Energy Resources

A Science AZ Physical Series

Word Count: 2010

ENERGY
RESOURCES

Written by David Dreier

Visit www.sciencea-z.com

www.sciencea-z.com

Energy
Resources

Key elements Used in This Book

The Big Idea: We live in an energy-hungry culture. Peoples demand for
electricity and fuel taxes Earths supply of nonrenewable resources and
forces us to find and use renewable and alternative sources. This book
compares nine energy resources: crude oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear
power, biomass, solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal. It explains
how they are each generated and used. Using each resource has both
benefits and drawbacks.
Key words: atom, biodiesel, biofuel, biomass, carbon dioxide, CO2, coal,
conserve, crude oil, dam, diesel fuel, electrons, electricity, energy, energy
resource, ethanol, fossil fuel, fuel, fuel cell, gasoline, generator, geothermal
energy, global warming, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, hydroelectric
power, hydrogen, magnetic energy, methane, natural gas, neutrons,
nonrenewable resource, nuclear energy, nuclear fission, nucleus, oil spill,
petroleum, pollution, power, power plant, protons, renewable resource, solar
energy, turbine, wind energy, wind farm
Key comprehension skill: Interpret graphs, charts, and diagrams
Other suitable comprehension skills: Compare and contrast; classify information;
cause and effect; identify facts; main idea and details; elements of a genre;
using a glossary and boldfaced terms; using a table of contents and headings
Key reading strategy: Retell
Other suitable reading strategies: Ask and answer questions; connect to prior
knowledge; summarize; visualize
Photo Credits:
Front cover (background): iStockphoto.com/Yewkeo; front cover (energy icons): iStockphoto.com/
Brown Dog Studios; front cover (Earth): Courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory/
NASA Johnson Space Center; back cover: iStockphoto.com/Chen Fu Soh; title page:
iStockphoto.com/Skip ODonnell; page 3: Jupiterimages Corporation; page 4: iStockphoto.com/
Imacon; page 5 (top left): iStockphoto.com/Jiri Miklo; page 5 (top right): iStockphoto.com/Fertnig;
page 5 (bottom left): iStockphoto.com/Daaronj; page 5 (bottom right): iStockphoto.com/
Shantell; page 6 (bottom): iStockphoto.com/Matt Niebuhr; page 10 (tape): iStockphoto.com/
Vndrpttn; page 10 (toothbrush/paste): iStockphoto.com/Paga Design; page 10 (tires):
iStockphoto.com/Pter Gudella; page 10 (deodorant): iStockphoto.com/Karam Miri;
page 10 (blocks): iStockphoto.com/Jordan McCullough; page 10 (shoes): iStockphoto.com/
Olivier Blondeau; page 10 (glue): iStockphoto.com/Daniel R. Burch; page 11: iStockphoto.com/
Jaap Hart; page 13 (left): F.E. Matthes/Courtesy of GPN Archives; page 13 (right): Lisa McKeon/
Courtesy of USGS; page 17 (left): iStockphoto.com/Eliandric; page 17 (right): iStockphoto.com/
Terry Wilson; page 18 (turbine): iStockphoto.com/Slavoljub Pantelic; page 19 (dam):
iStockphoto.com/Jennifer Sharp; page 20 (top): iStockphoto.com/Focus_on_Nature; page 20
(bottom): iStockphoto.com/Rob Broek; page 20 (inset): iStockphoto.com/Laurence Gough;
page 21: Xedos4/Dreamstime.com

Written by David Dreier

www.sciencea-z.com

Illustration Credits:
Page 7: Cende Hill/ Learning AZ; pages 6, 8, 12, 14, 18, 19, 23: Learning AZ

Energy Resources
Learning AZ
Written by David Dreier
All rights reserved.
www.sciencea-z.com

Introduction
Prehistoric people consumed very little energy.
They didnt have computers, TVs, or cars. The first
type of energy people discovered how to control
was fire. They began to use fires energy for light,
warmth, and cooking.

Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................. 4
Electrical Energy ....................................................... 5
Generators ............................................................... 6
Nonrenewable Resources ........................................ 9
Energy from Crude Oil ......................................... 10
Energy from Coal................................................... 11
Energy from Natural Gas ...................................... 12
Energy from the Atom ........................................... 14
Renewable Resources ............................................
Energy from Biomass ............................................
Energy from the Sun .............................................
Energy from Wind .................................................
Energy from Moving Water ..................................
Energy from Inside Earth ......................................

