Using Crude Oil as a Fuel

Question 1

Why do crude oil fractions make good fuels?

Answer 1

Because most of them burn cleanly

Question 2

Name 3 uses of crude oil fractions

Answer 2

1. Modern transport e.g. cars, trains, boats, planes
2. Central heating systems in homes
3. Power stations to generate electricity

Question 3

What is there as a result of the usefulness of crude oil?

Answer 3

A massive industry with scientists working to find oil reserves, taking the oil out of the ground, and turn it into useful products

Question 4

As well as fuels, what does crude oil provide?

Answer 4

The raw materials for making various chemicals

Question 5

Name one of the chemicals crude oil provides the raw materials for

Answer 5

Plastic (s)

Question 6

Often, ____ to using crude oil fractions as fuel are possible

Answer 6

Often, alternatives to using crude oil fractions as fuel are possible

Question 7

Give 4 examples of alternatives to using crude oil fractions as fuels

Answer 7

1. Electricity can be generated by nuclear** or **wind power
2. There are ethanol-powered cars
3. Solar energy can be used to heat water

Question 8

Name to advantages of using crude oil fractions as fuels over alternatives

Answer 8

1. Things tend to be set up for using oil fractions
2. Crude oil fraction are often more reliable

Question 9

Give an example of things being set up for using crude oil fractions

Answer 9

Cars are designed to use petrol or diesel, and they’re both readily available

Question 10

Explain how things are set up to make using petrol or diesel in cars easy

Answer 10

There are filling stations up and down the country, with storage facilities and pumps specifically designed for these crude oil fractions

Question 11

As a result of things being set up to use crude oil fractions, what are they often?

(2)

Answer 11

The easiest and cheapest thing to use

Question 12

Give an example of alternatives to crude oil being less reliable

Answer 12

Solar and wind power won’t work without the right weather conditions

Question 13

What is the problem with using nuclear power as an alternative to crude oil?

Answer 13

There are lots of concerns about its safety and the storage of radioactive waste

Question 14

What kind of a fuel is crude oil?

Answer 14

Non-renewable

Question 15

What is a ‘non-renewable fuel’?

Answer 15

A fuel that is being used up faster than it can be replaced

Question 16

No one knows exactly when oil reserves will run out, but there have been many ____ ____ by scientists e.g. the year ____

Answer 16

No one knows exactly when oil reserves will run out, but there have been many different predictions by scientists e.g. the year 2000

Question 17

When did scientists believe crude oil would run out by the year 2000?

Answer 17

About 40 years ago

Question 18

How are we not running out of crude oil as quickly as you might expect?

(2)

Answer 18

1. New oil reserves are discovered from time to time
2. Technology is constantly improving

Question 19

How is the constant improvement of technology increasing the time before we run out of crude oil?

Answer 19

New technology means that it’s now possible to extract oil that was too difficult or expensive to extract before

Question 20

What is the worst-case scenario for running out of crude oil?

Answer 20

25 years in the future

Question 21

Because of the imminence of running out of crude oil, what do some people believe we should do?

Answer 21

Immediately stop using oil for things like transport, for which there are alternatives, and keep it for things that oil is essential for, like some chemicals and medicines

Question 22

What are 2 problems with not using oil for unessential things immediately

Answer 22

1. It will take time to develop alternative fuels that will satisfy our energy needs
2. It will take time to adapt things so that the fuels can be used on a wider scale

Question 23

Give 2 examples of how we would have to adapt to use alternative fuels

Answer 23

1. Special kinds of car engine
2. Special storage containers

Question 24

What is a group of alternative power sources to crude oil?

Answer 24

Renewable sources

Question 25

What is a ‘renewable source’

Answer 25

A source that can be replaced as quickly as it is used

Question 26

Give 3 examples of renewable energy sources

Answer 26

1. Solar power
2. Wind power
3. Tidal power

Question 27

So however long oil does last for, it’s a good idea to start ____ it and ____ ____ now.

Answer 27

So however long oil does last for, it’s a good idea to start conserving it and finding alternatives now.

Question 28

Name 3 environmental problems with crude oil

Answer 28

1. Oil spills harm wildlife

Combustion causes:

2. Global warming
3. Global dimming
4. Acid rain

Question 29

When can oil spills happen?

Answer 29

When oil is being transported by tanker

Question 30

How are oil spills disastrous for the local environment?

Answer 30

1. Birds get covered in it and poisoned when they try to clean themselves
2. Other creatures - like whales and otters - are poisoned too

Question 31

Why do we combust oil?

Answer 31

To release the energy from it

Question 32

Crude oil is…

Answer 32

… REALLY important to our lives