Fossil Fuels Yr10 Flashcards
What is causing the temperature to rise
Pollution
Overpopulation
Fossil fuels
What is the greenhouse gas effect
The more greenhouse gases there are, the more heat is trapped and the warmer the planet gets
What are the problems with warming temperatures
melting ice caps
sea level rises
weather more extreme
growing crops is more difficult
How can we stop climate change
Use renewable energy sources that do not have greenhouse gas emissions
What is Global Warming
The rise in temperature of the surface of the Earth
What are the greenhouse gases and what do they do
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Water Vapour
They trap heat that tries to leave space in the atmosphere and heat up the world in the process
What is combustion
Burning a fuel in oxygen and producing CO2 and water
What is the climate
The weather conditions in a certain area
How does Climate Change Occur with Greenhouse Gases
- The run rays enter the earth’s atmosphere as light and heat energy
- Some of this heat is reflected from the earth’s surface
- some of this reflected heat escapes the atmosphere intospace
- Some of the heat gets absorbed by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that never go away for a long time
- The Earth gets hotter as a result
What happens when CO2 enters water/ocean
It merges with water and becomes Carbonic acid
CO2 + H2O = H2CO3
What is ocean acidification
The atmosphere cannot store all of the CO2 so it dissolves into the surface of the ocean where it is converted in Carbonic Acid
What does ocean acidification cause
Carbonic acid destroys shelled marine animal population shells - leading to population impacts and food web disruptions
Food web and ecosystem destruction
It slows the growth of coral reefs by slowing the speed at which they produce coral sksletons by slowing the regenerating of calcium carbonate
How does ocean acification affect food webs and ecosystems
Zooplankton are essential in marine food webs. Many have clear shells (to help avoid predation) but ocean acidification is slowing down reproductive rates – this means less energy flowing through the food web AND gradual species decline.
Corals are also carbonate organisms. As ocean acidification slows their growth, many fish species lose their reproduction grounds and ability to avoid predation further decreasing species number and diversity.
Shelled Marine life are dying because their shells are breaking and cannot protect them from predators, causing them to die. meaning less food for predators so they die and the cycle continues
How does climate change affect humans
- Coastal cities could flood destroying valuable land.
Beaches could disappear because of sea level rises. - There would be more droughts (Lack of rainfall) making it hard to grow crops in particular places
- There could be an increase in the number of storms and extreme weather events because of the changes in heat.
How does global warming affect both humans and the environment
Oceans absorb more heat than the land, and water expands when it is heated so this could cause sea levels to rise.
The climate of places could change. Places which usually get lots of rain may get hotter and drier.
There would be a greater risk of forest fires due to the increase in temperature.
How does global warming affect the environment
Glaciers (big ‘rivers’ of ice) and sea ice could also melt leading to sea level rise.
Many animals would be threatened with extinction (dying out) because of the heat and the loss of their habitats (homes).
What are the renewable energy sources
Solar
Wind
Tidal/Waves/Hydro
Biomass
Geothermal
How is wind power produced
- The wind blows the turbines of a wind mill, driving the turbines
- This in turn drives the generator becomes generators use kinetic energy to make electrical energy
- this produces renewable energy
How is Solar energy produced
- They do not generate electricity
- Water flows through the bottom of the solar panel and uses the sun’s heat to heat it up for warm water
- however, some solar panels are made of specific material so that when the sun’s rays hit it, electrons will be released and be used as an electric charge and electricity.
How is water energy produced
Waves
- Large waves move the turbines underneath the water
- This drives the turbines and generator it is connected to so that kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy
Tides
- a barrier is built in a river with tubes in it called a tidal barrage
- as the water rushes through the tubes, the electricity generators are driven by the water rushing through tubes in the barrage, turning kinetic energy into electrical energy.
