1. Fossil Fuels

2. Anywhere on Earth…  You may observe minerals, the building blocks of rocks.  You may observe that minerals are made of one or more metallic or non-metallic elements.  You may observe that minerals found in rock layers are used by humans to make technologies or other useful products.

3. What other substances are used from rock or rock layers?

4. Remember…  Sedimentary rock layers contain dead plant and animal material.  This is called organic matter.  Over time heat and pressure change these organic layers.  These layers contain a lot of energy made by photosynthesis long ago. These special substances are called…

5. Fossil Fuels  Organic matter that can be burned with oxygen to produce usable energy.  Called hydrocarbons because they are made of carbon and hydrogen.  Sometimes known as “mineral fuels”  There are 3 main types…

6. Petroleum  Also called crude oil  Used to make gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, and even plastics !  Found in old rock layers deep in the Earth’s crust.  Formed long ago from dead sea animals and plants.

7. Coal  A dark and rock-like fossil fuel found in sedimentary rock layers.  The oldest used fossil fuel.  Known as the least clean fossil fuel to use as energy.  Formed from decomposed plant matter called peat that has been change by heat and pressure.

8. Natural Gas  Mostly made of methane gas.  The simplest hydrocarbon made of only one carbon and four hydrogen atoms.  Found deep in oil pockets near oil.  Known as the cleanest fossil fuel to use as energy.

9. How are Fossil Fuels Important? 1)Fossil Fuels are useful and powerful energy sources for humans. 2)Fossil Fuels have allowed humans to have heat and electricity in homes. 3)Fossil Fuels have allowed humans to travel far by car and by plane. 4)Fossil Fuels let humans make plastics.

10. What are the Effects of Fossil Fuels? 1)Fossil Fuels cause a lot of pollution, extra carbon dioxide in the air. 2)Too much carbon dioxide contributes to the Greenhouse Effect, the warming of the planet. 3)60% of our energy use is from Fossil Fuels. 4)Fossil Fules are non- renewable, the supply is limited!

11. What are Alternative Energy Sources? 1) Renewable energy sources are resources that can easily be replaced:  Wind and Water turbines use the movement of water and air molecules to transfer energy.  Geothermal energy uses heat from the inside of the Earth to produce energy.  Solar energy uses the power directly from the sun, which may be one of the most promising technologies for our future!

12. Think about...  Scientists agree that fossil fuels are damaging our planet and that they are running out!  Scientists and engineers also agree that we need to produce technologies that match our energy needs!