16
16
17
18
19
20

Today, people use vast amounts of many

types of energy. Energy is the ability to do work
or to move something. We use energy to make
and operate the products that we use each day.
Our energy needs are far greater today than ever
before, and they are still growing. In order to
meet these demands, we constantly seek new
sources of energy. This book looks at some of the
important energy resources of the past, present,
and future. Each resource has its benefits, but each
has drawbacks as well. As you read, examine the
different types of energy resources in the charts
to compare the costs and the pros and cons.

The Changing Energy Picture .............................. 23

Glossary ................................................................... 25
Index ......................................................................... 26

Generators
Think of electricity as a flow of tiny particles
called electrons. All matter is made of atoms.
Each atom contains electrons that whirl around
the center of the atom, called the nucleus.

Electrical Energy
In order to understand energy and energy
resources, it is important to know that energy can
change from one form to another. For example,
light can change to heat, and heat and light can
be used to produce electricity. Electricity can be
changed to many other kinds of energy, including
heat, light, sound, and motion. In fact, electricity
is our most important form of energy. Take a
moment to think of all the ways you have used
electricity today.

Most of the electricity we use is made by

large generators. These complex machines have
two main parts: magnets and large coils of wire.
In a generator, magnetic energy makes electrons
flow through coils of wire.
electric current
This flow creates a current
of electricity. A generator
will produce electricity
if magnets spin inside
coils of wire, or if
coils of wire spin
between magnets.

wire coil

In a generator (above),
magnets spin around
a coil of wire. This
makes electrons
move inside the wire.
The moving electrons
create an electric
current that can power
lights and appliances.
Giant turbines (left)
generate electricity
for whole cities.

As you read about the different energy sources

we depend on, you will learn that most of them
are used to make electricity.

turning
magnet

high-pressure steam
steam turbine
generator

water

boiler

electricity

cooling tower

chimney

your home

We use many sources of energy to power

our generators, to fuel transportation, and to
keep all of our power-hungry gadgets working.
These energy sources can be classified as either
nonrenewable or renewable. Nonrenewable
resources are fuels such as oil that, once used,
cannot be replaced on a human timescale.
Renewable resources, which include energy
from the Sun and wind, never run out.

electric transformer

Close-up of Steam Turbine Generator

steam turns
turbine blades

electrical flow

steam

Petroleum (37%)
turbine blades

steam
outlet

magnetic field
generator creates
electricity

steam condenses to liquid water

Renewable (8%)

So what makes the magnets or wire coils spin?

In most electrical power plants, a source of energy
is used to boil water to produce high-pressure
steam. The steam is forced against a windmilllike device called a turbine. The steam makes
the turbine spin. The turbine is attached to
the magnets or wire coils, so they spin when
the turbine spins. As they spin, they make the
electrons flow in the wire, which creates electricity.

Natural Gas (25%)

Nuclear (9%)

Coal (21%)

Total Energy Consumed in the U.S. 2010

Nonrenewable Resources
The main nonrenewable energy resources are
fossil fuelsoil, coal, and natural gas. They are
called fossil fuels because they were formed from
plants and tiny animals that lived more than 300
million years agobefore the age of dinosaurs.
Those plants and animals absorbed and stored
energy from the Sun long ago. Over time, their
remains settled into the swamps or shallow
seas where they lived. Layers of rock formed
over the dead materials and forced them down.
Pressure and heat within Earth compressed and
changed the materials. Over millions of years,
these materials became crude oil (also called
petroleum) or coal. As those substances formed,
they often produced a natural gas called methane.
Fossil fuels are by far the worlds leading
source of energy. About 85 percent of energy
needs in the United States are met by burning
fossil fuels. But because they take millions of
years to form, they cannot be replaced quickly
enough once they are used.

Organisms
died long ago

Heat and
pressure
changed
them

All of these products

are made from crude oil.

Energy from Crude Oil

Crude oil is obtained by drilling down into
Earth to reach rock layers where oil is trapped
under great pressure. Because of that pressure,
the oil flows up through pipes leading to the
surface. Crude oil is made into a number of
different fuels, including gasoline and diesel
fuel. It is also used to make other kinds of
products, including plastics.
The United States is among the top
oil-producing countries, but even so, it
cannot produce enough oil for all of its needs.
It imports the rest from other countries.
The nations of the Middle East, especially
Saudi Arabia, have the largest reserves of oil.
The worlds oil supplies are dwindling. Some
experts predict that the remaining oil will last
for only about another 40 years.

