Question

What are fossil fuels? Give a few examples. Is wood a fossil fuel? How can animal waste be used as a source of energy?

Answer 1

Fuels that are generated very deep under the earth from the debris of plants and animals, which existed millions of years ago, are called fossil fuels. Coal, oil and natural gases are fossil fuels. These resources are non-renewable as they cannot be regenerated easily.

Wood is not a fossil fuel. It is a common fuel that is obtained from trees that have grown in the recent times or that are still living. Trees obtain energy from the Sun and store it in the wood. When wood is burnt, this energy is released in the form of heat. Wood is a renewable resource.

Animal waste is a kind of biomass. Animal dung is shaped into cakes and dried under the Sun. These dried cakes are used directly as fuel. When these dried cakes are burnt, they produce heat. It is a common source of energy in villages.