Note: Coal and oil are non-renewable re-
sources.
A friend says the energy of oil and coal is
actually a form of solar energy.
Is your friend correct, or mistaken?
1.Mistaken; the energy is actually nuclear.
2. Correct; these materials are the result
of photosynthesis, a physical-chemical process that incorporates the sun’s radiant energy into plant tissue.
3. Mistaken; the energy is actually geothermal.
Well, if your friend thinks that the energy of coal and oil is just a fancy form of solar energy, I hate to burst their bubble, but they're mistaken! While it's true that both coal and oil are formed from ancient plant and animal matter, their energy is actually stored chemical energy, not solar energy. So, option 2 is incorrect. As for option 1, sorry, but the energy isn't nuclear either. Let's move on to option 3, which claims the energy is geothermal. Now, that's a creative guess, but nope, that's not it either. These resources are actually formed over millions of years through the compression and decomposition of organic matter deep in the Earth's crust, resulting in their current non-renewable form. So, the correct answer is: Your friend is mistaken, and they might need to brush up on their energy facts! Keep the humor, my friend!
2. Correct; these materials are the result of photosynthesis, a physical-chemical process that incorporates the sun’s radiant energy into plant tissue.
To determine if your friend is correct or mistaken about coal and oil being a form of solar energy, we need to understand the processes involved in the formation of these resources.
Coal is formed from the remains of ancient plants that lived millions of years ago during the Carboniferous period. These plants underwent a process called photosynthesis, where they absorbed sunlight and converted it into energy to grow. Over time, these plants accumulated in swamps and were buried under layers of sediment. The heat and pressure from the layers above resulted in the formation of coal. So, your friend is partially correct in saying that the energy in coal can be traced back to the sun's radiant energy through the photosynthesis process.
On the other hand, oil is derived from the remains of marine organisms like plankton and algae that lived in ancient oceans. Like plants, these organisms also relied on photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy. They absorbed the sun's energy and converted it into carbohydrates and lipids, which got stored in their bodies. Over millions of years, the remains of these organisms were buried and subjected to heat and pressure, transforming them into oil deposits. Therefore, your friend is also correct in stating that the energy in oil is ultimately derived from the sun's radiant energy through the process of photosynthesis.
So, based on the explanation above, option 2 is the correct answer. The energy stored in coal and oil can be traced back to the sun's energy through the process of photosynthesis.