Assignment

A. Energy Fundamentals, Energy Use in an Industrial Society

Energy of the Future Discuss what, realistically, the world will look to as a reliable, abundant, inexpensive source of energy once fossil fuels are mostly exhausted or become too expensive, by answering the following questions. You can either research for the topic or give your informed opinion.

1. What type of energy sources will be used to produce power in the future?

2. Will there be a centralized grid for electrical power or will homes/neighborhoods run individually using decentralized power generation? In Miami, FL

3. What types of fuels will be used by automobiles and other transportation vehicles?

B. Which Fossil Fuel is the Most Versatile/Important?

Consider the three main fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. Each of them has many applications in today's global economy. Scientists and engineers are continually devising ways to overcome limitations of fuels to make them more useful in our lives.

For instance, natural gas can now be cooled to the point where is becomes liquid, enabling it to be shipped to far-off locations, as opposed to burning it off which has been a common practice for many years. This can provide a supply of the clean burning fuel to areas that previously had not had access to such a fuel, or could supply areas that are running low on natural gas for years to come. Have students pair off or get into groups and answer the following questions.

1. Which of the three main fossil fuels is the most versatile?
2. List the uses of each fuel that you can identify.
3. Which of the three is the most important to the U.S. economy? Why?
4. Which fuel will have the most important role in the future? Why?