Fossil Fuels in the Carbon Cycle

Fossil Fuels in the Carbon Cycle

In this lesson, you will learn more ways that fossil fuels contribute to modern life.

​When did humans begin to use fossil fuels?

​What was the Industrial Revolution?

​Industrial Revolution Video

The Industrial Revolution describes a change in the way people lived, beginning in the middle of the eighteenth century. Before the Industrial Revolution, most people lived in rural areas. People farmed or produced goods by hand to make a living. However, the invention of machines that could do tasks more quickly allowed people to change the types of jobs they performed.

What percentage of energy that humans use comes from fossil fuels?

5%
10%
15%
50%

​Fossil fuels produce up to 90% of the energy that humans use on a daily basis. In today's lesson, you will learn:

• why humans need to generate large amounts of energy;

• how people use the three common types of fossil fuels; and

• how carbon emissions are produced.

​Human Energy Needs

In previous lessons, you learned that energy is the ability to do work. Examples of energy include:

• kinetic energy in light;

• potential energy of position;

• thermal energy produced by fire; and

• chemical energy stored in glucose.

All organisms use energy to survive and reproduce. Chloroplasts capture light energy, and mitochondria release chemical energy.

However, energy has other definitions. Energy also refers to the power that humans derive from natural resources.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are definitions for the word energy?

Select 2 out of the 4

• the process that moves carbon between living and nonliving things

  
  

• the ability to do work

  
  

• events that repeat in a predictable pattern

  
  

• the power that comes from natural resources

  
  

Word Cloud

List any fossil fuels that you know.

​Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are an important source of energy for humans. Most of the energy that people use each day comes from fossil fuels. The Industrial Revolution was only possible because of the abundant energy produced by fossil fuels. The three most common fossil fuels are:

• oil

• coal

• natural gas

​Fossil Fuels Video

​Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. When humans extract fossil fuels, they bring carbon to the surface that was trapped in an underground reservoir for many years. Burning fossil fuels releases a great deal of energy that people can use to power lights, appliances, and automobiles.

Carbon Emissions

Emissions are substances that are released into the atmosphere. Fossil fuels produce carbon emissions when they burn. The primary carbon emission from fossil fuels is carbon dioxide. Fossil fuels used to produce electricity, heat homes, and move automobiles release carbon emissions into Earth's atmosphere.

Recall that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the primary reason that Earth is warm enough for organisms to live here. Some carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is necessary.

However, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by about 50%. In under 300 years, humans have released vast reservoirs of carbon

​What Do You Notice About This Graph?

Poll

Should we continue to use fossil fuels?

• I'm leaning yes

• I'm leaning no