5th Grade Natural Resource Content Pre-survey

Natural gas produces the least amount of pollution compared to other fossil fuels. When burned, natural gas releases fewer greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, compared to coal and oil. It also produces less air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog and respiratory problems. As a result, natural gas is considered a cleaner and more environmentally friendly option for energy production.

Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that were buried and subjected to high pressure and temperature over millions of years. Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments, including organic matter, making them the most likely rock type to contain fossil fuels. Metamorphic rocks are formed from the transformation of pre-existing rocks under high heat and pressure, which can destroy any organic matter present. Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten magma and do not typically contain fossil fuels. Magma refers to molten rock beneath the Earth's surface and is not a rock type.

Heat and pressure over millions of years is required for the formation of fossil fuels because this process transforms the remains of ancient organisms, such as plants and animals, into substances like coal, oil, and natural gas. These organisms are buried deep in the Earth, and over time, the heat and pressure cause chemical reactions that convert their organic matter into fossil fuels.

Compaction and cementation are the processes that transform sediments into rock. Compaction occurs when the weight of overlying sediments compresses the lower layers, reducing the pore space and increasing the density of the sediment. Cementation, on the other hand, involves the deposition of minerals in the pore spaces between the sediment grains, binding them together and forming a solid rock. These two processes work together to transform loose sediments into consolidated rock.

Petroleum comes from ancient plankton and sea life. Over millions of years, the remains of these organisms have been subjected to heat and pressure, transforming into fossil fuels. This process occurs in sedimentary rocks, where the organic matter is converted into hydrocarbons, such as oil and natural gas. These hydrocarbons are then trapped in reservoirs beneath the Earth's surface, where they can be extracted and refined into various petroleum products.

Based on the principle of superposition, which states that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks, the oldest rocks are at the bottom, Layer C is the oldest. This is because it is located at the lowest position in the diagram, indicating that it was the first layer to be deposited.

Tropical regions are most likely to produce the raw materials that can transform into coal. This is because coal is formed from the remains of ancient plants and trees that lived in warm and humid environments. Tropical regions have the necessary conditions of high temperature and abundant rainfall, which promote the growth of dense vegetation. Over time, the accumulation and burial of this vegetation under layers of sediment and pressure leads to the formation of coal.

Coal is the most plentiful fossil fuel found in the United States. This is because the United States has large coal reserves, with significant deposits located in various regions across the country. Coal has been a major source of energy in the United States for many years, and it is used for electricity generation, industrial processes, and heating. The abundance of coal reserves in the United States makes it the most plentiful fossil fuel in the country.

Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons that is typically found underground. It does not exist as a large cave filled with oil or a solid black layer of carbon. Instead, petroleum is usually found in porous rocks, such as sandstone or limestone, where it fills small cracks or mixes with sand. This is why the correct answer is "Drops of oil mixed with sand or filling small cracks."

The ocean receding over the centuries cannot explain why a slab of sedimentary rock with fish fossils is found close to a mountain peak. The presence of fish fossils suggests that the area was once underwater, but the explanation of the ocean receding does not address how the slab of rock with fossils ended up near the mountain peak.