Formation of fossil fuels
I can describe what coal, oil and natural gas are, how they formed, and why they are non-renewable energy resources.
Formation of fossil fuels
I can describe what coal, oil and natural gas are, how they formed, and why they are non-renewable energy resources.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning 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.
- 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.
Keywords
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 misconception
Thinking we can keep finding more fossil fuels to use, and that they are a renewable energy resource.
Teach that fossil fuels take millions of years to form and they are being used at a faster rate than they are produced.
To help you plan your year 9 science lesson on: Formation of fossil fuels, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 science lesson on: Formation of fossil fuels, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Carbon cycle and climate change unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
this comes from living organisms
microscopic, aquatic plants and animals
the break down of dead and decaying matter
formed over millions of years from the dead remains of organisms