimal direct environmental impact.
Geothermal Energy (⏳7-9 mins): Geothermal energy offers a sustainable alternative with minimal direct environmental impact.
Wind Energy (⏳7-9 mins): Wind energy offers a sustainable alternative with minimal direct environmental impact.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells (⏳5-7 mins): Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean energy option, offering potential reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Conservation (⏳4-6 mins): Energy conservation minimizes the environmental footprint associated with resource extraction and consumption.
AP Classroom Connection
This module aligns with Unit 6 in AP Classroom. You can view AP Daily videos, progress checks, and topic questions in AP Classroom. Topic Alignment:
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- Resource Use: 6.1 - 6.4
- Nonrenewable Energy Sources: 6.5 - 6.6
- Renewable Energy Sources: 6.7 - 6.13
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This module is 10-15% of the AP Environmental Science Exam.
Textbook Alignment
This module aligns to the following modules/chapters in your AP Environmental Science textbook:
📚 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources (Topic 6.1): Ch. 12, Module 34; Ch. 13, Module 40
📚 Global Energy Consumption (Topic 6.2): Ch. 12, Module 34-35; Ch. 13, Module 37
📚 Fuel Types and Uses (Topic 6.3): Ch. 12, Modules 34-35
📚 Distribution of Natural Energy Resources (Topic 6.4): Ch. 12, Modules 34-35
📚 Fossil Fuels (Topic 6.5): Ch. 12, Modules 34-35
📚 Nuclear Power (Topic 6.6): Ch. 12, Module 36
📚 Impacts of Nuclear Power (Topic 6.6): Ch. 12, Module 36
📚 Energy from Biomass (Topic 6.7): Ch. 13, Modules 38
📚 Solar Power (Topic 6.8): Ch. 13, Module 39
📚 Hydroelectric Power (Topic 6.9): Ch. 13, Module 38
📚 Geothermal Energy (Topic 6.10): Ch. 13, Module 39
📚 Wind Energy (Topic 6.12): Ch. 13, Module 39
📚 Hydrogen Fuel Cells (Topic 6.11): Ch. 13, Module 39
📚 Energy Conservation (Topic 6.13): Ch. 12, Module 34; Ch. 13, Modules 37, 40
These modules/chapters cover content found in this module and offer practice videos, questions, and flash cards.
Key Terms (click to reveal)
🖨 Click here to download a PDF of the Energy Resources and Consumption Key Terms Links to an external site.
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- Aesthetics: The branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art and the environment.
- Anaerobic: Processes or organisms that can operate or live without the presence of oxygen.
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- Biological combustion: The process by which organic materials are oxidized and converted into heat or energy through biological processes, such as digestion or fermentation.
- Biomass: Organic materials, such as wood, agricultural residues, or municipal solid waste, that can be used as a source of renewable energy.
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- Carbon dioxide (CO2): A colorless, odorless gas produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities, a major contributor to global warming and climate change.
- Chain reaction: A self-sustaining series of nuclear fissions, where the neutrons released by one reaction trigger subsequent reactions.
- Chornobyl: A catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred in 1986 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, releasing large amounts of radioactive material into the environment.
- Chemical combustion: The process by which chemical reactions between fuel and oxygen produce heat or energy, typically through combustion engines or chemical reactions.
- Clean Air Act 💨: A U.S. federal law enacted to regulate air pollution and protect public health and the environment from harmful emissions.
- Coal: A fossil fuel formed from the remains of ancient plants that have been subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.
- Combined heat and power (CHP): A system that generates both electricity and usable heat from a single fuel source, increasing overall efficiency.
- Cogeneration: The simultaneous production of electricity and useful heat from the same fuel source or energy input.
- Control rods: Rods made of neutron-absorbing material, such as boron or cadmium, used in nuclear reactors to control the rate of fission reactions.
- Crude oil: Petroleum in its natural unrefined state, consisting of hydrocarbons and other organic compounds.
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- Depletable resources: Resources that can be used up or depleted over time, such as fossil fuels or minerals.
- Developed countries: Countries with high levels of industrialization, advanced technological infrastructure, and high standards of living.
- Developing countries: Countries with lower levels of industrialization, often characterized by emerging economies, limited infrastructure, and lower standards of living.
- Direct combustion: The burning of biomass or other fuels to produce heat or energy directly.
