(EGY) Energy Sources Lesson

Energy Sources

We obtain energy from a variety of sources. The most common source of energy used today in the United States is coal. The chemical energy contained in coal is converted to electrical energy through a series of energy transformations.  Petroleum and natural gas represent other fuels, which, along with coal, are known collectively as fossil fuels. These are nonrenewable sources because they cannot be easily recreated.  

However, there are other energy sources that are renewable energy sources.  Renewable energy sources are those energy sources that can be easily replenished. These include wind, biomass, geothermal, nuclear, hydroelectric, and solar.        

Energy - Alternative Sources through End Use description Links to an external site.

Look at the pictures below for an explanation of how energy is transformed using various energy sources.

Coal

Coal to Electricity description Links to an external site.

Wind

Wind Energy description Links to an external site.

Biomass

Biomass description Links to an external site.

Geothermal

Nuclear

Nuclear Energy description Links to an external site.

Hydroelectric

Hydropower description Links to an external site.

To view an application of how using renewable energy sources can be beneficial, please watch the following video.  In this video, reporter Stacey Delikat digs deep to investigate how one Vermont farm is using cow manure to lower its energy bills. You will discover how cow manure can be an efficient and effective way to generate sustainable energy and provide economic stability to farming operations.

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