Download Energy/Weather Vocabulary

Energy Transformation Terms and Concepts
Atmosphere – layer of gases surrounding the Earth
Aerosols – solids such as dust, salt, pollen and tiny liquid droplets such as acid
Troposphere – layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth, holds most of the water and gases,
about 12 miles high
Stratosphere – holds most of the ozone, above the troposphere, 12-35 miles
Mesosphere – cold because little heat is observed,
Thermosphere – very warm, filters out harmful rays from the sun
Exosphere – outermost layer of the atmosphere
Energy Transformation - energy transformation is changing one form of energy to another.
Law of Conservation of Energy - energy that cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be
transferred to another form.
Energy - is the measure of the ability to do work or cause a change.
Examples- thermal energy, mechanical energy, electromagnetic energy, chemical energy, and
nuclear energy.
Thermal Energy – is the form of energy that is created by heat or an increase in temperature.
Example: The sun’s rays heat the surface of the Earth.
Chemical Energy - is the form of energy that is released from chemical reactions.
Examples - Chemical energy takes place in fireworks exploding and when people get energy
from nutrients in foods they eat.
Mechanical Energy - is sum of both the potential and kinetic energy. Mechanical energy
relates to the motion or position of an object. Kinetic is moving energy and potential energy is
stored
Electromagnetic Energy - is energy from light rays, microwaves, gamma rays, x-rays, and
moving electric charges.
Nuclear Energy - is the energy stored in the nucleus of the atom. Nuclear energy can be
produced through fusion and fission. Fusion is combining two or more nuclei. Fission is the
splitting of an atom like in a nuclear reactor.
Radiation –is the transfer of energy through heat in waves. This heat is absorbed.
Examples: warming your hands over a campfire, sunbathing, food heated in a microwave
Conduction –is when heat is directly transmitted through a substance.
Examples - Metals and stone are good conductors since they transfer heat rapidly. Wood,
paper, air, and cloth are poor conductors because they transfer heat more slowly.
Conductor –allow heat to transfer easily.
Examples – copper wire, aluminum wire, stainless steel cookware
Insulator – do not allow heat to transfer.
Examples of insulators are rubber, plastic, wood, and cloth.
Convection – energy movement through a gas or liquid
Examples – Examples of convection are boiling water, oil heater
Nonrenewable resources - are fossil fuels that cannot be used again. They include oil, natural
gas, coal, and wood.
Renewable Energy Resources – resources can be used over and over again because they use
things found in nature.
Examples of renewable energy sources are wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric.
Kinetic Energy - Energy of an object due to its motion
Potential Energy - Energy that is stored because of an object’s position
Chemical Reaction – happens when chemical bonds between atoms are broken down or new
compounds are formed
Example – a fire burning is a chemical reaction
Catalyst – a substance that changes the rate of a chemical reaction without permanent change
to its own structure.
Heat – a transfer of energy from one object to another due to a difference in temperature
Temperature – the measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object
Water Cycle – The water cycle is
continuous movement of water
from the air to the Earth and back
again. The water cycle includes
transpiration, condensation,
precipitation, runoff,
accumulation, sublimation, and
evaporation.
Transpiration - Transpiration is
when plants absorb water at their
roots and it evaporates through
the leaves.
Condensation – Condensation is
when water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water.
Precipitation - Precipitation is water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain,
sleet, snow, or hail.
Runoff - Runoff is excess water from rain or melted snow. Runoff occurs when the soil is not
able to absorb heavy precipitation or melted snow.
Accumulation – Accumulation is when water is collected into rivers, ponds, oceans, and other
bodies of water.
Sublimation – When ice turns directly into water vapor without changing into a liquid first.
Evaporation - Evaporation is
when water changes into a gas
or vapor.
Photosynthesis –Photosynthesis
is how plants turn sunlight, water
and carbon dioxide into food and
oxygen.
Plants absorb water, carbon
dioxide, sunlight and nutrients.
Plants produce oxygen and energy
in the form of glucose.
Nitrogen Cycle – The circulation of nitrogen and its compounds by living organisms in
nature.
Carbon Dioxide-Oxygen Cycle - Plants absorb carbon dioxide exhaled by people and
animals. Plants turn this carbon dioxide into oxygen again.