Yr 8 Physics: Energy

Renewable and nonrenewable energy sources

Fossil Fuels
• A fuel is a source of energy.

• Fossils are remains of dead animals and plants that existed millions
of tears ago.

• These remains are scientifically called as organic matter.

• Fossil fuels are 3 types - coal(solid fossil fuel),oil(liquid fossil fuel)

and natural gas(gaseous fossil fuel).

• Fossil fuels store chemical energy.

Formation of Coal

• Coal is formed from the dead remains of trees and plants near the swamps.

• The trees and plants in swamps got covered by sand and mud after they die.

• The plant matter is no longer exposed to air. There was no oxygen and hence these trees
did not rot(decompose) after it got buried.

• The mud and sand piles up and this increases the pressure and temperature of the organic
matter.
• The increased pressure and temperature squeeze out water from the plant matter and
compresses it.
• The organic matter becomes dense and get accumulated at the bottom and turns into coal.
Formation of oil