Oil
A Non-Renewable Resource
How is Oil Formed?
Many, Many years ago… let's say 300 million years ago tiny sea plants and animals died and were buried in the OCEAN floor. Over these millions of years, the dead plants and animals were buried deeper and deeper by layers and layers of sand and silt. With all these layers HEAT and PRESSURE turned the remains of the plants and animals into oil .
Uses of Oil
Gasoline
Oil is refined to make gasoline (DO NOT confuse gasoline with natural gas… they are very different). Think about how much gas is used in one day!
Diesel
Oil can be recycled to make diesel. Cars that use diesel fuel can go further on a tank than cars that run on gas.
Electricity
Oil is also used in power plants to generate energy. The oil is burned at high temperatures to produce steam which then turns large turbines to make energy.