why do fossil fuels eg. coal have energy ie the energy source of the fossil fuel.
2007-12-15 03:49:07 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This is a much simplified account:-
Plants changed solar energy into starch (chemical energy) by photosynthesis.
Animals ate some of these plants so the energy transferred to them.
When the plants died they changed (over millions of years) into coal and the animals into oil and gas.
When burnt these fossil fuels release this stored energy as heat and light energy.
2007-12-15 04:19:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nuclear energy produces A LOT more energy than fossil fuels. I think one uranium pellet produces the same amount of energy as like 25 barrels of oil. Also nuclear energy is more green since it doesn't produce as much CO2 emissions. If you also have to mention the downside it would be that it is more expensive and a lot of research still needs to be done on how to mantain it safely. We wouldn't want another Chernobyl or something like what happened in Japan. Sorry about not having sources but I'm on a phone. If you just search nuclear energy on google you'll get sources for what I just said.
2016-05-24 01:58:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunlight is correct, whether the source is plant or animal (animals eat plants). Normally, when plants and animals decay, lifeforms consume the energy content for there own needs, leaving only humus behind. Fossil fuels are formed in cases where the organic matter is rapidly covered up by (other) plant matter and/or silt, preventing this.
2007-12-15 05:16:51 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fossil fuels are basically derived from 'fossils' ie. dead plants over millions of years
plants by the process of photosynthesis convert solar energy and store it in the form of carbohydrates (plant starch). when the plants die their fossils retain the energy trapped (although the form changes to maybe coal or mineral oil; the original source of the energy in these fuels is solar energy)
2007-12-15 03:55:28 · answer #4 · answered by Nterprize 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They have the energy from ancient sunshine locked up inside them. It is the wood and plankton that has been underground for 10s or hundreds of millions of years.
2007-12-15 03:53:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ummmm ...... if they didn't have energy they wouldn't be a fuel.
2007-12-15 04:54:54 · answer #6 · answered by za 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have hydrocarbons(compounds consisting primarily of hydrogen and carbon) ... all living organisms are made of hydrocarbons, which on burning (combustion) give out lots of heat.
2007-12-15 03:58:01 · answer #7 · answered by gauravragtah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