free energy

/fri ˌɛnərdʒi/

Other forms: free energies

Definitions of free energy

1. noun

   (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
   synonyms: energy

   types:

   activation energy, energy of activation

   the energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur

   alternative energy

   energy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment

   atomic energy, nuclear energy

   the energy released by a nuclear reaction

   binding energy, separation energy

   the energy required to separate particles from a molecule or atom or nucleus; equals the mass defect

   chemical energy

   that part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction

   electrical energy, electricity

   energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor

   energy level, energy state

   a definite stable energy that a physical system can have; used especially of the state of electrons in atoms or molecules

   rest energy

   the energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest in an inertial frame of reference; equal to the rest mass times the square of the speed of light

   work

   (physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force

   heat, heat energy

   a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

   mechanical energy

   energy in a mechanical form

   radiant energy

   energy that is transmitted in the form of (electromagnetic) radiation; energy that exists in the absence of matter

   radiation

   energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles

   AC, alternating current, alternating electric current

   an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally

   atomic power, nuclear power

   nuclear energy regarded as a source of electricity for the power grid (for civilian use)

   ionizing radiation

   high-energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes

   cosmic radiation

   radiation coming from outside the solar system

   DC, direct current, direct electric current

   an electric current that flows in one direction steadily

   signal

   an electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comes

   electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, nonparticulate radiation

   radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge

   geothermal energy

   energy derived from the heat in the interior of the earth

   K.E., kinetic energy

   the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its motion

   heat of dissociation

   the heat required for a fluid substance to break up into simpler constituents

   heat of formation

   the heat evolved or absorbed during the formation of one mole of a substance from its component elements

   heat of solution

   the heat evolved or absorbed when one mole of a substance is dissolved in a large volume of a solvent

   heat of transformation, latent heat

   heat absorbed or radiated during a change of phase at a constant temperature and pressure

   specific heat

   the heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree centigrade

   luminous energy

   the energy associated with visible light

   P.E., potential energy

   the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its position; stored energy

   solar energy, solar power

   energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy

   solar radiation

   radiation from the sun

   wind generation, wind power

   power derived from the wind (as by windmills)

   type of:

   physical phenomenon

   a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy