Unit 4 Part C Fossil Fuels Study Questions

Unit 4 Part C – Fossil Fuels study questions

1. Explain the percentage use of different fuel sources in the world

2. What factors determine the selection of fuel type by a country

3. In the US what is the energy used for by percentage?

4. What type of resource are fossil fuels and based on their formation why are they classified that way?

5. Outline the different types of coal and the their composition and energy density.

6. How is coal mined?

7. Explain the regulation of coal mining including the legislations involved.

8. What are the environmental problems caused by burning coal

9. Why is coal used if it causes all of those problems?

10. How can combustion of coal be “cleaned”? Address the used of pretreating and also scrubbers

Oil & Natural Gas

11. Explain the refining process of crude oil

12. Where is oil and gas found geologically? Geographically?

13. Explain the idea of peak oil and how long oil will last.

14. List the environmental impacts of oil and gas. Include the impacts during extraction (drilling and fracking), transport, combustion and clean up.

15. Outline the case study of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker in Alaska

16. Outline the case study and argument about the keystone XL pipeline

17. Explain the use of synfuels especially tar sands

18. List the 4 main objectives of the US energy strategy