Have You Heard Of Peat Worksheet printable pdf download

Name: _____________________________

Period:____ Date:______________

Caption: Mining coal in Wyoming

Have you heard of peat? How about coal, natural gas, and oil?

These are all fossil fuels. Fossil fuels give us energy. They

come from things that were once living. They formed over

thousands or millions of years. Fossil fuels are very efficient

sources of energy. Our cars depend on them. Most countries

use them to produce electricity to power homes and

businesses. They are all formed from decayed organic matter.

Oil can be burned to release energy. Many people use it to heat their homes. It can be refined into

other energy products such as gasoline and kerosene. Where did oil come from? Millions of years

ago, the Earth was covered with shallow seas. Rivers carried sediments into these seas. Organisms

that died were also washed into the seas as part of the sediment. Scientists believe that oil formed

from these decayed plants and animals. It was then trapped in the rocks.

Natural gas was formed in a similar way. Bacteria partially decomposed the organic materials that

mixed with the sediment. This released methane gas as a waste product. This gas makes up part of

the natural gas we use for energy. Oil and natural gas are mostly found below Earth's surface. Wells

are drilled, and the materials are pumped out. They are transported to other places for use as energy.

Coal was formed in the warm tropical swamps that were located near the equator. As plant material

died, it sank to the bottom of the swamp. Layer upon layer built up. Under the great pressure, the

material was compressed into coal. Coal must be mined. Tunnels are dug into the Earth. The coal is

then separated from the rocks. It can be burned to produce electricity.

So what about peat? Peat is actually the first stage of coal. But it also can be used as a fuel on its own.

It is formed in a bog from decomposed organic matter. Peat is a light, spongy material. It can be cut

from the bog and dried. Some people still use peat to heat their homes. It can be burned in fireplaces

like wood logs.

Fossil fuels are an efficient source of energy. However, there are drawbacks to using them. They are

nonrenewable. They will not last forever. They are expensive to produce. They also cause pollution.

Scientists are working to find other sources of energy that are efficient. This will reduce our

dependence on oil and other fossil fuels.

Have You Heard Of Peat Worksheet