Danny's Article

ORIGIN OF FOSSIL FUELS

by :Danny

Fossil fuels are the remains of ancient plant and animal life found in earth, rock, and clay. Fossil fuels are mined by people for use as an energy source. Fossil fuel energy is stored energy which is given off when the fuel is burned.

Some types of fossil fuels are coal, oil, natural gas, and petroleum. Coal is found underground in solid form. Oil is found underground and under the sea in liquid form. Natural gas is a natural fuel which is a mixture of gasses found under the ground.

This is a history of the fossil fuels:

1. Hundreds of millions of years ago, before people lived on earth, trees, and other plants absorbed energy from the sun, just as they do today.

2. After the plants died, they slowly became buried deeper and deeper underground.

3. After millions of years, they eventually turned into coal and petroleum.

Sources:

Energy and Natural Resources

The World Almanac for kids, August 1997