1. Fossil Fuels
Leah, Marcelo, Alex

2. What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are fuels with chemically stored energy
The most common fossil fuels are oil, natural gas, and coal
They were formed millions of years ago and are found deep in the earth’s crust
Produced by decomposition of buried animal/plant matter due to high pressure from material on top and bacteria
Mostly made of carbon

3. Advantages Able to be found anywhere on earth
Power plants are able to generate huge amounts of energy at a time, as the fossil fuels combust quickly
Relatively cheap with a high power output (energy density)
Able to be used by a large variety of devices
Most fossil fuels can be stored for extended periods of time and in different environments, as all forms of fossil fuel energy consist of hydrogen and oxygen, making it consistent throughout all fossil fuels
Modern systems are designed around these forms of fuels

4. Disadvantages
The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gases releases air pollutants such as acid rain-inducing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and other fine particulates that contribute significantly to greenhouse gases and global climate change.
This mining using pipes and other manmade materials that can destroy habitats and harm entire ecosystems for plants and animals and even harm native tribes of people through eminent domain. Some of this natural harm comes from the water and air pollution caused by the extraction of these fuels and the combustion of them in power plants. Miners are also often harmed in this extraction process.
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable and will run out

5. Alternative Renewable Energy Sources to Fossil Fuels
Solar power
Wind power
Hydropower
Geothermal energy
Why?
Because fossil fuels are finite sources of energy
Because they contribute to greenhouse gases and pollution
Because they are harmful to ecosystems, animals, miners, and more

6. Method of Processing Power: Coal
Coal is typically used primarily used to generate electricity and is responsible for 39% of the electric power supply in the U.S.

7. Method of Processing Power: Natural Gas
Typically used for heating buildings
One method of heating is forced air heating in which the natural gas is burned, heating the air, which is then pumped throughout the building (diagram at right)
For heating, the chemical energy of the natural gas is transformed to kinetic energy of the air molecules

8. Method of Processing Power: Oil
Typically used to provide mechanical energy for transportation purposes through a combustion engine
In the engine, gasoline, a product of oil, is combusted in a cylinder forcing the piston out to crank the motor. This is done repeatedly to constantly turn the motor
In this way, the chemical energy of the oil (gasoline) is transformed into mechanical energy for engines

9. Sankey Diagram for Coal
Coal has 35% efficiency
Natural gas has 60% efficiency
Oil has similar efficiency to coal

10. Additional Information
For the entirety of the twentieth century and even long before that, renewable energy was either inexistent or much more costly, so fossil fuels were the more cost-efficient option. However, as time has passed and technology has advanced, costs of renewable energy sources have fallen 75% below what they averaged back in 2009, marking a modern transition to renewable energy.
This modern transition in energy sources is transitioning from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to natural forms of energy such as solar, hydroelectric, wind, and more.

11. Physics Application/Equations

12. Bibliography http://www.eesi.org/topics/fossil-fuels/description
Summary of fossil fuels and uses
Describes fossil fuels for power stations and their disadvantages
Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels
Overview of formation and extraction of fossil fuels
Detailed summary of uses of fossil fuels
Cost-efficiency comparison of fossil fuels versus renewable energy