| alternating current |
Electric current that changes direction at regular intervals. |
| appliance |
A device that operates by electricity. Includes lights and heaters, not just machines with moving parts. |
| aquifer |
A rock formation that allows water to move through it, such as a layer of sandstone. The aquifer must occur above a layer that prevents the water seeping away, such as clay. In an aquifer deep below the surface the water will be hot. |
| atmosphere |
Gases that surround the earth. |
| atom |
A unit of matter, the smallest unit of an element. |
| bagasse |
Waste plant fibre left after the juices have been removed from sugar cane. |
| barrage |
A human-made barrier built across a water course. |
| battery |
The term generally used for a dry cell used to power a torch or small appliance. In science it refers to several electrical cells connected together to increase the voltage. |
| biomass |
Biomass is living or recently dead material such as plant matter, used as either fuel or industrial production as biofuel. It is a renewable resource grown from several different plants, for example sugar cane, corn, switchgrass, hemp and many more. |
| condenser |
A chamber where steam is cooled and condensed to water. |
| conductor |
Is a substance, body, or device that readily conducts heat, electricity, sound, etc.: Copper is a good conductor of electricity. |
| chain reaction |
A series of events that are the result of an ongoing reactions - like a chain they are all linked together somehow. |
| demand |
The total amount of electricity required by customers at any one time. |
| dense |
Crowded closely together; compact. |
| direct current |
An electric current that flows steadily in one direction around a circuit. Batteries produce direct current. |
| dynamo |
A machine for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. Common name used for direct current generators. |
| electric current |
A flow of electrons moving along a wire or conductor. |
| electrical energy |
The ability of the electric current to do work. Measured in kilowatt-hours. |
| electrocution |
A shock from electricity passing though the body to earth. |
| electromagnet |
A device consisting of an iron core surrounded by a wire coil that produces magnetic effects only when an electric current is flowing in the wire coil. |
| electrons |
The negatively charged particles that are part of an atom. |
| electrostatic precipitator |
A device that charges the fine particles in the emissions from the furnace so they will be attracted to metal plates where they are collected. |
| estuary |
The mouth or lower course of a river where it meets the sea and is affected by ocean tides. |
| evaporate |
To convert or change into vapour. |
| flue gases |
Gases that pass up the smoke duct in the chimney. |
| fission |
The act or process of splitting into parts. |
| fossil fuels |
Coal, oil or natural gas that result from the fossilisation of ancient plants or animals. These fuels have taken millions of years to form. |
| generator |
A machine that produces electricity. |
| geothermal energy |
Energy taken from the heat of the earth. |
| greenhouse gases |
Gases that prevent heat from escaping from the atmosphere. This makes the earth warmer. |
| grid |
A system of transmission lines which interconnect the generating stations and distribution centres of local electricity authorities. |
| hybrid system |
In a hybrid power system different methods of producing electricity are combined to ensure a continuous power supply. Gas or diesel fuel generators may be combined with solar cells or wind generators. |
| hydroelectric |
Generation of electricity using falling water. |
| incandescent |
Giving off or reflecting light readily or in large amounts. They are the bulbs that are in most houses. |
| infrastructure |
Structures essential to the operation of a power station such as roads and railways. |
| joule |
The basic unit of work or energy. |
| kilowatt-hour |
The measure used for electrical energy. One kilowatthour is the amount of electrical energy transferred to an appliance in one hour by one kilowatt of power. |
| landfill |
A method of solid waste disposal in which rubbish is buried between layers of dirt to fill in lay-lowing land. |
| mechanical energy |
Energy of the moving parts of a machine. Also refers to movements in humans. |
| megawatt |
1,000 kilowatts or 1,000,000 (one million) watts |
| motor |
A machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. |
| neutron |
A neutron is a basic particle which is an element of all atomic nuclei (except normal hydrogen). Neutrons have no electric charge and a slightly larger mass than a proton. |
| non-renewable energy |
These resources come from materials that cannot be replaced once we have used them, such as coal. |
| nuclear |
Nuclear energy is generated from radioactive material, such as uranium. It is produced by a controlled nuclear chain reaction. |
| parabolic dishes |
Curved dishes that reflect the sun's rays so they focus or come together at a single point. |
| peak demand |
The greatest demand for electricity in a stated period of time such as the greatest demand during a week or a year. |
| photovoltaic cell |
An electric cell made from two layers of different materials that can produce an electric current when light shines on the cell. |
| piggybacking |
Is when you connect two or more electrical appliances into one power outlet. |
| radiation |
Various rays given off by the sun including heat, light and ultra-violet rays. |
| remote area power supplies |
Electricity supply for properties not connected to the grid. Usually consist of a hybrid power system with solar cells, storage batteries and a diesel generator backup. |
| renewable energy resources |
Resources that are continually being renewed and are unlikely to run out. They include solar energy, hydropower, wind, waves and tides. |
| reservoir |
A dam or lake made for storing water. |
| salinity |
Saltiness. |
| safety switch |
A safety switch is a device fitted to most household switchboards, in order to protect you and your family when an electrical fault occurs. The safety switch's earth leakage sensor responds to the imbalance and cuts the power in less than one second. |
| solar energy |
Energy given out by the sun. Includes all the various rays given off by the sun. |
| solar thermal |
Uses radiation from the sun to produce heat energy. |
| solar thermal reflectors |
Special mirrors that concentrate the sun's rays to produce heat. |
| sustainability |
Is the intent to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and in the indefinite future. |
| thermal energy |
Heat. |
| thermal power station |
A power station that is operated by burning coal, oil or gas. |
| tidal range |
The difference in water level between low tide and high tide. |
| toxic |
Poisonous. |
| transformer |
Usually refers to a voltage transformer. A stationary device that increases or decreases the voltage in an electricity system. |
| turbine |
Rotors or blades that spin when driven by steam, gas, water or wind. |
| turbo-generator |
A turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity. |
| volts |
The volt is the basic unit for electric potential. The higher the electric potential, or volt, the greater the amount of electrical energy that can be transferred through a circuit. |
| watt |
The unit of electrical power. It is a measure of the rate at which an appliance uses electrical energy. One watt is equal to one joule per second. |
| wind pump |
A pump for lifting water that is run by a windmill. Electricity is not needed. |
| wind turbo-generator |
A generator operated by rotor blades turned by the wind. |
