Reliance On Fossil Fuels

Question 1

Fossil fuel

Answer 1

Fuel consisting of the remains of organisms preserved in the earth’s crust with high carbon and hydrogen content

Question 2

Renewable energy source

Answer 2

A form of energy derived from natural resources that does not use up said resources and can be replenished or does not cause harm to the environment

Question 3

Formation of coal

Answer 3

When dead plants sink beneath the earth and become compressed under the extreme weight of the earth until it forms a peat. Over hundreds of millions of years this peat gets further compressed and temperatures increase until the peat begins to form into coal

Question 4

Formation of crude oil and natural gases

Answer 4

The dead remains of sea organisms that sink the sea floor eventually get piled on by more remains and sediment creating more pressure that begins to compress the remains. The constantly increasing weight eventually forms a peat. Over hundreds of millions of years the pressure and temperature has increased to the point of forming crude oil and natural gas

Question 5

Uses of fossil fuels

Answer 5

Plastics

Pharmaceutics

Transport

Fibres

Question 6

Evidence of climate change

Answer 6

More volatile weather patterns

Sea temperatures have risen

Ecological damage to areas such as reefs

Polar icecaps melting

Rises in sea levels

Increased hurricane activity

Fewer cold days and nights

Heat waves are more common

Question 7

Carbon trading

Answer 7

Carbon trading is a method that aims to reduce carbon emissions by giving countries a permit that acts as a limit to how much carbon emissions they can produce (one permit is the equivalent of one tonne of carbon dioxide)

Question 8

Advantages of carbon trading

Answer 8

Environment

Financial incentive

Control

Flexibility

Question 9

Disadvantages of carbon trading

Answer 9

Complexity in the market

Economy

Size of permits

Difficulty surrounding measuring carbon emissions