Key Words Unit 3 AQA Environmental Studies
Key Words for Unit 3- Pollution and Energy
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
- Created by: KatieL
- Created on: 02-06-14 13:28
Primary Fuel
An energy source that can be harnessed from the environment e.g. coal
1 of 85
Secondary Fuel
An energy source that is produced by converting a primary fuel e.g. hydrogen
2 of 85
Renewable Resources
Resources that are reformed relatively quickly
3 of 85
Electrolysis
The splitting of molecules using electricity
4 of 85
Non-renewable Resource
A resource that is renewed so slowly that the amount available is effectively finite
5 of 85
Deplete
To reduce the amount of a resource that is avaliable
6 of 85
Energy Density
The amount of energy in a particular mass of fuel or that can be harnessed by a particular mass of equiptment
7 of 85
Intermittent
A process or resource that is not constantly available e.g. wind, solar
8 of 85
Reliable
An energy source where its availability can be predicted, although is not always constantly available e.g. oil, tidal
9 of 85
Aesthetic
The issue of appearance of things e.g. pylons on landscapes
10 of 85
Viscosity
A measure of the ease with which a fluid can flow
11 of 85
Viscous
A fluid which cannot easily flow
12 of 85
Fissile Fuel
A fuel where the nuclei of the atoms can be split of the atoms can be split by neutron bombardment, releasing large amount of energy
13 of 85
Isotope
A variety of an element where the number of neutrons is different
14 of 85
Finite Resource
A resource where the amount is fixed, e.g. uranium
15 of 85
Photothermal
A system which converts light into heat
16 of 85
Kinetic energy
The energy of movement
17 of 85
Barrage
A dam built across an estuary to generate tidal power
18 of 85
Photovoltaic
A system which converts light into electricity
19 of 85
Heliostat
A device that tracks the sun so the angle of incident sunlight stays the same
20 of 85
Parabolic Reflector
A mirror system that reflects incoming light onto a single point
21 of 85
Potential Gravitational Energy
The energy of raised position.
22 of 85
Coppiced Woodland
Woodland where the trees are cut to the ground every 3 to 15 years. Wood collected can be used as a biofuel
23 of 85
Fuel Cell
An electrochemical device that produces electricity from the chemical reaction between two substances
24 of 85
Peak Shaving
The process of storing surplus energy to satisfy a later demand
25 of 85
Half-life
The time it takes for half a material to be lost
26 of 85
Mobility
A measure of the ease of movement of a substance
27 of 85
Toxicity
A measure of how poisonous a substance is
28 of 85
Deoxygenation
The process of oxygen removal
29 of 85
Specificity
A measure of the differing toxicities of a substance on different organisms
30 of 85
Pyrethroids
A branch of insecticides derived from chrysanthemums
31 of 85
Persistence
A measure of the rate at which a substance breaks down
32 of 85
Organochlorides
Synthetic organic substances that include chlorine e.g. DDT
33 of 85
Degredation
The breakdown of a substance
34 of 85
Biodegredation
The breakdown of a substance by a living organism e.g. bacteria
35 of 85
Biodegradability
The ease of which a substance is broken down by a living organism
36 of 85
Solubility
The ability for a substance to separate in a liquid
37 of 85
Liposoluble
The ability of a substance to dissolve in oils and fats
38 of 85
Bioaccumulation
The increase in concentration of a substance in living tissue
39 of 85
Biomagnification
The increase in concentration of a substance along a food chain
40 of 85
Synergism
The process where the presence of two materials produces a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects e.g. zinc and cadmium
41 of 85
Mutagen
A substance that can cause changes in DNA structure, e.g. ionising radiation
42 of 85
Carcinogen
A substance that can cause cancers
43 of 85
Teratogen
A substance which causes non-inherited birth abnormality, usually by interfeing with gene process in the developing foetus or embryo
44 of 85
Primary Pollutant
A pollutant released by human activities
45 of 85
