Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are natural energy sources that were formed a very long time ago. These fuels come from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. When these plants and animals died, their bodies got buried deep under layers of earth, rock, and sand. Over many years, with the pressure from the earth and heat from the inside of the planet, these remains slowly turned into fossil fuels like coal, petroleum (oil), and natural gas. Fossil fuels are known as non-renewable energy sources.

Fossil fuels are formed through a natural process that takes millions of years. It begins with the remains of plants and animals that lived long ago. Here’s a simple breakdown of how fossil fuels are created:

1. Plants and Animals Die: Millions of years ago, plants and animals that lived in swamps, forests, and oceans died and left behind their remains.

2. Burial Under Layers of Earth: These dead plants and animals got buried under thick layers of soil, mud, sand, and rocks over time. They were covered more and more as the Earth changed.

3. High Pressure and Heat: Over millions of years, the layers of the Earth above created a lot of pressure, and the heat from inside the Earth increased. This pressure and heat caused the remains to slowly break down and change.

4. Transformation into Fossil Fuels:

• Coal: When the remains of plants are buried in swampy areas and subjected to high pressure, they turn into coal.
• Petroleum (Oil): When the remains of sea plants and animals were buried under oceans, they were transformed into petroleum or crude oil.
• Natural Gas: With even more heat and pressure, the remains turned into natural gas, lighter than oil.

• Electricity Generation: Fossil fuels like coal are burnt in power plants to produce electricity for homes, schools, and industries.
• Transportation Fuel: Petroleum is refined into gasoline and diesel, powering cars, trucks, buses, aeroplanes, and ships.
• Heating and Cooking: Natural gas is used in homes for cooking and heating systems, keeping houses warm in winter.
• Industrial Uses: Fossil fuels are used as raw materials to produce products like plastic, chemicals, and fertilisers.
• Manufacturing: Factories use coal and natural gas as fuel to power machinery and create goods.