Question

What are fossil fuels? How are coal and petroleum formed?

Answer 1

Fossil fuels are the natural resources which are important sources of energy. For example: Coal and Petroleum. Coal is used as fuel in homes and industry. Petroleum products such as petrol and diesel are used in transports like scooters, cars, buses etc. Coal and petroleum were formed from degradation of biomass of plants and animals respectively, which were buried deep under the Earth millions of years ago. We obtain coal from 'coalmines' into the Earth and petroleum is obtained from 'oil - wells' deep in the Earth.
Fossil fuels should be used judiciously because they are limited in the Earth out of which petroleum is expected to last for about 40 years and coal for 200 years. once exhausted, they will be not available to us till a very long period as they are formed at extremely slower rate. Secondly, the products of combustion of fossil fuels pollute the environment to large extent and lead to global warming.