Activities

1. Describe the formation of coal.
   
   
2. Describe the formation of natural gas.

 Interpret the circle graph below to answer questions 3 and 4:

http://www.psu.edu/dept/e-education/blogs/energy_policy/2012/09/hard-energy.html

3.  In 2010, what percent of energy use came from fossil fuels?
   
   
4. In 2010, what was the most widely used renewable energy resource?

5. Explain the process of how coal is mined for.  How is coal transformed into providing energy?
   
   
6. Develop a logical argument to support why renewable energy source (such as solar, hydro, etc.) should be used as a primary source of energy. Explain the process of how this source is harnessed to produce energy.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Coal forms from swamp plants. After the plants die, they are buried under the water and mud. Over time, the remnants become buried deeper and deeper and the pressure of the layers above and heat cause the formation of coal.
   
   
2. Natural gas forms from the remains of tiny ocean organisms. After the organisms die, they sink to the bottom. Over time, they become buried by sediments. Pressure and heat cause the formation of natural gas and oil. Since natural gas is less dense than oil, it is layered above oil when it becomes trapped under the layers of rock.
   
   
3. Fossil fuel use accounted for 83% of the energy used (Petroleum- 37% + Natural Gas- 25% + Coal- 21% = 83%)
   
   
4. Hydropower was the most widely used renewable energy source.
   
   
5. Coal that is buried deep in the ground is mined for by digging underground tunnels and bringing the coal to the surface. Coal that is near the surface is obtained by a process called strip mining. In strip mining, soil, rock and trees are removed to expose the coal.  To provide electricity, coal is usually ground into a fine powder. The coal is burned to heat water to turn to steam. The steam turns turbines which are connected to electrical generators.

6. Acceptable responses must include:

• Identifies a renewable energy resource.
• Supports claims which justify it being a more suitable source of energy (such as advantages of its use)
• Describes the process in which it generates energy.
  Sample response:  Wind power is a renewable energy resource.  Using wind power is more acceptable than fossil fuel use because it does not produce pollution.  Wind power can is cost effective and will not run out (like fossil fuels) since wind will continue to exist.  Wind power can also be achieved domestically in the United States, and there are many appropriate landscapes where wind farms can exist.  Wind turbines work when wind causes the blades to spin.  The blades are connected to a shaft, which is connected to a generator, creating electricity.