Lesson 8.2.6 Fossil Fuels in Carbon Cycle

​Notebook
Page 166

Fossil Fuels produce up to 90% of energy that we use on a daily basis.

We will discuss:
-how the three common types of fossil fuels are used
- how carbon emissions are produced

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Energy is the power that humans derive from natural resources. It can also be chemical, thermal, kinetic, and potential energy. Our lights run from energy from a power plant that comes through power lines.

Humans get energy from: fossil fuels, solar power, hydropower, and wind.

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Energy

Oil is also called petroleum and is found in a liquid form. It has a strong odor and is pumped from underground reservoirs. It can be made into gasoline for cars, diesel fuel for trucks, and heating oil for homes.

​Oil

​Coal is solid fossil fuel. It is a black or dark brown rock. Most coal is extracted using strip mining today. Strip mining is when layers of dirt and rock are removed until they expose the coal. Most power plants run on coal. PA is the third leading state for coal production.

​​Coal

​Natural gas is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is found underground. It is used the most to heat homes and to run gas stoves. Gas companies add an odor to the gas so you can smell a natural gas leak in your home.

​​Natural Gas

​Remember that carbon is in all fossil fuels, so when they are burned for energy they give off carbon.

Let's check out a video!

Emissions are substances that get released into the atmosphere. Fossil fuels produce carbon emissions when they burn. The most common carbon emission is carbon dioxide.

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​Carbon Emissions

​Recall that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. It is what makes Earth warm enough for us to live here.

BUT since the Industrial Revolution the amount of carbon dioxide has increased which has caused Earth to become warmer.

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​In our next lesson we will discuss climate change!