Coal
What is Coal?
A fossil fuel formed from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago.a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground deposits. Coal is also a non-renewable resource.
Where Can Coal Be Found?
Coal is found underneath the ground. It is found in the United States in the Appalachian Mountains from Alabama, through Pennsylvania, in Wyoming, China, India, Australia, Europe, Russia, South Africa, and many other places. Coal deposits exist on every continent. Coal is found in 38 states and about 1/8 of the country lies over coal beds. Top coal mining states are: Montana, Illinois, Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Texas, and Indiana.
Coal; How Does it Work?
Think of coal like wood. In a wood stove or furnace, wood is burned to produce heat. Coal contains more energy and is cheaper than wood, however wood is renewable. The large coal power plants that run use coal to produce heat by burning it. When water heats up to steam, it has more pressure. Electricity from coal is the electric power made from the energy stored in coal. This energy is released when coal is burned. Coal is burnt to generate heat. Then the heat, heats up water. Eventually turning into steam, the steam is used to turn turbines, which is connected to a Generator, and makes all of that into electricity.
What Are The Uses?
Coal is a resource that has been used for thousands of years, to produce energy. Both in heat and energy form. It is the most abundant fossil fuel.
Who Uses Coal?
Companies use coal to generate electricity and burn them to make hot air spin their turbine to make energy. People use coal to heat their houses. Steam trains use coal to power their engines. The United States is the main user of Coal. 92% of coal is used to generate electricity.
Advantages Of Using Coal
Coal is one of the cheapest fossil fuels compared to the others. The electricity produced by coal is reliable. Easy to transport to places.
The Environment and Coal Mining
Cost Benefit of Using Coal
Coal is one of the cheapest sources of electricity in the world. The coal industry provides a lot of jobs for many people. Unlike other ways of getting electricity, burning coal doesn't have to have certain weather conditions. You can burn coal no matter what the weather is. Coal is also easy to transport.