UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK

Mathematics, Science & Research Department

Earth Science
Module 3: ENERGY RESOURCES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

LEARNING 1. describe how fossil fuels are formed and
2. explain how heat from inside the Earth (geothermal) and from
OBJECTIVES flowing water (hydroelectric) is tapped as a source of energy for
human use.

Fossil Fuels are formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead
organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and
sometimes exceeds 650 million years. Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include
coal, petroleum and natural gas. Other more commonly used derivatives of fossil fuels include
kerosene and propane.

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in
layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. It started forming over 350 million years ago, through
the transformation of organic plant matter. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be
regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure. Coal
is composed primarily of carbon along with variable quantities of other elements, chiefly hydrogen,
sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Coalification is the formation of coal from plant material by the processes of diagenesis and
metamorphism also known as bituminization or carbonification.
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EARTH SCIENCE | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Deep in the Earth, Oil and Natural Gas are formed from organic matter from dead plants and
animals. These hydrocarbons take millions of years to form under very specific pressure and
temperature conditions.

(Source: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/489414684481168627/)

At a depth of 2,000 meters, when the temperature reaches 100°C, kerogen (portion of naturally
occurring organic matter) starts to release hydrocarbons. Between 2,000 and 3,800 meters, it turns
into oil. This depth interval is known as the oil window. When the source rock sinks further, to
between 3,800 and 5,000 meters, production of liquid hydrocarbons peaks. The liquids produced
become increasingly lighter and gradually turn into methane gas, the lightest hydrocarbon. This depth
interval is known as the gas window. There are no hydrocarbons below a depth of 8 to 10
kilometers, because they are destroyed by the high temperature. The proportion of liquids and gas
generated in this way depends on the type of source rock. If the organic debris is composed mostly of
animal origin, it will produce more oil than gas. If it is composed mainly of plant debris, the source
rock will produce mostly gas. With an estimated average sedimentation of 50 meters every million
years, it takes 60 million years for dead animals to become liquid hydrocarbons. It is hardly surprising;
therefore, that oil is classified as a non-renewable energy source
Fossil Fuel Power Generation
Electrical energy generation using steam turbines involves three energy conversions, extracting
thermal energy from the fuel and using it to raise steam, converting the thermal energy of the steam
into kinetic energy in the turbine and using a rotary generator to convert the turbine's mechanical
energy into electrical energy.

(Source: https://www.mpoweruk.com/fossil_fuels.htm)
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EARTH SCIENCE | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Geothermal Energy

As you descend deeper into the Earth's crust, underground rock and water become hotter. This heat
can be recovered using different geothermal technologies depending on the temperature. But the
heat resources in geothermal reservoirs are not inexhaustible. The adjective geothermal comes from
the Greek words geo (earth) and thermos (heat). It covers all techniques used to recover the heat that
is naturally present in the Earth’s subsurface particularly in aquifers, the rock reservoirs that contain
groundwater. About half this thermal (or “heat”) energy comes from the residual heat produced when
the planet was formed 4.5 billion years ago and about half of natural radioactivity. Thermal energy,
contained in the earth, can be used directly to supply heat or can be converted to mechanical or
electrical energy.

(Source: https://vectormine.com/item/geothermal-energy-production-example-diagram-vector-illustration )

Hydropower, the Leading Renewable Energy

Water energy encompasses both plants installed on land — on rivers and lakes — and ocean energy,
which is still being developed and harnesses the force of waves, tides and currents. Having been
widely used for decades, hydropower plants are the world’s leading renewable energy source,
producing 83% of renewable power.

(Source: https://www.xcelenergy.com/stateselector?stateSelected=true&goto=%2Fenergy_portfolio%2Frenewable_energy%2Fhydro)
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EARTH SCIENCE | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
The kinetic energy generated by moving water has been used by humankind for centuries to drive
watermills that produce mechanical energy. Modern hydropower, sometimes referred to as “white
coal," is harnessed in plants where electricity is generated. Around 40 countries use hydropower to
produce more than a fifth of their electricity. Hydropower accounts for 16% of electricity worldwide,
behind coal and gas, but ahead of nuclear
The Advantages of Hydropower

• The water used to generate hydropower is renewable and storable, meaning it can be used at peak
consumption times and then reused. This way of storing potential energy is particularly efficient as a
hydro plant can reach its maximum rated capacity in just a few minutes. By way of comparison, a
thermal energy plant takes around 10 hours to reach full capacity and a nuclear reactor takes four
times longer than that.

• Hydropower is extremely efficient, with 90% of the water’s energy converted into electricity. In
addition, hydropower plants do not generate greenhouse gases and other emissions.

• While construction is a capital intensive, operating and maintenance costs are low. Plants have an
extremely long life and the technology is highly reliable.

• With all these advantages, developing hydropower can only be beneficial. However, it still presents
difficulties.

Make a plan that the community may use to conserve and protect its resources for future generations.

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EARTH SCIENCE | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
How well did you understand the topic?
Level Description Checklist (/,x)
4

I understood and I could explain it to others.

3
I understood and I can work on my own.

I understood it but I still need a little help.

I don’t understand it.

Fossil fuel is our main source of energy but at

the same time the largest emitter of pollution.
How do you think we can stop the using it?

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/13xbczf-MG_hGk_99THBhZE9vxbriMh-Q/view

PREPARED BY: LALIC, ABIGEYLE M.

TALIBUTAB, VENICE Y.

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EARTH SCIENCE | UMAK- HSU- MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT