Fossil Fuels and Energy Resources Lesson

Study Notes

Energy resources are materials utilized as energy sources.
Categories include nuclear energy, fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas), and renewable sources (wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower).

Fossil fuels are derived from the fossilized remains of ancient plants and animals.
Formed millions of years ago, they are found beneath the earth's surface and largely consist of hydrocarbons, which are compounds of carbon and hydrogen.

Coal
- Non-renewable solid fossil fuel with high carbon content.
- Originates from accumulated plant and animal matter over millions of years.
- Extracted through surface mining (removing rock and soil layers) and underground mining (using machinery to access deeper deposits).
Oil (Petroleum)
- Non-renewable liquid fossil fuel mainly composed of hydrocarbons.
- Formed from ancient marine organisms like algae and bacteria.
- Extracted through drilling on land or at sea; also from tar sands via strip mining.
- Refined into fuels such as gasoline, propane, and kerosene, and used in plastics and paints.
Natural Gas
- Odorless, colorless gas primarily made of methane (CH4).
- Originates from remains of plants and marine organisms, similar to other fossil fuels.
- Divided into conventional (easily extracted from rock beds) and unconventional (difficult to extract, requiring techniques like fracking).

All fossil fuels originated from living organisms that lived millions of years ago.
Coal forms from terrestrial vegetation, while oil is formed from marine sources.
Over time, these organisms are buried deeper, subjected to heat and pressure, leading to fossil fuel formation.

Coal is primarily used in power plants for electricity generation.
Oil is converted into gasoline and diesel to fuel vehicles.
Natural gas serves as a source of energy for heating and electricity generation.

Fossil fuels are non-renewable, leading to concerns about sustainability and long-term availability.
Extraction and burning of fossil fuels contribute to environmental degradation and climate change.