Fossil Fuels
Definition
Fossil fuels are energy-rich substances formed from ancient organic matter buried deep within the Earth's crust. They include coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are burned to release energy but also release carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.
Analogy
Think of fossil fuels as buried treasure chests filled with energy. Just like how pirates dig up treasure to power their ships, we extract fossil fuels from the ground to power our homes and vehicles.
Related terms
Renewable Energy: Energy sources that can be replenished naturally within a human lifespan, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric power.
Combustion: The process of burning a fuel in the presence of oxygen to release heat energy.
Air Pollution: The presence of harmful substances in the air due to human activities or natural processes, often caused by burning fossil fuels.
"Fossil Fuels" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (7)
AP Environmental Science - 1.4 The Carbon Cycle
AP Environmental Science - 4.4 Earth's Atmosphere
AP Environmental Science - 5.10 Impacts of Urbanization
AP Environmental Science - 6.2 Global Energy Consumption
AP Environmental Science - 6.13 Energy Conservation
AP Environmental Science - 9.3 The Greenhouse Effect
AP Environmental Science - 9.4 Increases in the Greenhouse Gases
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (5)
- Which stage of the carbon cycle associated with dead organisms and fossil fuels?
- What the consequence of over-extraction and overuse of fossil fuels on the carbon cycle?
- How does human extraction of fossil fuels impact the proportion of carbon in the atmosphere compared to the earth's soil?
- Which gas is released when burning fossil fuels and traps heat in the atmosphere?
- What makes fossil fuels non-renewable?
Resources
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