Petroleum

Disadvantages

Petroleum

Advantages

Petroleum is very abundant and easy to use. No new technology is required to get it. It powers vehicles better at faster than any other source. It is also easy to transport in liquid form.

Petroleum is renewable and emits carbon dioxide. It can also lead to spills when drilling and it endangers wildlife and the environment. It is also expensive and dangerous. The U.S. also consumes about 21 million barrels of oil each day.

What Is It

Petroleum means "rock oil". So petroleum is the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago in the water. It's a smelly,black to yellow liquid that powers our cars.

Where It's Found

Petroleum is found underground, usually under an ocean. Most of the oil that is found in the U.S. comes from Texas. Oklahoma, North Dakota, California, and Alaska also produces some oil. A lot of our oil also comes from the Gulf of Mexico.

How It Works

Petroleum is made when sediments and sand pile up on the remains of plants and animals. The heat and pressure will turn it into petroleum. Petroleum is then burned which makes water turn into steam which turns a turbine than spins a generator. It also can power vehicles and turn into items that we use.

Examples

1. Kerosene2. Petroleum Jelly3. Gasoline