Today they
have turned
into coal, oil,
and natural
gas

10

Energy from Coal

Natural Gas Collection

While people depend heavily on oil, coal is

the most abundant fossil fuel in use. It is mainly
used to generate electricity at coal-burning power
plants. The United States produces almost half
its electricity with coal and has the worlds
largest coal reserves. Even so, experts believe
that worldwide coal reserves will only last
another 100 years.
The main problem with coal is that it is the
leading cause of air pollution in the world.
Engineers worldwide are developing cleaner
ways to burn coal as well as finding alternative
energy sources.

Collected gas is sent to homes through pipes.

Sandstone
Clay
Aquifer
Sandstone
Oil Shale

Natural Gas

Sandstone

Energy from Natural Gas

China has been building coal-fired plants at a rate of two per

week to feed its industrial expansion. As a result, China has the
most polluted air in the world.

11

Natural gas is often found with oil deposits.

When natural gas comes from the ground, it
usually has other gases mixed in, such as propane
and butane. Those other gases get removed, and

the mostly pure methane is delivered

to users through a network
of pipes. Natural gas is
used mainly in industry
Vast amounts of
and homes and to
natural gas lie beneath
the ocean floor in
generate electricity.
icy materials called
You may use natural
methane hydrates.
gas to dry your clothes,
Hydrates could provide
heat your home,
more energy than all
provide hot water,
other remaining fossil
fuels combined.
or cook your food.

12

nuclear fission

Pollution and Global Warming

Uranium
Atom

Although fossil fuels provide affordable and

plentiful sources of energy, they do have major
drawbacks (see page 15).

Lighter
Element

Neutron

Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide (CO2) gas as

they burn. Earths atmosphere already contains
CO2 and other gases. These gases keep the planet
at a comfortable temperature by slowing the
release of heat received from the Sun back into
space. This is called the greenhouse effect. But
the widespread burning of fossil fuels is adding
a lot more CO2 to the atmosphere and increasing
the greenhouse effect. As a result, the atmosphere
is getting warmer. This growing problem, called
global warming, is causing glaciers and polar
ice caps to melt. The impact of global warming is
driving efforts to find energy sources that do not
produce pollution or greenhouse gases.
In the last 100 years,
Montanas Grinnell
Glacier has almost
disappeared.

Grinnell Glacier, 1900

The fission of a single gram of

uraniumabout the weight of
a paper clipreleases as much
energy as the burning of 2,700
kilograms (6,000 lbs.) of coal.

Energy

Energy from the Atom

After fossil fuels, the next biggest source of
power used worldwide is nuclear energy. It may
be hard to believe that tiny, invisible atoms can
be a source of so much energy. But inside each
atom is a nucleus made of particles called protons
and neutrons, which are held together by an
incredibly strong force. In a nuclear power plant,
the nuclei of uranium atoms are bombarded with
neutrons. This process splits apart the nuclei,
releasing massive amounts of energy. Splitting an
atoms nucleus is called nuclear fission.
Energy from fission is used to heat water
and produce steam that powers generators.
As of 2007, there were 439 nuclear power plants
operating worldwide, which produced about
15 percent of the worlds electricity.

Grinnell Glacier, 2008

13

14

Nonrenewable Resources
Resource
Cost per KWh

Crude oil
18

Pro
Fairly inexpensive for
the amount of energy
it provides
Can be made into many
kinds of fuels
Can be made into
plastic products

Coal
5.5

Energy from Biomass

Limitedonly enough for about

40 more years
Highly pollutingreleases large
amounts of CO2
Only some parts of the world have
access (can lead to conflicts)
Oil spills harm the environment

Leading cause of air pollution (CO2)

in the world

Plentifulprobably
enough for 100 years

Mining can be dangerous work

Plentifulenough for
about 75 years

Con

Very inexpensive for

the amount of energy
it provides

Can be found in most

parts of the world

Natural
gas

Renewable Resources

Produces less pollution

than oil or coal
Very popular for
warming homes,
cooking, and heating
water

Changes the land at mining sites

Polluted air in mines can be harmful
to miners

Releases large amounts

of greenhouse gases
Expensive to transport over
large distances
Invisible and poisonous to breathe
Risk of explosions
Power plants expensive to build
and maintain

Very little air pollution

Nuclear
1114

Accidents very dangerous to plants

(does not use fossil fuels) and animals, including humans

Need to safely transport and

store wastestays radioactive
Almost unlimited power for thousands of years
Energy efficient

Can be used as a very powerful

weapon

Renewable energy resources can be replaced

after being used. Resources that come from
present-day living things are called biomass
(from bio-, meaning life).
Wood is the most widely used biomass
resource. People around the world use it to cook
food and heat their homes. But if trees are used
up faster than they can be replaced, we will run
out of wood as a resource.
Other biomass sources include garbage, plant
parts, and even animal manure. Biomass can be
burned to boil water that powers generators. It
can also be used to produce methane gas. The gas
can be collected and burned to make electricity.
Some living plants can be made into
liquid fuels, or biofuels. For example, corn and
switchgrass can be processed to produce ethanol.
Another biofuel, called biodiesel, is mainly made
from the oil of plants such as soybeans and corn.
Using biofuels can reduce the need for fossil
fuels. The United States meets about 4 percent
of its energy needs with biofuels.

