| high-energy shock waves | Compression waves of large amplitude, across which density, pressure, and particle velocity change drastically. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| psychic energy | In psychoanalysis, a hypothetical mental force, analogous to the physical concept of energy, which enables and vitalises an individual's psychological activity. See: libido. Synonym: psychic force. (05 Mar 2000) |
| short rotation energy plantation | Plantings established and managed under short-rotation intensive culture practices. (05 Dec 1998) |
| small scale energy loan program | (SELP) A low-cost loan and technical assistance program administered by the Oregon Department of Energy. (05 Dec 1998) |
| solar energy | Energy transmitted from the sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| nuclear binding energy | <physics> The difference between the total energy (= mc^2) of the bound nucleus, and the energies of the individual constituent particles (= sum of masses c^2). The nuclear binding energy per nucleon is a maximum for iron. Fusion releases energy because light nuclei are less tightly bound than medium-weight nuclei, and thus energy is liberated when they become more tightly bound after fusing. Fission releases energy for the same reason - heavy nuclei are also less tightly bound than medium-weight nuclei, and energy is liberated when heavy nuclei split into lighter nuclei. (09 Oct 1997) |
| nuclear energy | Energy released by nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Department of Energy | Department within the executive branch of the U.S. Government (at the cabinet level) which has managed and overseen federally-sponsored energy research. It was formed in 1977 from the Energy Research and Development Administration, and the Atomic Enegy Commission. Acronym: DOE (10 Nov 1998) |
| incremental energy costs | The cost of producing and transporting the next available unit of electrical energy. Short run incremental costs (SRIC) include only incremental operating costs. Long run incremental costs (LRIC) include the capital cost of new resources or capital equipment. (05 Dec 1998) |
| internal energy | <chemistry> A property of a system that can be changed by a flow of work, heat or both, it is represented by the symbol E (E represents the change in internal energy of a system) and is given in units of energy (Joules). (09 Jan 1998) |
| ionisation energy | <radiobiology> Generally refers to the amount of energy required to strip a particular electron from an atom. The first ionisation energy is a commonly used quantity in many fields of physics and chemistry. Typically measured in electron-volts. Equivalent to the atomic binding energy of the electron. (09 Oct 1997) |
| total energy | The sum of kinetic and potential energy's. (05 Mar 2000) |
| energy | <radiobiology> Typically defined as the ability to do work. Power is the rate at which work is done, or the rate at which energy is changed. Work characterises the degree to which the properties of a substance are transformed. Energy exists in many forms, which can be converted from one to another in various ways. Examples include: gravitational energy, electrical energy, magnetic and electric field energy, atomic binding energy (a form of electrical energy really), nuclear binding energy, chemical energy (another form of electrical energy), in addition to these forms of potential energy there are also kinetic energy (energy due to motion), and thermal energy (heat, a form of kinetic energy where the motion is due to thermal vibrations/motions), and so on. (09 Oct 1997) |
| energy balance | <radiobiology> Comparison of energy put into a plasma with the energy dissipated by the system, related to energy confinement. (09 Oct 1997) |
| energy confinement time | <radiobiology> Characteristic time in which 1/e (or sometimes 1/2) of a system's energy is lost to its surroundings. In a plasma device, the energy loss time (or the energy confinement time) is one of three critical parameters determining whether enough fusion will occur to sustain a reaction. See: Lawson criterion. (09 Oct 1997) |