Macrogeneration Flashcards
What are the three main fossil fuels?
Oil, Coal, Natural gas
How was oil and natural gas formed?
300-400 million years ago tiny sea animals and plants died and were buried on the ocean floor, over time they got buried deeper and deeper. Eventually the immense heat and pressure turned them into natural gas and oil
How was coal formed?
Before the dinosaurs many giant plants dies in swamps, over millions of years the plants were buried under water and dirt. Heat and pressure turned the dead plants into coal.
What percent of the global energy consumption do fossil fuels take up?
87%
Coal 30%
Oil 33%
Gas 24%
What is wrong with these numbers?
Not sustainable as they may be over used and run out in 50-100 years.
How long is coal oil and gas expected to last for?
At current rate there is expected to be enough coal for another 150 years, however oil and gas is expected to last for around 50 more years.
What fuel is the worst for the environment?
Coal is by far the worst fossil fuel for the environment in every department, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxide, sulcus dioxide, particulates and mercury.
What fossil fuel is the best for the environment?
Natural oil would be the best for the environment as the only one it doesn’t have the least amount of is Carbon monoxide.
What is coal used for?
Coal is mainly used as an energy source for factories and it can also be used for fires in a home. Coal can also be used to make plastics and pharmaceutics.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of coal?
Disadvantages
Coal is very harmful for the environment giving off a lot of carbon dioxide which is very harmful to the environment. Also unlike the other two fossil fuels coal isn’t used for transport.
Advantages
Coal is going to be there a lot longer than the other two fossil fuels so if we use more of it now we will be able to balance it out.
It is also more affordable than the other two fossil fuels due to its stable price.
What is natural gas used for?
Natural gas is similar to the other two fuels in that it is used as an energy source. It is also used for travel and transport and to make necessary things such as plastics.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of natural gas?
Natural gas is environmentally friendly because it burns cleaner than other fossil fuels.
- It’s safer and easier to store when compared to other fossil fuels.
- Natural gas is extremely reliable, unlike electric power that can be knocked out during a storm.
- Natural gas is less expensive than other fossil fuels.
Disadvantages
Natural gas must be handled carefully because it is a combustible material.
- Like all fossil fuels, natural gas is not a renewable energy source.
- Natural gas does contribute to greenhouse gases.
What is oil used for?
Oil is also similar to the other two fossil fuels in that it is a very important energy source throughout the world. Making up for a third of the overall energy consumption. Oil is also used to make plastic and pharmaceutics. Also it can be used to provide transport and fibres.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of oil?
Advantages
High Energy Density – Oil has one of the highest energy densities which means that a small amount of oil can produce a large amount of energy. This makes it very useful as its high energy density has made it the preferred choice for use as fuel in automobiles.
2) Easy Availability, Infrastructure for Transport and Use – Oil is widely distributed in almost all parts of the world. Also there exists a massive infrastructure to transport oil to other places through ships, pipelines and tankers. This means that oil is available throughout the world.
3) Crucial for wide variety of Industries – Besides Transport,Oil is a critical component in a wide variety of other industries. It is difficult to think of a commodity which has such a huge role to play in a wide variety of human products from Vaseline, cloth, medicines etc.
Disadvantages
4)Emission of Harmful Substances like Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Acid Rain – Oil Plants emit harmful substances such as Sulfur Dioxide which cause health hazards among the surrounding population and Acid Rain. While modern equipment has reduced the emission of these harmful substances, it is still very harmful to humans.
5) Leads to production of very harmful and toxic materials during refining, Plastic is one of the most harmful substances – Oil exists as a mixture of hydrocarbons with traces of sulfur and other compounds. Refining of Oil leads to production of harmful gases and solids like Carbon Monoxide and Plastic.
What is responsible for global warming and climate change?
Several green house gasses are responsible for global warming of which humans are responsible for in many ways such as the use of fossil fuels within big factories and cars which are highly damaging to the environment.
