Question

How can the energy in fossil fuels be said to have come from sun?

• A. Fossils fuels were transported from sun to earth millions of years ago.
• B. All the fossil fuels have come from biomass which is dead plant and animal matter. Plants rely on solar energy for photosynthesis and animals rely on plants for food. So directly or indirectly the energy is transferred from the sun to biomass. Therefore the energy in fossil fuels come from the sun.
• C. The heating effect of sun rays convert rocks into fossil fuels.
• D. None of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is B All the fossil fuels have come from biomass which is dead plant and animal matter. Plants rely on solar energy for photosynthesis and animals rely on plants for food. So directly or indirectly the energy is transferred from the sun to biomass. Therefore the energy in fossil fuels come from the sun.

Fossil fuels have formed from the dead remains of the living beings which were buried inside the earth crust for millions of years. The living beings are made up of biomass. The biomass can only be produced by photosynthesis which is a chemical reaction which takes place in plants in presence of sunlight. Without sunlight, there would be no biomass and hence no fossil fuels.