COAL: HOW TO DO RESEARCH & PRESENT INFORMATION

Think about 2 things… Learning about a Topic – Each of you will conduct research about a natural resource that is used or could be used to create electricity. – You will compare your resource with COAL, which I am presenting to you today. – Through my presentation you will be able to answer the 10 questions Learning to Research a Topic – Start with what you know and have used before…. Google Wikipedia – Try something new EBSCO GALE

COAL (this is where you learn about coal while learning how to do research!) How was/is coal formed? What is it made of? – Coal is formed when organic matter (living things) is buried and decomposes. Over long periods of time, the HEAT & PRESSURE associated with geologic activity turns the matter into coal. – “coal" A Dictionary of Biology. Elizabeth Martin and Robert Hine. Oxford University Press, Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Arapahoe High School. 6 April 2009 Search for specifics…. – Coal Too many results and often results not specific enough to answer your question – Coal Formation Fewer results and more specific information Information Presentation – Lots of words = BORING!

COAL (try again) “coal formation" Kentucky Department of Natural Resources; Mining Education; Arapahoe High School. 6 April 2009

How many different types of coal are there? The 4 Main Categories: - Lignite - Sub-Bituminous - Bituminous - Anthracite Why does this matter? As TIME, HEAT & PRESSUREWater contentCarbon percentage As the carbon percentageThe energy content of the coal "coal" A Dictionary of Biology. Elizabeth Martin and Robert Hine. Oxford University Press, Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Arapahoe High School. 6 April 2009

How is coal used to make electricity? you BURN it to turn water into steam…. the steam spins a turbine the turbine turns a generator which generates the movement of electrons! Electrons moving along a conductive material is ELECTRICITY! “spinning turbine" The BBC; GCSE Bitesize; Arapahoe High School. 6 April 2009 <

Renewable or NOT? Technically speaking, coal is a renewable resource when all of the biological and geological processes are present, which hasn’t really happened in the last 230 million years! So the verdict is…. NOT

Show me the $$$$ The price of coal is based on: Mining Transportation Use The price of coal is NOT based on: – Acid rain – Human illness – Climate change

Environmental Impacts

Coal miners & Health Effects

Environmental Impacts

Environmental Impacts px-Acid_rain_woods1.JPG

Where in the WORLD is coal found? NOT MUCH MUCH

Where in the US is coal found? In the EAST… -the Appalachian Mtns. - the Mississippi River Valley In the WEST… - the Rocky Mtns. In the NORTH - not much in Alaska “coal distribution" The Energy Information Administration”; Arapahoe High School. 6 April 2009 <

In the US…. Coal is king! “electric generation" The Energy Information Administration”; Arapahoe High School. 6 April 2009 <

Popularity of COAL The largest coal mines in the world are found in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana and the Dakotas! In Colorado….coal accounts for over 80% of electrical generation!

Trends… The use of coal dates back over 1,000 years Because coal is inexpensive, as the cost of other resources increases, the use of coal is expected to increase. The Hopi Indians used coal to bake their pottery. The 1 st coal-fired power plant was built in 1901!