1. Human Energy Systems Unit Activity 4.5: Follow the Carbon
Carbon: Transformations in Matter and Energy
Environmental Literacy Project Michigan State University
Human Energy Systems Unit Activity 4.5: Follow the Carbon

2. How did fossil fuels form?

3. Petroleum and natural gas formation

4. Coal Formation

5. 2. Photosynthesis – 300 million years ago
= Light Energy
= Carbon (inorganic)
Light energy
CO2
Light energy and CO2 are sequestered in the biomass pool. This takes carbon out of the atmosphere pool and puts it into the biomass pool.

6. 2. Compression – 300 million years ago until now
= Chemical Energy
= Carbon (organic)
Chemical energy and carbon in the biomass are exposed to heat and pressure underground. This changes the matter and energy in the biomass pool into fossil fuels.

7. 3. Extraction– today = Chemical Energy = Carbon (organic)
Today, fossil fuels are extracted from underground. They are burned at power plants, in our homes and buildings, and in our cars, trucks, airplanes, and boats.

8. 5. Carbon cycles: from fossil fuels to atmosphere
= Carbon (inorganic)
When fossil fuels are burned, carbon atoms in the fossil fuel molecules are rearranged and become part of CO2 molecules. These new CO2 molecules are released into the atmosphere pool. This increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Because these atoms can always be rearranged to make new molecules, we say that “Carbon Cycles.”

9. 4. Energy flows: from chemical to heat energy
When we burn fossil fuels, chemical energy in the bonds of the molecules is released as heat energy. Once it is released, it cannot be used again (energy flows!). Some of this energy radiates into outer space, but some of it is trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases, causing the temperature to rise and the climate to change.

10. How do humans use fossil fuels, and when did we begin using them?
When the industrial revolution began, we started using 300 million year old fossil fuels to provide energy to power our factories and machines. Changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation and technology all lead to an increase in fossil fuel use.

11. How do humans use fossil fuels, and when did we begin using them?
Today, we continue to burn fossil fuels to power our industries and support our lifestyles. This means that we are continuously moving 300 million year old carbon from the fossil fuel pool to the atmosphere pool.