Case Study: Fossil Fuels printable pdf download

Case Study: Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels, oil, natural gas, and coal, are energy resources that formed millions of years ago from plant and animal life.

They are our main form of power used to fly airplanes, drive cars, and heat homes. Fossil Fuels alone are estimated to

provide around 85% of the worlds total energy demands. Currently, there is much controversy over the carbon emissions

that fossil fuels release into the environment when combusted. Many are searching for alternative forms of energy that

reduce carbon emissions, are cost effective, and can be easily created. To better understand fossil fuels lets look at: how

they are formed, what they are made out of, their uses, benefits, and limitations.

Introduction

What are Fossil Fuels made out of?

Fossil Fuels are used to:

What are the Benefits of Fossil Fuels?

What are the Limitations of Fossil Fuels?

References

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Contributors

Introduction

It takes about 250-500 million years for fossil fuels to form. The process takes such a long time because fossil fuels are

formed from fossilized remnants of plants and animals deep in the Earth's crust. Heat and pressure, out of contact with

air, can transform the decomposed material into little sacks of gas and unrefined oil. The oil and gas then moves through

the small holes of space in the rocks to eventually collect in reservoirs. Coal comes mainly from dead plants, much like

the other two fossil fuels, which have been buried and compacted below the surface of the Earth.

Picture of how fossil fuels are created

What are Fossil Fuels made out of?

Oil: Commonly referred to as petroleum, oil is made up of various hydrocarbons. The major classes of hydrocarbons in

petroleum are:

Case Study: Fossil Fuels