M16 - 4 Flashcards
1
Q
Draw and label a diagram to explain the sequence of processes and events that led to the formation of fossil fuels like coal.
A
2
Q
Explain why it is a problem that we rely mainly on fossil fuels to provide the energy necessary to generate electricity and power our vehicles.
A
- We are using fossil fuels at a much faster rate than they take to form.
- Fossil fuels are non-renewable so they cannot be replenished.
3
Q
What is sediment?
A
Soil, dust and other matter that settles to form a layer at the bottom of a liquid.
4
Q
Explain why fossil fuel are considered examples of stored solar energy.
A
- Fossil fuels store the energy that the plants absorbed from the sun millions of years ago.
- Fossil fuels are formed from living plant and animal matter and these plants and animals got their energy from the sun.
5
Q
Draw a flow diagram that shows the flow of energy from the sun to plants millions of years ago, through to our use of fossil fuel today.
A
6
Q
Describe the processes and events that led to the storage of energy from the sun in coal, oil and natural gas.
A
- Millions of years ago the plants absorbed the energy from the sun. Animals would have eaten these plants.
- The plants and animals died and fell into swamps, lakes or seas.
- They were covered by a layer of sediment soon after they died.
- The layer of sediment protected these dead remains, so they did not decay according to normal processes.
- The dead matter formed a substance called peat.
- Over time, more layers of soil, mud and rock formed above the peat. This increased the pressure.
- The layers above the peat pushed it further down under the ground, where it was much hotter.
- The heat from the earth’s centre and the pressure that the peat was under changed it into fossil fuels.
- The plant substances mainly became coal. The natural gas and oil formed from a combination of dead plant and animal matter.
