oil and gas, part 1

define fossil fuels:

fuel made up of ancient plants and animals (i.e. dead organic matter that is used for energy resources)

what are some examples of a fossil fuel:

• coal

• oil

• natural gas

true or false: energy is the capacity to perform work or transfer heat:

true

what are some examples of energy conversion?

electrical, mechanical, digestion

• flashlight

• fan

• photosynthesis

which of these past environments would likely create coal: deserts, swamps, deep sea, or all of the above?

swamps

what is the term used to describe crude oil and natural gas?

petroleum

true or false: if oil is buried below 15,000ft, it has the chance to turn into natural gas?

true (gas window)

what are the major types of fossil fuels, typically called conventional fuel?

coal, oil, and natural gas

energy sources are critical for___

almost all facets of life, ranging from food production to construction

what % of the energy consumed by humans comes from fossil fuels?

83%

true or false: the world has a vast supply of cheap oil

false. the world is running out of cheap oil

define energy:

energy is the capacity to perform work or transfer heat

define work:

work involves moving an object (mass) some distance against a given force (work = mass x distance)

define electrical energy:

movement of electrons through a conductor

define chemical energy:

energy stored in chemical bonds

define thermal (heat) energy:

the vibration of atoms

define kinetic (mechanical) energy:

object in motion

define potential energy:

stored energy

define nuclear energy:

energy that holds the nucleus together

define radiant (light) energy:

electromagnetic energy that travels in waves

define energy conversion:

one form of energy can convert to another

what are some examples of energy conversion?

plugging in a a fan

burning wood

photosynthesis

why do we care about energy efficiency:

if fossil fuels run out, we need to make the most out of what we have

we want our gallons of gas to go as far as possible because of how expensive gas costs

true or false: for every $1 you spend on gasoline, 75 cents is lost to heat

true :(

what was one of the first and primary forms of energy used by humans?

the sun

what was the second form of energy used by humans?

fire

humans then transitioned to ___

domesticating animals for work

__ energy was harnessed to perform mechanical processes

wind

__ was used to power engines

steam

what then became the primary energy source?

fossil fuels

oil consumption greatly increases around___

1900 because cars and the combustion engine had just been invented and were better than steam engines

in the 1940’s, oil overtakes coal and becomes the dominant source for energy. why is this?

mostly due to oil bing a liquid, it is safer and easier to transport. also due to its energy density, so you get more out of it for every unit that you burn

define coal:

a biochemical sedimentary rock composed of partially altered, compressed remains of plants

coal seams can range from inches in thickness to over ___ in thickness

100 feet

how does coal form?

1. a swamp environment with ample plant matter must be present

2. this swamp must be inundated for an extended period of time

3. due to water, free oxygen decreases and microbial activity slows down

4. more and more plant material accumulates

5. plant material becomes buried and subject to heat and pressure as the burial depth increases over time

6. as pressure and temperature increase, different versions of coal start to develop. as a result the carbon content increases