1 Kilowatt hour (KWh) is the power to run 1,000 watts of

electricity for 1 hour or a 100-watt lightbulb for 10 hours.

15

16

Energy from Wind

Wind is another unlimited energy resource.
Different parts of Earth receive different amounts
of energy from the Sun, causing differences in air
temperature and air pressure. When air rises from
warmer areas, cooler air moves in to replace it.
This air movement, combined with the rotation
of the planet, causes most winds.
Solar cells are increasingly used to power small things such as
lights on street signs or big things such as a citys power grid.

Energy from the Sun

Energy from the Sun is called solar energy.
It can be used to warm homes and produce hot
water. Sunlight can be focused using mirrors to
heat a container of fluid to a very high temperature.
That heat is then used to generate electricity.
Sunlight can also be used to generate electricity
directly. Thin panels called solar cells absorb
sunlight and convert it into an electric current.
As more people use solar panels, the price
comes down, making solar energy even more
affordable. Today, solar panels are being used
on many buildings, particularly in sunny regions,
to produce electricity.
However, sunshine is not always available.
As a result, other sources of energy are still
needed to supplement it.

Wind can be converted into electricity by wind

turbines. These devices come in many designs, but
most of them look like huge airplane propellers
on poles. A single turbine can provide enough
electricity for 600 homes. In many areas of the
world, dozens or even hundreds of turbines are
grouped together to create wind farms.
Like solar energy, wind is not available all
the time. Still, wind energy is a growing energy
resource around the world.

This map shows

regions of the U.S.
that have reliable
winds for wind farms.

17

18

Marginal
Fair
Average
Good
Excellent
Outstanding

Energy from Inside Earth

Hydroelectric Dam

Power Lines

Dam

Reservoir
Intake

Generator

Downstream

Turbine

Upstream

The inside of Earth is extremely hot. Heat from

within the planet is called geothermal energy.
This resource is used in some places where steam
or hot water reaches Earths surface naturally
through fissures. In other areas, people drill into
the ground to tap geothermal energy.

Energy from Moving Water

Moving water has a lot of power.
People can control water by building
dams to stop the flow of a river and
create a lake. Water from the lake
flows through the bottom of the dam and spins
turbines, which power generators, just as they
do in coal or nuclear plants. Electricity created by
moving water is called hydroelectric power. The
word comes from the Latin root word for water,
hydro, combined with electric. About 19 percent of
the worlds electricity comes from hydroelectric
dams. The movement of ocean waves and tides
can also generate electricity.
But hydroelectric power, like most other
energy resources, has its downsides. People must
weigh the benefits against the drawbacks when
deciding whether or not to construct a dam.

19

Geysers are powered by Earths heat. Pressure builds in an

underground chamber until water, steam, and gases erupt.

The nation of Iceland, which has

many volcanoes and hot springs,
relies heavily on geothermal energy.

20

A geothermal power plant has pipes that go

deep into the ground (often one to two miles) to
reach a body of water that is under high pressure
and has a temperature as high as 370C (700F).
In most geothermal plants, pipes bring up hot
water, which expands at the surface to form
steam. The steam is used to turn turbines that
power generators, which create electricity. In the
future, this vast resource may play a bigger role
in helping us meet our need for clean energy.

Renewable Resources
Resource
Cost per KWh

Pro
Very large supply
available

Biomass
6

Reduces waste in
landfills by putting
it to good use
Can be used anywhere
in the world
No pollution once up
and running

Solar
15-30

Little or no noise
Can be used anywhere
in the world
Inexpensive after initial
startup

Do you think drilling down into Earth to

capture geothermal energy might have
long-lasting effects on the planet? Explain.

Wind
6

Can be used in most

parts of the world
No pollution
Inexpensive after initial
startup
Can be used in most
parts of the world

Hydroelectric
11

Can store water to use

during droughts
Provides recreation
in new lakes
Clean energy
resourcelittle
pollution
Can be used in many
parts of the world

Geothermal
530

Underground
pipes can heat or
cool water to keep the
temperature in a house comfortable.

