Energy Resources

Sources of energy

Nonrenewable resources are those who are used faster than they can be replaced by natural resources. Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and uranium which is used in nuclear reactions, are both nonrenewable energy resources.

Renewable resources are those that can be replaced by natural resources in a relatively short amount of time. Solar energy is an example of a renewable energy resource

Fossil fuels

Coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas are fossil fuels. They are nonrenewable resources because formed over millions of years. The fossil fuels used today formed from the remains of prehistoric organisms.

Coal

Oil and Natural Gas

300 million years ago, plants, such as ferns and trees, grew in prehistoric swamps. The first step of coal formation occured when those plants died.
Bacteria, extreme temperatures, and pressure acted on the plant remains over time. Eventually, a brownish material, called peat, formed.

Oil and natural gas formed millions of years ago. Scientists theorize that oil and natural gas formed from the remains of microscopic marine organisms called plankton. The plankton died and fell onto the ocean floor. There, layers of sediments burried their remains. Bacteria decomposed the organic matter, and then pressure and extreme temperatures acted on the sediments.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Fossil Fuels

Advantages

Fossil Fuels store chemical energy

Fossil fuels are relatively inexpensive and easy to transport

Disadvantages

Limited suply

Habitat destruction

Pollution

Advantages & disadvantages of nuclear energy

Advantages

Nuclear Fission

Disadvantages

Small amount of uranium produces large amount of energy

Well-run nuclear power plant does not pollute the air, soil, or water

Nuclear power plants use a nonrenewable resource for fuel

The chain reaction in the nuclear reactor must be carefully monitored

The waste materials from nuclear power plants are highly radioactive and dangerous to living things

If it gets out of control, can lead to release of harmful radioactive substances into the environment

How to manage nonrenewable energy resources

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