Notes on Lesson 6: Fossil Fuels

Introduction

• Topic: Fossil Fuels
• Focus on how plants from long ago can cause pollution today.
• Relation between fossil fuels and health.

What are Fossil Fuels?

• Fossil fuels are natural resources formed from decayed plants and animals over millions of years.
• Types of fossil fuels:
  • Oil: Used to make gasoline.
  • Coal: A black stone burned for heat.
  • Natural Gas: Another fossil fuel source.

Vocabulary

1. Require:
   • Definition: To need something.
   • Example: A firefighter requires water to put out a fire.
2. Urban:
   • Definition: Related to the city.
   • Opposite: Rural (countryside).
3. Industrial:
   • Definition: Related to factories.
   • Example: An industrial job involves factory work.
4. Remains:
   • Definition: What is left of something after it has gone.
   • Example: The remains of a spider fossilized in rock.
5. Form:
   • Definition: To come together to create something.
6. Process:
   • Definition: A series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end.
7. Replace:
   • Definition: To take the old one out and put a new one in.
8. Pollute:
   • Definition: To make something dirty or impure.
9. Fuel:
   • Definition: A material that produces heat or power when burned.
10. Area:
    • Definition: A part of a place.
11. City vs. Village vs. Town:
    • City: Large population with many buildings.
    • Town: Fewer buildings than a city.
    • Village: Smallest settlement with few houses.

The Connection Between Plants and Fossil Fuels

• Plants help keep the air clean by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
• However, plants from 300 million years ago are responsible for current pollution due to fossil fuel burning.

Energy and Pollution

• Energy is needed for:
  • Heating homes
  • Running cars
  • Lighting cities
• Most energy comes from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas).
• Burning fossil fuels releases harmful gases, leading to air pollution.

Historical Context

• Industrial cities, like London in the late 1800s, faced heavy pollution from burning fossil fuels, making it hard to see the sun.

Modern Implications

• Many people became sick due to poor air quality.
• Fossil fuels formed from ancient plants and animals take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly.
• Current usage is faster than replenishment, leading to potential depletion.

Conservation

• Encouragement to conserve fossil fuels to ensure they last longer.
• Importance of saving energy and utilizing renewable resources where possible.

Summary of Key Points

• Plants from long ago contribute to modern pollution through fossil fuels.
• Most energy is derived from fossil fuels, but burning them creates pollution.
• Conservation is crucial to prevent running out of fossil fuels.