2. Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are a
nonrenewable energy
resource.
Fossil fuels are formed out of
organic matter deposited and
decomposed under the
earth's surface for millions of
years.
The burning of fossil fuels can
result in water and air
pollution.
3. 3Types of Fossil Fuels
Coal- is a solid fossil fuel
Petroleum- is a liquid fossil
fuel.
Natural Gas
4. Coal
Until 1960 it was the
world’s primary energy
source.
It was the most common
fossil fuel in the U.S. to
heat homes and power
trains.
Today most coal is burned
in power plants to produce
electricity.
5. How does Coal work?
Electricity from coal is the
electric power made from
the energy stored in coal.
Carbon, made from
ancient plant material
gives coal most of its
energy.
This energy is released
when coal is burned.
6. Positives and Negatives of Burning Coal
Positives
It heats our homes.
It is burned in power plants to
produce electricity.
The U.S. contains one-quarter
of the world's coal reserves,
which could provide more
energy potential than all the
known recoverable reserves
of oil.
Negatives
Coal production requires large
quantities of water, which affects
the habitats of both aquatic and
land-based wildlife as well as
people who use these water
resources.
The process of burning coal for
energy produces greenhouse gases
and other harmful pollutants,
including carbon dioxide, mercury
compounds, sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides.
7. Petroleum
Also known as crude oil, it
has been used for over
5,000 years.
The Egyptians used it as
medicine for wounds and
to fuel lamps.
Today we use petroleum
products such as gasoline,
jet fuel, home heating oil
and kerosene.
8. How Petroleum works?
It works by being ran through
an engine burned and turned
into energy for automobiles.
This is a product that is high
in hydrogen and carbon
molecules.
When the petroleum or gas is
put through the engine it is
exposed to a spark.The gas
becomes the energy for the
vehicle.
9. Positive and Negative Factors
Positives
Oil is an extremely powerful
energy source when it is
burned. No other fuel can
move a vehicle at such speed
and for such a distance as a cup
of petroleum can.
It can run day and night,
providing a constant source of
power, unlike solar and wind
power which are intermittent.
Negatives
Oil may contribute to global
warming in its production and use
by releasing carbon dioxide, a
greenhouse gas.
Whenever there is an oil spill there
is usually a massive environmental
disaster. Evaporation and fumes
also pollute the environment.
It is getting harder to find which is
making it more expensive.
10. Natural Gas
Natural gas is a mixture of
gases and was used more
than 2,000 years ago.
The Chinese burned the
gas to dissolve the salt
from salt water.
Today, natural gas is used
to heat home and produce
electricity.
11. How Natural Gas works?
Natural Gas is a fossil fuel
very similar to oil in its
composition. Both fuels are
formed from long dead plants
and animals that slowly
decomposed.
Under tons of pressure, some
of this decomposing matter
formed into pockets of oil,
which are piped up and
refined in petroleum and a
vast number of other
products.
12. Positive and Negative Factors of using
Natural Gas
Positives
Natural gas burn more cleaner
than the other fossil fuels.
Does not pollute the underground
water or pollute the ground when
it is burned.
Natural gas is use to heat homes,
to generate fire for cooking, run
with your hot water heater to
produce hot water, and to run
different appliances.
Natural gas is widely available.
Negatives
Natural gas is another type of
fossil fuel, which means it is
non-renewable and still
releases carbon dioxide (CO2).
If there is a leak, it may cause
fire or explosion.
When using natural gas in cars
or trucks, the mileage from
natural gas is lower than
gasoline.
13. Environmental Factors
Fossil fuels are the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world,
contributing 3/4 of all carbon, methane and other greenhouse gas
emissions. Burning coal, petroleum and other fossil fuels at extremely
high temperatures is the primary means by which electricity is
produced, but also leads to heavy concentrations of pollutants in our
air and water.
The real problem is that the atmosphere already absorbs a ton of
greenhouse gases naturally, but is trapping up to 25 percent more of
the sun's radiation due to annual increases in greenhouse gas
emissions.
98 percent of U.S. energy production comes from non-renewable
sources, fossil fuels.The U.S. consumes more than 20 million barrels of
oil per day, with more than one million tons of coal consumed annually
as well.
14. Interesting Facts
Crude oil is a smelly, yellow-to-black
liquid and is usually found in
underground areas called reservoirs.
Scientists and engineers explore a
chosen area by studying rock samples
from the earth. Measurements are
taken, and, if the site seems promising,
drilling begins.
Coal is a readily combustible black or
brownish-black sedimentary rock
normally occurring in rock strata in
layers or veins called coal beds.
Natural gas is a gas consisting primarily
of methane. It is found associated with
fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane
clathrates, and is created by
methanogen organisms in marshes,
bogs, and landfills.
