Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

1          The fossils of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago are used to heat our homes and run our cars each day.  Coal, natural gas, and oil are all special types of fossils called fossil fuels, and each year, we are using up the earth’s supply of fossil fuels at a rate faster than they can be replenished.

2          Our world relies heavily on fossil fuels.  Oil or petroleum, a dark-colored, liquid fossil fuel, is the main source of energy that runs our cars and planes.  Petroleum is also used to heat homes and make plastic.  Natural gas is used for cooking and to heat homes.  It is also used in the production of other goods such as paints and fertilizers.  Coal is a solid, black fossil fuel that is used to generate much of the electricity that we use.  It is also the main energy used to make the metal steel.    3          The formation of fossil fuels started billions of years ago with the remains of dead plants or animals.