Year 9 - Science
Formation of fossil fuels
Carbon cycle and climate change
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the rock cycle and the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It also examines the atmosphere's composition, human-induced carbon dioxide production, and its impact on climate. Focus is on interpreting data, identifying patterns, and presenting explanations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what coal, oil and natural gas are, how they formed, and why they are non-renewable energy resources.
Key Notes
- Coal is a sedimentary rock that burns because it is made mostly of carbon, with some impurities.
- Coal is formed from deep sediments of organic matter made of prehistoric plants.
- Oil and gas formed from dead plankton mixed in with sediments that formed millions of years ago.
- Oil and natural gas are found in pores of sedimentary rock.
- The organic matter that formed coal, oil and natural gas decomposed into hydrocarbons.
Vocabulary To Learn
- organic matter: Organic matter comes from living organisms. It contains carbon atoms as the main framework of compounds to which hydrogen atoms can attach.
- plankton: Plankton are microscopic, aquatic plants and animals.
- decomposition: Decomposition is the break down of dead and decaying matter.
- hydrocarbons: Hydrocarbons are molecules made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
- fossil fuel: Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years from the dead remains of organisms.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Thinking we can keep finding more fossil fuels to use, and that they are a renewable energy resource.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Coal is a sedimentary rock that burns because it is made mostly of carbon, with some impurities. Coal is formed from deep sediments of organic matter made of prehistoric plants.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'organic matter'
Organic matter comes from living organisms. It contains carbon atoms as the main framework of compounds to which hydrogen atoms can attach. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Thinking we can keep finding more fossil fuels to use, and that they are a renewable energy resource. Correction: Teach that fossil fuels take millions of years to form and they are being used at a faster rate than they are produced.
More Lessons In This Unit
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