Download Chapter 16 Energy Sources

Chapter 16 Energy Sources
16.1 Notes – Fossil fuels
Objectives
• Discuss properties and uses of fossil fuels.
• Explain how fossil fuels are formed.
• Describe how the chemical energy in fossil
fuels is converted into electrical energy.
• Describe the advantages and
disadvantages of using fossil fuel energy
to produce electricity.
Law of Conservation
of Energy
• Energy cannot be created or
destroyed
• Can only be transformed
from one form into another
 Transformed into useful function: chemical
energy is transformed into thermal to heat your
home
 Transformed into non-useful function: power
lines lose chemical energy as thermal as the
power travels through the line
Energy in the USA
Fossil Fuels
• Form from decaying
remains of ancient plants
and animals
• Burning fossil fuels
converts energy from
chemical bonds to heat
and light
• Chemical energy in fossil
fuels is more concentrated
than in other fuels such as
wood
Petroleum
• Highly flammable liquid
formed from decaying
ancient organisms
• Fractional distillation is
used to separate the
compounds in petroleum
– Mixture of thousands of
chemical compounds
– Hydrocarbons =
hydrogen + carbon
(organic material)
Petroleum
• Not just used for energy
• Also used in
– Plastic
– Synthetic fabrics
– Grease
– Motor oil
– Asphalt
Natural gas
• Product of decaying ancient organisms
• Contains more energy per kilogram than
petroleum or coal
• Burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels
• Provided about ¼ of the energy consumed
in the US
Coal
• Solid fossil fuel
found
underground
• Produces more
pollution when
burned than
• Provides about ¼ of the
petroleum or
energy produced in the US
• About 90% of coal burned in
natural gas
the US is used to produce
electricity
Electricity
• Generated when
fossil fuels are
burned
• Releases thermal
energy
Electricity
•
•
•
•
Produces high pressure steam
Steam spins a turbine
Turbine produces electric current
Electric current is transmitted
through power lines to consumers
• Only about 35%
of the energy in
fossil fuels
reaches
consumers
since some
energy is lost in
every stage of
the process
Undesirables
• Fossil fuels pollute
the environment
and increase
carbon monoxide
in the atmosphere
• Mining coal can
cause health
problems for
miners
• Nonrenewable resource
– Important not to waste energy
In-Class Assignment/Homework
• I Used to Think…but Now I Know
– I will explain
• 16.1 WKT
Fossil Fuels
• I Used to Think…
• but Now I Know