Secondary Pollutant
A pollutant produced by chemical reactions of primary pollutants
46 of 85
Photochemical Smog
An atmospheric pollution event caused by the interaction of pollutants (mostly from vehicles) and a temperature inversion
47 of 85
Diffuse Source
An effluent emission that comes from many sources
48 of 85
pH
A measure of acidity, the lower the number the more acidic
49 of 85
Biotic Index
A measure of pollution based on the presence, abundance, and state of health of an organism
50 of 85
Temperature Inversion
A situation in the troposphere where the temperature is lower than normal so that warm air lives above cold air (see pg 178 in textbook for an image)
51 of 85
Lapse Rate Diagram
A graph to show how temperature changes with altitude
52 of 85
Clean Air Act, 1956
UK legislation to control smoke pollution
53 of 85
Smokeless Zone
An urban area where smoke emissions are restricted
54 of 85
Smoke Control Order
The restriction of smoke emissions in an urban area
55 of 85
Landfill Tax
A tax to discourage the disposal of waste in landfill sites
56 of 85
Flue Gas Desulphurisation
(FGD) The process that removes oxides of sulphur from gaseous effluents
57 of 85
Catalytic Converters
A device which is fitted to vehicle exhausts to remove pollutants such as CO, NOx and unburnt hudrocarbons
58 of 85
Urea Spray
A method of reducing NOx emissions
59 of 85
Electrostatic Precipiator/ Cyclone Separator/ Scrubber
Types of equipment used to remove suspended particles in gaseous effluent. (see pg 182 in textbook for images)
60 of 85
Point Source
A small number of sources of pollutant, easy to identify
61 of 85
Organophosphates
A branch of insecticides e.g. parathion
62 of 85
Systematic Pesticide
A pesticide that is absorbed and transported around a plant in the sap
63 of 85
Inorganic Nutrients
Plant nutrients e.g. nitrates
64 of 85
Oligotrophic
A water body with a low nutrient level
65 of 85
Eutrophic
A water body with a high nutrient level
66 of 85
Organic Nutrients
High energy nutrients from plant or animal material e.g. carbohydrates
67 of 85
Primary Sewage Treatment
The removal of organic solids from the fluids
68 of 85
Secondary Sewage Treatment
The breakdown of the remaining organic matter in the fluids
69 of 85
Tertiary Sewage Treatment
The final stage in sewage treatment, e.g. removal of phosphates
70 of 85
Incineration
The break down of waste by burning it
71 of 85
BOD
Biological or Biochemical Oxygen Demand
72 of 85
Enzyme Inhibitor
A substance that prevents an enzyme from functioning
73 of 85
Resonant Frequency
The frequency at which an object naturally vibrates
74 of 85
Acoustic Fatigue
Stress cracking of a material caused by repetitive vibrations induced by sound
75 of 85
Decibel (dB)
Unit of sound
76 of 85
dB (A)
Decibel scale modified to weight the frequencies at which the human ear is most senstive
77 of 85
L10 18H
A measure of noise pollution used to monitor road traffic noise
78 of 85
Traffic Noise Index
(TNI) A measure of road traffic noise pollution
79 of 85
Noise and Number Index
(NNI) A measure of noise pollution from aircraft and around airports
80 of 85
Inverse Square Law
The mathematical relationship where increasing distance from the source of radiation. 1/distance^2
81 of 85
Critical Pathway Analysis
(CPA) The prediction of of the routes that an effluent will take in the environment to assess pollution risk
82 of 85
Critical Group Monitoring
A method of monitoring radioactive discharges. If the most at risk groups are safe, then so are other groups
83 of 85
Vitrification
The process of encapsulating high level radioactive waste in solid glass
84 of 85
Encapsulation
Sealing waste in a solid material
85 of 85
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Secondary Fuel
Back
An energy source that is produced by converting a primary fuel e.g. hydrogen
Card 3
Front
Renewable Resources
Back
Card 4
Front
Electrolysis
Back
Card 5
Front
Non-renewable Resource
Back
Similar Environmental Science/Studies resources:
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
0.0 / 5
Comments
No comments have yet been made