WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Earth Science Grade 11, Quarter 1, Week 3B
How fossil fuels are formed?
Most Essential Learning Competency: Describe how fossil fuels are formed
Objectives:
1. Define what are fossil fuels
2. Differentiate the major types of fossil fuels
3. Determine areas where fossil fuels are usually found
Key Concepts:
Fossil Fuels Formation
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are basically remains of plants and animals that died millions
of years ago. They are the world’s primary energy source that provide most of the
energy support in transportation, electricity, and industries. They are natural
and finite resources that are very abundant and has a cheaper cost production
compare to other resources present on Earth. They are considered as non-
renewable energy source as they take millions of years to form.
What are the major types of fossil fuels and Where they are usually found?
There are three types of fossil fuels formation: coal, oil, and natural gas
1. Coal- It is an important and primary fossil fuel present on Earth. Coal
resources are found predominantly where forest trees, plants and marshes
existed before being buried and compressed millions of years ago. Philippines
uses approximately 50% coal resource to produce energy and electricity. There
are four major ranks of coal. First is anthracite, which is the highest rank of
coal. It is a hard, brittle, and black lustrous coal, often referred to as hard coal,
containing a high percentage of fixed carbon and a low percentage of volatile
matter. Second is the bituminous coal. It usually has a high heating value and
is the most common type of coal used in electricity generation. It appears shiny
and smooth at first glance, but when you look closely, you will see that it has
layers. The third one is subbituminous coal, which is black in color and dull,
and has a higher heating value than lignite. The last in rank is lignite, which is
also known as brown coal. It is the lowest grade coal with the least concentration
of carbon.
2. Oil- Most of the oil that we are using today started forming millions of
years ago. Oil is an organic material, mostly algae, which was buried in mud at
the bottom of the sea and lakes. It is used mainly for the production of
transportation fuels and petroleum-based products. Philippines imports crude
oil and petroleum from Saudi Arabia and Russia. The majority of the market are
Petron Corporation, Pilipinas Shell, and Chevron Philippines.
3. Natural gas- It is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas with the mixture
of methane. It is the Earth’s cleanest fossil fuel and is odorless and colorless in
its natural state. Natural gas is produced from sedimentary rock formation by
forcing chemicals, water, and sand down a well under high pressure. The
Philippines’ main domestic source of energy is the Malampaya natural gas field
which is located at Palawan Island.
How are fossil fuels formed?
Millions of years ago the
remains of prehistoric plants and
animals are buried beneath the
Earth’s surface. These remains
were covered by mud. The mud
sediment was buried by more
sediments and It started to
change into rock as the
temperature and pressure
increase. In that case fossil fuels
are formed in a low oxygen
environment. The plant and animal remain were altered chemically by this
process, and slowly changed into crude oil and natural gas.
Through the spaces of permeable rock, the oils move upwards and will be
trapped if it reached impermeable rock. Oil companies can drill down through
the impermeable rocks to get it out. They are then able to turn it into products
we can use, such as petrol and diesel. On the other hand, coal can be extracted
from the Earth through underground mining. Once it has been extracted, it can
be used to fuel power plants for electricity.
Activity 1: Fossil or Not?
Direction: Write True if the statement about fossil fuels is correct and False if otherwise.
___________1. Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels.
___________ 2. Fossil fuels are presently the world’s primary energy source.
___________ 3. Mining is the process of extracting coal, oil, and natural gas
from the ground.
___________ 4. Lignite is the highest-grade coal.
___________ 5. Fossil fuels are formed in an oxygen-rich environment.
___________ 6. Only combustion of oil and natural gas are linked to global
warming, while coal and methane are exceptions.
___________ 7. Oil is an organic material mostly made from algae.
___________ 8. Natural gas is produced from sedimentary rock formation by
forcing chemicals, water, and sand down a well under high
pressure.
___________ 9. Anthracite coal has the lowest fixed carbon content compared
to other types of coal.
___________10. Low pressures and temperature facilitate the formation of
fossil fuel.
Activity 2: You Complete Me!
Directions: Complete the storyboard showing how fossil fuels are formed. If the picture
is given, write a short description on the process shown. And if the
description is given, draw or illustrate the stated process.
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3
Millions of years ago,
The plant and animal
dead plants and animals
remains eventually forms
fall into seas and
coal far underground.
swamps.
Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6
Natural gas and crude oil
formed in the same way
and it is used for heating,
cooking, and electricity
generation.
Reflection:
Philippines depends primarily on fossil fuel as a main source of energy in different mode
of transportation. Since this source is a nonrenewable, it means there will be a time that
it will perish. As a STEM student, what can you do or suggest to solve this problem?
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