Energy and Fuels

Energy and fuel works together to make our everyday lives better. Fuel is any material
that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases chemical or nuclear
energy as heat or to be used for work. ... The heat energy released by reactions of fuels
is converted into mechanical energy via a heat engine. Energy is the basis of our
existence. Our food is grown (whether it be grains, vegetables, etc.) with considerable
energy expenditure. Energy is the capacity of a system to do work. Without energy our
society would be unable to perform. For example, the heating value of a fuel is used
to measure energy.
Energy is defined in science as the ability to do work. It is a scalar physical quantity.
Although energy is conserved, there are many different types of energy, such as kinetic
energy, potential energy, light, sound, and nuclear energy. Energy exists in many
different forms. Examples of these are: light energy, heat energy, mechanical energy,
gravitational energy, electrical energy, sound energy, chemical energy, nuclear or
atomic energy and so on. These forms of energy can be transferred and transformed
between one another.
Chemical Energy is energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds (atoms and
molecules). It is released in a chemical reaction, often producing heat as a by-product
(exothermic reaction). Batteries, biomass, petroleum, natural gas, and coal are
examples of stored chemical energy.
In the International System of Units (SI), the unit of energy is the joule, named after
James Prescott Joule. It is a derived unit. It is equal to the energy expended (or work
done) in applying a force of one newton through a distance of one metre.
Wood, coal, gasoline and natural gas are burned to release heat through a chemical
reaction called combustion, which is a reaction that produces thermal energy. ... Food
consumption is a simple example of obtaining chemical energy. The energy acquired
from food is absorbed into the body and used in daily activities.
During an exothermic reaction bonds break and new bonds form and protons and
electrons go from a structure of higher potential energy to lower potential energy. A
substance that produces useful energy when it undergoes a chemical or nuclear
reaction. Fuel such as coal, wood, oil, or gas provides energy when burned.
Compounds in the body such as glucose are broken down into simpler compounds to
provide energy for metabolic processes. Fossil fuels are used to fuel cars and airplanes,
power electricity plants, and heat our homes. They are also used to make medicines,
cosmetics, plastics, synthetic fabrics, and lubricants. When you brushed your teeth
today, you used a product made from oil toothpaste.
All petrol-powered cars manufactured after 1986 must use unleaded fuel. There are 3
grades of unleaded - Unleaded, Premium Unleaded and High Octane (98). Both the
premium and high octane are more suited to prestige and high performance vehicles.
Coal has many important uses worldwide. The most significant uses of coal are in
electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing and as a liquid fuel.
Steam coal - also known as thermal coal - is mainly used in power generation.
Life on earth makes uses and depends, in one way or another, on some sort of energy.
Without energy our human body would be unable to perform respiratory, circulatory,
or digestive functions to name a few. Plants would be unable to complete the
chlorophyll process of converting the light from the suns rays into chemical energy.
Motors would be unable to perform without the use of a source of electric energy.
Energy plays an integral part in the progress of human kind. Since the beginning of
mankind, we have made use of wood, water, and fossil fuels as a means of heating and
making machines work. Our planet is bounded with natural resources. The crust of our
planet is enriched with a mixture of fuels, crude oil, natural gases and various other
needful elements. All the realms of the planet are laden with these resources bur fuel is
the only resource that is edged to the lithosphere
The entire world leans towards Fuel, just a four letter word. It is today what the
entire globe craves for. Today none can imagine life without fuel. So importance of
fuel in our daily life is increasing day by day.