From Sunlight to Energy: Fossil Fuels Graded Assignment = 12 pts

Use your computers to research and complete the following.

1. Write the definitions for the terms below: (use Earth Science definitions!!)
Combustion (combust)-A reaction a substance reacts with oxygen from the air
and transfers energy to the surroundings as light and heat to burn.

Photosynthesis-Plants transform water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into

oxygen, and simple sugars that the plant uses as fuel.

Decomposition (decompose)- The process by which dead organic substances

are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide,
water, simple sugars and mineral salts.

Anaerobic environment (anaerobic)-It uses alternative molecules, such as

nitrate, sulfate, sulfur and fumarate.

Extraction (extract)- To remove

Production (produce)- It is a process of combining various material inputs and

immaterial inputs in order to make something for consumption.

2. Use all the words listed above to describe the steps in the formation of the fossil fuel,
how it is gathered and eventually used to create energy. This must be a detailed
description. You will do this once for coal and a second time for oil/natural gas.

You must start with energy (sunlight) and end with using the fossil fuel to create
energy.
a. Coal
b. Oil/Natural Gas

Include the words listed above in EACH fossil fuel description. You may use any form
of the word. Underline each word as you write your information/description.

Coal is first formed from photosynthesis when plants make food for themselves,then soon
enough they die.They then start the decomposition process of when the dead plants turn
solid and they do this because they were in an anaerobic environment. After a while they
form into coal from heat and pressure.Later we extract the coal from the earth to use it to
make fire.We use combustion for coal and it makes energy.The energy from the coal
produces ways to run electricity or other helpful things we need.

Oil/Natural gas comes from really far down in the earth and can easily be found from
wells.There are many different types of oils one that uses decomposition is petroleum, also
called crude oil.When we find the oil we extract it from the wells and use it for combustion
and make energy.Oil/Natural gas produces energy for again electricity and other useful
things.Natural gases can include carbon dioxide which helps plants make photosynthesis.
Sometimes anaerobic digestion happens with natural gas and that is created from anaerobic
environment.