summary #1 Energy Resources

How Do People Use Energy?

In many homes, school and buildings people get energy from natural gas, burning oil and electricity that runs to many common devices such as computers, lights, radios and TV's. Power plants makes electricity. Private and public transportation takes energy from burning fuels.

How Are Fossils Fuels Turned into Energy?

Heat from burning fossils fuels can be used directly to heat homes, schools, businesses and factories. All fuels have advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of using fossil fuels is that they contains a lot of energy. But fossil fuels cannot be replaced fast, because take millions of years to form. So is nonrenewable.
The heat is ised to generate electricity. Can also be used to boil water and turn it into steam. The steam is trapped and pressure builds up. The steam is released and directed to a pinwheel-like turbine. When the steam hits the turbine, it causes it to spin. The spinning turbine turns a generator to make electricity.

Where Do Fossil Fuels Come From? 

Coal is formed from the remains of dead plants buried in ancient swamps and forests. Natural Gas and Oil is formed from the remains of tiny ocenas plants and animals. Over millions of years, the plant and animal remains changed into oil and natural gas.

What Other Sources Of Energy Are There?

Other sources of energy are called alternative energy sources. Here are some alternatives energy sources:

• Geothermal Energy: Earth's internal heat. The water is heated below the surface in places where magma collects. Geothermal Energy can be used to heat homes and produce electricity. For example: At The Geyser in California, steam drives turbines that generate electricity.

• Solar Energy: Today people are using new ways to harness the power of sunligth. One way is to trap or concetrate sunligth with the use of solar panels or collectors. The trapped sunlight is used to heat water or entire homes. Another way to use it is with solar cells. Solar Cells are devices that convert sunligth into electric energy.

How Can We Conserve Energy?

We have learned that fossil fuels are the stored energy that came from once living things and are nonrenewable energy.
However, plant matter and animal wastes or other remains called Biomass, can be used as a renewable energy source. Plant material and animal  wastes that might wind up as garbage can be processed to form fuel. Bacteria, Corn and other grains also can be turned into fuel.