U6L5 Fossil Fuels and Humans

Question 1

What is the definition of fossil fuel?

Answer 1

A fuel (such as coal, crude oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals

Question 2

What is the BTU?

Answer 2

which stands for British thermal unit, the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit

Question 3

How has the use of coal in steel production impacted human activity?

Answer 3

The production of steel has allowed people to construct sturdier buildings. People have developed ways to use steel to reinforce concrete, which has led to more secure dwellings.

Question 4

Think about ways coal is used today. What is one way coal is used to produce or make something you encounter in everyday life?

Answer 4

Coal is used to produce steel. Many buildings you visit daily are made from steel frames, which are produced, in part, from coal.

Question 5

When was coal first used for stream engines?

Answer 5

An important early invention of the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was a steam engine that utilized coal. This was an advancement for steam engines, as coal was cheaper and more efficient than wood, which had been used up to that point.

Question 6

How was coal used in the 1880s for electricity?

Answer 6

In the 1880s, the burning of coal was used for the generation of electricity used in factories and homes. This changed the way humans lived. Coal-generated electricity allowed for effective lighting after sunset. This allowed people to be more productive after dark. People could work longer hours, producing more and earning more.

Question 7

Today, what is coal’s main use?

Answer 7

To produce electricity

Question 8

Today, how does coal produce electricity?

Answer 8

By burning coal, steam is produced and used to turn turbines. The turning turbines generate electricity. This electricity continues to make human activity more efficient and productive.

Question 9

How is coal used in the steel industry?

Answer 9

Steel industries use this coal coke in combination with iron ore to make steel.

Question 10

How is coal coke made?

Answer 10

Coal coke is made when coal is baked in furnaces until it becomes carbon.

Question 11

Over __% of steel made today includes the use of coal.

Answer 11

70

Question 12

In 2017, _________ was the largest source of electricity generation in United States.

Answer 12

natural gas

Question 13

How is natural gas used in homes?

Answer 13

Natural gas is used in home furnaces and water heaters. It is also used as a fuel for cooking in stoves, ovens, and grills. There are clothes dryers that are powered by natural gas.

Question 14

How is natural gas used in business?

Answer 14

Martial gas is used to generate electricity for cooling equipment, refrigeration, cooking, and outdoor lighting. Business owners can power large refrigeration units more efficiently with natural gas than with other energy sources?

Question 15

How is natural gas used in transportation?

Answer 15

There are vehicles which use natural gas as a fuel. Interestingly, natural gas is used in the transportation of natural gas. Natural gas is used to fuel compressors. Compressors are used to push natural gas through pipelines.

Question 16

What is the largest source for energy consumption in the United States?

Answer 16

Petroleum (crude oil)

Question 17

In 1859, the very first well specifically drilled for oil was drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania. What was it used for?

Answer 17

Pioneered by Colonel Edwin Drake, the goal was simply to find a source of kerosene to be used for lighting lamps. Coincidentally, Edison’s invention of the light bulb in the late 1800s overshadowed the great benefits of petroleum for many years to come. Few knew the impact that petroleum would have on human activity throughout the next century.

Question 18

How do fossil fuels help farmers?

Answer 18

As the availability of fossil fuels increased, farmers were able to use them to power new farm machinery. This led to faster harvesting and less crop loss. In addition, new irrigation techniques were enabled by the use of fossil fuels. Availability of fossil fuels helped automate the irrigation process and ultimately helped increase agricultural production. More production means more food available to people. This availability means that fewer people grow their own food.

Question 19

What fossil fuels are plastic made of?

Answer 19

Petroleum and natural gas

Question 20

What part does plastic play in the food industry?

Answer 20

Much of our food is packaged in plastic. Plastic is derived from petroleum and natural gas. It preserves food as it travels to local grocery stores and markets. The availability of fossil fuels has increased the ability to store food for longer periods of time. Longer product life means less waste, which ultimately saves money for consumers.