- Dish-engine solar cell: A type of concentrating solar power system that uses parabolic dishes to focus sunlight onto a receiver, converting it into heat or electricity.
- Dry steam plants: Geothermal power plants that use high-pressure, high-temperature steam extracted directly from underground reservoirs to generate electricity.
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- Earth energies: Energy derived from natural processes occurring within the Earth, such as geothermal, tidal, or gravitational energy.
- Earth-sheltered house: A type of passive solar building design where a structure is partially or completely buried underground, providing natural insulation and temperature regulation.
- Electrical energy: Energy carried by electric currents, used to power electrical devices and systems.
- Enhanced recovery: Techniques used to increase the amount of oil or gas recovered from a reservoir beyond what can be achieved through primary or secondary recovery methods.
- Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies: Business strategies and practices that take into account environmental, social, and ethical considerations in addition to financial performance.
- Estimated reserves: The amount of oil, gas, or minerals believed to exist in a particular area based on geological surveys and exploration data.
- Ethanol: A type of alcohol produced by fermenting sugars from crops such as corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass, used as a biofuel or fuel additive.
- Evaporation: The process by which water is converted from a liquid to a vapor or gas, typically from the surface of bodies of water or moist soil.
- Export: The sale or shipment of goods or commodities produced in one country to buyers in another country.
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- Finite: Having limits or bounds, not infinite or unlimited.
- Flat plate collectors: Solar energy devices consisting of flat, rectangular panels that absorb sunlight and convert it into heat or electricity.
- Flash steam plants: Geothermal power plants that use high-pressure, high-temperature water extracted from underground reservoirs to generate electricity.
- Fractional distillation: A separation process used in refining crude oil, where petroleum fractions are separated based on their boiling points.
- Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs): Vehicles powered by electric motors that are fueled by hydrogen gas stored in onboard fuel cells.
- Fukushima: A nuclear disaster that occurred in 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, following a severe earthquake and tsunami, resulting in reactor meltdowns and releases of radioactive materials.
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- Geothermal energy: Energy derived from heat stored beneath the Earth's surface, used for heating, electricity generation, and other applications.
- Green building movement: A global effort to design, construct, and operate buildings in an environmentally sustainable and resource-efficient manner.
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- Half-lives: The time it takes for half of a quantity of radioactive material to decay into a stable form.
- Heat pump: A device that transfers heat from one location to another using mechanical work, typically used for heating or cooling buildings.
- Heavy metals: Metallic elements with high atomic weights and toxic properties, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, often found as pollutants in the environment.
- Hydrogen: The lightest and most abundant element in the universe, often used as a fuel source or in chemical processes.
- Hydrogen fuel cell: A device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, emitting water as a byproduct.
- Hydroelectric power: Electricity generated by harnessing the energy of flowing water, typically from rivers or dams.
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- Import: The purchase or acquisition of goods or commodities produced in one country from sellers in another country.
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- Kinetic energy: The energy possessed by an object due to its motion.
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- Lead: A heavy metal element used in various industrial processes and products, known for its toxicity to humans and the environment.
- Loss of coolant accident (LOCA): A nuclear reactor accident characterized by a loss of coolant from the reactor core, potentially leading to overheating and core damage.
- Low-level waste: Radioactive waste with relatively low levels of radiation, such as contaminated clothing or equipment, typically requiring less stringent disposal methods.
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- Mechanical energy: The energy possessed by an object due to its position or motion, often associated with machines or mechanical systems.
- Mercury: A toxic heavy metal element that can cause serious health and environmental problems, often released from industrial processes or products.
- Moderator: A material used in nuclear reactors to slow down fast neutrons, facilitating nuclear fission reactions.
- Milled: Processed or ground into fine particles, often referring to ores or grains.
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- Natural gas: A fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane and other hydrocarbons, used as a source of heat and energy.
- Nuclear fission: The process by which the nucleus of an atom is split into smaller nuclei, releasing large amounts of energy.
- Nuclear fusion: The process by which two atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy, as occurs in the sun and other stars.
- Nuclear power: Electricity generated by nuclear reactors through controlled nuclear fission reactions.
- NIMBY: An acronym standing for "Not In My Backyard," referring to opposition from residents to the siting of undesirable facilities or developments near their homes.
