Tuesday February 10

Unit #4: Coal

To begin... how do we measure the amount of energy that a lump of coal contains?
Here is an energy calculator.  In your reading, you will find different energy contents for different types of coal (BTU's/pound).
Use the calculator to answer the following questions.

1. What is a BTU? 
2. What does BTU measure?
3. How many pounds of each type of coal (look at page 15 of your packet) would be needed to light your room with a 100 watt bulb for 12 hours? I have completed the Lignite example for you, just click on the link below. We will review this in class on Tuesday.
1. Lignite: 
2. Bituminous
3. Sub-Bituminous
4. Anthracite

Use the information contained in your packet to answer the questions below.

1. What is coal?
2. What are the types of coal?
3. How do the different types vary? (What makes them different?)
4. Which of the types of coal is most valuable? Why?
5. Is coal a renewable or non-renewable resource? Why?
6. Create a timeline for coal. 
1. Start with as far back as you can find in the reading and continue all the way up to the present day. 
2. Include the ways that coal is formed and where the coal started out.
3. Include the different uses for coal along that timeline. 
4. You may work with one other person to complete this part of the activity.
7. What are the two (2) ways that coal is mined?
8. When are each of the two ways of mining used?
9. What are two (2) types of underground mining?
10. What do you think are the some positives and negatives associated with each of these types of mining operations?
11. What must happen after the coal has been mined?
12. Where does coal come from? 
13. What are the 5 highest coal producing states?
14. How is/was coal used?
15. What are the primary uses of coal today?
16. What are the environmental issues associated with coal?
1. Focus on air pollution
2. Focus on water pollution
3. Focus on soil/land pollution
17. What are some ways that coal can be converted into electricity that are cleaner than present technologies?