21

22

Con
Equipment can be expensive
Raising crops for biomass can
reduce available land for wildlife
and food crops
Releases some CO2 (but less
than burning fossil fuels)

Solar cells are expensive

Not efficient on cloudy days
or at night
Large solar farms require large
amounts of land
Large turbines are very expensive
Not every location has predictable
or steady winds
Turbines require land, can be
noisy, and can be dangerous
to birds
Dams interrupt wildlife in rivers
Dams drain water from deepest,
coldest part of lake, which affects
wildlife downstream
Lakes may cover natural habitats
and towns
Depletes farmlands and rivers
of natural silt cycles
Dams can break and cause
damaging floods

Can be very expensive to produce

Little pollutionmostly
when first building facilities
gives off water vapor
Cannot be used everywhere,
Requires small
so it would have to be sent
amounts of land
to faraway locations
Inexpensive after initial
startup

The Changing Energy Picture

fuel cell

As the worlds population increases, the

demand for energy will continue to rise. Experts
say the world will need new sources of energy
in the future as our nonrenewable resources
dwindle or run out entirely. Some governments
use tax rebates to encourage businesses to invest
in cleaner, alternative sources of energy such
as solar, wind, and geothermal power. New
laws in some areas require that people conserve
energy, or use less of it. Many individuals have
voluntarily changed their habits to reduce their
personal need for energy resources. Meanwhile,
scientists continue to pursue energy alternatives.
One energy resource that may play a big role
in the future is hydrogen. This gas burns cleanly,
meaning that it produces nothing but water
as a by-product. Hydrogen can also be used in
devices called fuel cells. Most fuel cells combine
hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity.
Automobile companies are developing vehicles
powered by fuel cells.
Some visions of the future seem like science
fiction. One idea is to have huge satellites in orbit
above Earth to absorb solar energy. The satellites
would convert the solar energy to microwaves
the kind of energy used in a microwave oven.

23

e
e
e

e
e

O O
O

Oxygen

Cathode

Anode

Electrolyte
H

Water
H

Hydrogen
H
H

e Electrons

Hydrogen atoms
pass through the
anode, which frees
electrons from them. The
electrons flow from the anode
to the cathode, which creates
electricity. The hydrogen joins
with oxygen to make water.

The satellites would then beam the microwaves

back to Earth, where receivers would convert
their energy into electricity.
A few things seem certain: Well always
need energy resources, and we need to find
new, cleaner sources of energy. But eventually,
people may have to limit their energy usage. An
important part of the energy picture is learning
to conserve energy rather than just using more
and more of it. Do you have any ideas for future
energy sources and ways that people can
conserve energy?

24

Glossary
biomass organic matter from present-day
living thingssuch as wood,
garbage, or plant partsthat is
used as an energy source (p. 16)
coal a dark-colored rock made of
prehistoric plant and animal
remains that is burned as a
fuel (p. 9)
conserve to prevent something important
from being wasted, overused,
or harmed (p. 23)
crude oil a liquid found under Earths
surface that is used to make
fuels and many other products;
also called petroleum (p. 9)

generators machines that turn motion into

electricity (p. 6)
geothermal energy heat from inside Earth, which can
be used as a power source (p. 20)
hydroelectric
electricity produced when moving
power water turns turbines that are
connected to generators (p. 19)
natural gas an odorless, colorless, cleanburning fossil fuel (p. 9)
nonrenewable
supplies of things that cannot
resources be replaced after they have been
used (p. 8)
nuclear energy energy that is released when
atoms, usually those of radioactive
materials, are split or joined (p. 14)
renewable
supplies of things that can be
resources replaced and are not depleted
after they have been used (p. 8)

energy the power to do work, make a

change, or move objects (p. 4)
energy resources supplies of things that can
be used by people to do work
and to supply power (p. 4)

solar energy the energy of the Sun, which can

be used as a power source (p. 17)

electricity energy created by moving

charged particles (p. 5)
fossil fuels energy sourcessuch as coal,
oil, or natural gasformed from
living things that died long
ago and changed while in the
ground (p. 9)

25

wind energy the energy of moving air,

which can be used as a power
source (p. 18)

Index
atoms, 6, 14, 24
fuels, 816, 22
fuel cells, 23, 24
global warming, 13
hydrogen, 23, 24

26

magnets, 6, 7
pollution, 11, 13, 15, 22
steam, 7, 14, 20, 21
turbines, 6, 7, 18, 19, 21, 22