How is geothermal energy made
- Hot water and steam from deep underground produce kinetic energy coming up into the surface
- the steam rises to the surface naturally and this kinetic energy drives the turbines that are connected to generators turning kinetic to electrical energy
What are the 3 fossil fuels
Oil
Natural Gas
Coal
How does burning coal affect the environment
Burning of coal produces metal mercury which is harmful for the enviornment
It also produces sulfur dioxide which makes acid rain
Mining for coal uses a lot of water which drains rivers
Produces greenhouse gases when burnt
What are the advantages and disadvantages of burning coal
Advantages
1. coal can be found everywhere
2. It is easy to transport
3. Coal is cheap energy source
Disadvantages
1. Mines need to be created and it is dangerous
2. Coal is non-renewable and will run out
3. Coal miners can be made very ill by mining
4. Burning coal makes polluting cases like Sulfur dioxide and greenhouse gases
How does Natural Gas affect the environment
It produces a lot of CO2 when it is burned
What are the disadvantages and advantage of natural gas
Advantages
1. can be easily transported
2. can be found all over the world
Disadvantages
1. Natural gas is not renewable so it will run out
2. burning gas releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere
3. The price of gas increases as stock decreases
How does oil affect the environment
It releases CO2 when burnt
In order to extract oil lots of other chemicals have to be used which are harmful to the environment
Extracting oil can lead to oil spills harming ocean life
Disadvantages and Advantages of oil
Advantages
1. Oil can be easily transported
2. Oil is everywhere
Disadvantages
1. Oil is not renewable so once the supplies have run out it will be gone.
2. Burning oil releases greenhouse gasses
3. Oil is expensive since it is running out
How is coal formed
coal contains energy from dead plants millions of years ago in swamps
- Plant organisms die in swampy forests and go to the bottom.
- After many years, layers of sediment like sand and clay form over them. This increases the pressure and heat acting on the decomposed plants.
- The resulting pressure and heat turn the plants into coal.
How is natural gas formed
- Marine life die and fall towards the bottom of the sea. THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM COAL BECAUSE NATURAL GAS FORMS IN THE OCEAN NOT SWAMPS
- Over time, this marine life gets buried under layers of sediment like sand and rock. This increases the heating and pressure on the marine life.
- After millions of years of pressure and heat, it forms natural gas. IF TEMPERATURES RISE TO 150 - 200 IT BECOMES GAS.
- Once formed, natural gas rises up from the bottom of the sea because its density is smaller than the water around it. The gas travels through rock until they are trapped by rocks and clay or in reservoirs that stop the gas from going up
Natural gas is just oil that went under more heating when in sediments making it a gas.
How is oil formed
- Marine life die and fall towards the bottom of the sea. THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM COAL BECAUSE OIL FORMS IN THE OCEAN NOT SWAMPS
- Over time, this marine life gets buried under layers of sediment like sand and rock. This increases the heating and pressure on the marine life.
- After millions of years of pressure and heat, it forms oil. IF TEMPERATURES RISE TO 50-150 IT BECOMES OIL. IF HIGHER IT BECOMES GAS.
- Once formed, oil rises up from the bottom of the sea because its density is smaller than the water around it and it is a liquid. The oil travels through rock until they are trapped by rocks and clay or in reservoirs that stop the oil from going up
What is the importance of Carbon
Carbon is the primary component of organic compounds, which include fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas). These compounds store energy primarily in the form of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds. When these bonds are broken, energy is released, which can be harnessed for various applications. This is how coal, natural gas and oil can produce energy.
Fossil fuels, composed mainly of hydrocarbons (compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen), have been the world’s dominant energy source for over a century. When burned, they release the energy stored in their chemical bonds, which is then converted to heat, electricity, or kinetic energy.
What are fossil fuels used for
Energy production from burning coal
Transportation by burning gas and oil so cars and vehicles can move
Heating and cooking by using natural gas and oil
Production of plastic from oils
Lubricants from oil like motor oil
Road production from petroleum producing asphalt.
How is coal energy formed
Coal is burnt
Water changes to steam
Steam turns a turbine
Turbine connected to generator which turns kinetic into electrical
