U2L4: Nonrenewable Resources

U2L4: Nonrenewable Resources

Coal, Natural Gas, Petroleum, Nuclear Power

What are fossil fuels?

• Fossil fuels are energy resources made from carbon-rich plant and animal remains.

• Fossil fuels are nonrenewable because they take millions of years to form.

• Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, as well as harmful acids and other forms of pollution.

• These are still the most commonly used forms of energy around the world!

Multiple Choice

Fossil fuels are nonrenewable because ...

• they're made up of rocks

• we already used them all up

• they take millions of years to form

Coal

• Coal is a sedimentary rock formed from the remains of dead plants at the bottom of ancient swamps.

• Coal mining can involve removing soil and rocks or creating deep mines.

• These processes can destroy landscapes and pollute water supplies.

• Anthracite is a type of coal

Multiple Select

Choose ALL that apply!!

Coal is ....

• a rock

• nonrenewable

• renewable

• able to pollute water supplies

Natural Gas

• Some fossil fuels are gases that became trapped in rock formations.

• Methane is the main component of natural gas.

• Natural gas burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels. However, it does produce carbon dioxide upon burning, and leaks can be dangerous.

Multiple Choice

The main component of natural gas is...

• methane

• butane

• spokane

Multiple Choice

Natural Gas burns the cleanest of all of the fossil fuels.

• True

• False

Petroleum (oil)

• Petroleum means “rock oil.” It formed from the remains of single-celled aquatic organisms that lived long ago.

• After it is mined, it is separated into fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. 

• Transporting oil can result in spills that pollute the environment and harm wildlife. Burning petroleum produces pollutants (smog).

Multiple Choice

Rock Oil is also known as....

• natural gas

• petroleum

• coal

• nuclear energy

Multiple Choice

Petroleum is mainly used to make....

• handprint ornaments

• jelly

• fuels

What transformations do fossil fuels undergo?

• First, raw fossil fuels are obtained by drilling or mining.

• Then, they are transported, converted into useful forms, stored, and burned for energy.

• Each transformation can potentially affect the environment in negative ways.

Nuclear Energy

• Splitting the nuclei of a kg of uranium atoms releases thousands of times more energy than burning the same mass of coal.

• Nuclear energy is nonrenewable b/c minerals in Earth’s crust can't be replaced.

• Nuclear power plants produce harmful radioactive wastes that must be safely stored.

Multiple Choice

Nuclear power comes from...

• splitting the nuclei of an atom

• making nuclears

• burning fuel

Poll

I can identify the 4 types of nonrenewable resources.

• Yes!

• Not Yet!

• With more practice I will be able to!

• What did we talk about today?