Coal Energy
What is it and how is it used?

Coal Usage in 2005
Description: Coal Usage in 2005
Image copyright: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/index.html
Coal is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of carbon and hydrocarbons. It’s the most abundant fossil fuel in the United States. Coal is a non-renewable energy source. Non-renewable energy sources are energy sources that can be used up.

Coal is made of million-year old compacted plants. The energy we get from coal is the energy stored by these plants. The heat and pressure from the top layers turn the remains into what we today call coal.

Coal miners use two methods to mine coal. These are surface mining and deep mining. Surface mining is cheaper and used to produce most of the coal in the U.S. today. In surface mining, we use large machines to expose coal closer to the surface. In deep mining, coal miners use elevators to reach deeper coal sources.

Bibliography

Author: Energy Information Administration Site Title: Energy Kid’s Page
Date Published: 2004-2005 Date Visited: March 6, 2008
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/non-renewable/coal.html
Links:
   Bullet  Energy Resources
This page was edited by Dani (Teacher: Middendorf) using Web Poster Wizard.