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- Ocean currents: Continuous, directed movements of seawater, driven by factors such as wind, temperature, and salinity gradients.
- Ocean waves: Oscillating movements of water near the ocean's surface, often caused by wind or seismic activity.
- Ocean tides: The periodic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.
- Ocean-thermal energy conversion (OTEC): A process that uses temperature differences between warm surface water and cold deep water to generate electricity.
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- Passive solar system: A building design or system that uses natural processes, such as sunlight and thermal mass, for heating, cooling, and lighting.
- Penstock: A pipe or channel used to convey water from a reservoir or dam to a hydroelectric power plant's turbines.
- Perceived risk: An individual's subjective assessment or belief regarding the likelihood and severity of potential risks.
- Petroleum (oil): A liquid fossil fuel composed of hydrocarbon compounds, used as a source of energy and raw materials for various industries.
- Photochemical smog: A type of air pollution formed by the interaction of sunlight with pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.
- Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy, producing oxygen and carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water.
- Photovoltaic cells (PV): Semiconductor devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity, commonly used in solar panels.
- Potential energy: The energy possessed by an object due to its position or configuration, often associated with gravitational or elastic forces.
- Precipitation: Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.
- Probability: The likelihood or chance of a specific event or outcome occurring, often expressed as a numerical value between 0 and 1.
- Primary recovery: The initial phase of oil or gas production, involving the extraction of hydrocarbons using natural reservoir pressure or simple pumping methods.
- Proven resources: The known and economically recoverable reserves of oil, gas, minerals, or other natural resources.
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- Radiation: The emission and propagation of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or subatomic particles.
- Radiation sickness: A serious illness caused by exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
- Radioactive: Emitting or containing radioactive particles, such as alpha, beta, or gamma radiation.
- Reprocessing: The chemical treatment of spent nuclear fuel to recover usable materials and reduce the volume of radioactive waste.
- Renewable resources: Natural resources that can be replenished or regenerated over time, such as sunlight, wind, or biomass.
- Resurgence: The reappearance or revival of a phenomenon or trend after a period of decline or suppression.
- Risk: The potential for loss, injury, or harm resulting from exposure to hazards or uncertain events.
- Rotar: A rotating blade or assembly used in various mechanical devices, such as turbines or pumps.
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- Secondary recovery: The stage of oil or gas production that follows primary recovery, involving enhanced techniques to extract remaining hydrocarbons.
- Severity: The extent or magnitude of harm or damage caused by a hazard or adverse event.
- Suspended particulate matter (SPM): Tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, often a component of air pollution.
- Syngas: A mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by the gasification of organic materials, used as a fuel or chemical feedstock.
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- Tidal barrage: A dam-like structure built across an estuary or bay to capture and harness the energy of tidal flows.
- Tidal fences: Arrays of underwater turbines or generators installed perpendicular to tidal currents to generate electricity.
- Tidal turbines: Devices similar to wind turbines but designed to operate underwater, harnessing the kinetic energy of tidal currents to generate electricity.
- Thermal energy: Heat energy produced by the movement of particles within a substance or system.
- Thermal power generation: The process of generating electricity by converting thermal energy into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy.
- Thermochemical combustion: The conversion of biomass into heat or energy through chemical reactions, such as combustion or gasification.
- Three Mile Island: A partial nuclear meltdown that occurred in 1979 at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania, USA.
- Transesterification: A chemical process in which triglycerides (fats) are reacted with alcohol to produce biodiesel and glycerol.
- Tropospheric ozone: A form of ozone found in the lower atmosphere, produced by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.
- Tsunami: A series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
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- Uranium mill tailings: Residues left over after the processing of uranium ore, often containing radioactive elements and requiring proper disposal.
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- Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP): A deep geological repository in New Mexico, USA, designed for the permanent disposal of transuranic radioactive waste.
- Waste-to-energy plant: Facilities that generate electricity or heat by burning waste materials, typically municipal solid waste.
- Wind energy: Energy generated from the movement of air masses, captured by wind turbines and converted into electricity.
- Wind farm: A collection of wind turbines installed in a specific area to generate electricity from wind energy.
- Wind turbine: A device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy, typically used to generate electricity.
- Wood: A natural material derived from trees, used for construction, fuel, and various other purposes.
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- Yellowcake: A concentrated form of uranium oxide, produced through the milling and processing of uranium ore.
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