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Questions and Answers
What was the primary concern for people around 4,000 years ago in northern China?
What was the name given to the coal found on beaches in Britain?
During the Roman rule in the British isles, what was coal used for?
What was the main reason for the resurgence of coal use in the 1200s in London?
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What was the approximate time period when coal was nearly forgotten in Europe?
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Where were traces of British coal found?
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What was the main reason behind Bertha Benz's 66-mile trip in 1888?
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What did Bertha Benz use to fill up her car during the trip?
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What is the origin of petroleum?
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What was the significant innovation of Nikolaus Otto's engine?
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What is the meaning of the term 'petroleum'?
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What was the primary purpose of Karl Benz's invention?
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What was the outcome of Bertha's trip?
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What was unique about Bertha's car trip?
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Study Notes
The Discovery of Coal
- Around 4,000 years ago, someone in northern China discovered an odd black rock that could burn, which was coal.
- This discovery was significant because keeping warm and getting food were major concerns in ancient times, and people relied on burning wood for heating and cooking.
Early Use of Coal
- Initially, only a few places with easy access to coal used it, including China and Britain.
- In Britain, coal was easily accessible, and people could even pick up lumps of coal on the beach, which they called "sea coal."
Roman Era and Decline
- During the Roman rule in the British isles, coal was used to heat water for public baths.
- The Romans brought British coal back to Rome with them, and traces of it can be found in Roman ruins in Italy.
- However, when the Western Roman Empire declined around 410 CE, coal usage declined, and it was nearly forgotten during the Dark Ages.
Revival of Coal in the 1200s
- Coal became popular again in the 1200s, especially in London, due to the growing population making it harder to find firewood.
- This marked the beginning of a significant event in human history.
The First Long-Distance Car Ride
- In 1888, Bertha Benz took the first 66-mile long-distance car ride with her two sons to visit her mother.
- Bertha took her husband Karl Benz's Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first true automobile, without telling him.
- The trip was a success, and Bertha acted as her own mechanic, creating makeshift brake pads and cleaning fuel pipes.
The First Gas Station
- Bertha purchased a fluid called benzene from a local pharmacy to fill up the car, making it the world's first gas station.
Petroleum and Its History
- Petroleum is a liquid that comes from oil, used to power cars.
- Petroleum means "rock oil" and comes from the remains of once-living organisms, similar to coal.
- People have used petroleum for various purposes throughout history, but it wasn't widely used until the invention of the internal combustion engine.
The Internal Combustion Engine
- In 1863, Nikolaus Otto created the first successful internal combustion engine.
- The engine works by igniting fumes from a petroleum liquid, producing heat that moves pistons, similar to how gas-powered cars work today.
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Description
Discover the origin of coal and its significance in ancient times. Learn how people used coal as a replacement for wood in heating and cooking.
