The Chinese were using coal more than 3000 years ago, but not on any large scale.
The world started to seriously burn fossil fuels from the start of the Industrial Revolution around 1760, about 250 years ago.
Our ancestors started using them when they discovered that they give off heat and light when burned, and some of the oil was bubbling out of the ground and collecting in puddles so it was easy to get at. Since then we have discovered many more uses for oil and gas, such as lubricants. We started relying on it when chemical and mechanical engineers discovered many useful properties of it, such as portability and consistency, which made it more desirable in industry than wood, steam and wind power. Now that the fossil fuel industry is deeply ingrained in our economy, many of us are unwilling to "rediscover" and convert to any of the previous methods of generating power.
The writings of Herodotus record the fact tahat "rock oil" (petroleum) was being used for various purposes including lamp lighting in the 5th centruy BC, and probably it was used before that too.
At the start of the Industrial Revolution, around 1750, coal was discovered. It was this discovery that kick started the Industrial Revolution because people realised that burning coal released a lot of energy. Factories started springing up powered with steam engines and driving machinery with spinning belts. Later oil and natural gas were also discovered but coal was the key.
Coal was the first of the fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) to be discovered, as some coal seams are close to the surface of the earth. There is evidence of simple surface coal mining in China from about 3500 BC.
There is evidence that the Romans, Greeks and Aztecs also burned coal. Around the 13th and 14th Century coal was beginning to be used for heating in some parts of Britain, especially on the coast, where coal seams were sometimes visible, and also in places where wood for fuel was in short supply.
However, it was not till the Industrial Revolution, 200 years ago, that we seriously began burning coal to run the engines of the early mills and factories. When oil and then natural gas was discovered that gave a great boost to transport and electricity generation.
It was not known at the time that carbon dioxide was a powerful greenhouse gas that would gradually build up in the earth's atmosphere causing global warming.
Hundreds of Millions of Years of Sedimentation: found now at the Surface of Earth as well as Five Miles Down. Sediments yield Coal while Extreme Sediments result in Oil.
Coal is a fossil fuel that has been used since fire was discovered. Let's say since 10,000 b.c.
The first use of coal was probably in China. Copper has been found in northeastern China near Fu-shun dating back 3000 years which must have been smelted by fire.
industrial revolution
in 1901.
Burning fossil fuels adds Carbon Dioxide and other chemicals into the atmosphere and when that happens the earths atmospheres heats up and then temperatures rise, which will start to kill the plants and animals on our planet
Oil...
Rubbish did not start global warming. Global warming began when we discovered and began burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), which releases the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2). Fortunately, the burning of rubbish doesn't really occur and hasn't for decades.
Benefits: Mostly everything we use in the world needs fossil fuels. Gasoline for cars, energy for light, etc. The world has used it for many years and is still using it.Limitations: Fossil fuels will run out eventually, so if we do not start using renewable energy we could be in BIG trouble! Fossil fuels also harm the planet. It adds too much carbon dioxide to the ozone. Fossil fuels also harm the plants and animals in the planet too.
When fossil fuels run out we will have to do without cars (unless they run on an alternative,) cold houses, and we will be forced to use different things to start fires and eventually the human race will be fighting for whatever is left.
Fossil fuels are a source of chemical energy. Chemically conbining the hydrocarbons in fossil fuels with air is combustion and primarily produces carbon dioxide and water. (There are many more details of the chemistry of the specific fossil fuels and many other results of their combustion besides the predominant gasses of water and carbon dioxide.)
You need to get the reaction above its activation energy before it will start.
Burning fossil fuels adds Carbon Dioxide and other chemicals into the atmosphere and when that happens the earths atmospheres heats up and then temperatures rise, which will start to kill the plants and animals on our planet
Oil...
Because fossil fuels are made of dead plants and animals and it takes millions of years to form and we use them to much and fast and we start to run out
250 years ago we seriously began burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). This was the start of the Industrial Revolution, and the beginning of Global warming.
because fossil fuels may finish after a certain time and then the county will have to start all over again and find other energy sources and this may heavily affect the people over the country as they might not get to use them for sometime
Rubbish did not start global warming. Global warming began when we discovered and began burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), which releases the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2). Fortunately, the burning of rubbish doesn't really occur and hasn't for decades.
Benefits: Mostly everything we use in the world needs fossil fuels. Gasoline for cars, energy for light, etc. The world has used it for many years and is still using it.Limitations: Fossil fuels will run out eventually, so if we do not start using renewable energy we could be in BIG trouble! Fossil fuels also harm the planet. It adds too much carbon dioxide to the ozone. Fossil fuels also harm the plants and animals in the planet too.
When fossil fuels run out we will have to do without cars (unless they run on an alternative,) cold houses, and we will be forced to use different things to start fires and eventually the human race will be fighting for whatever is left.
In simple terms.... education ! People need to be made to realise that fossil fuels WILL run out ! That will force people to use alternative energy sources. Better to start now - than wait until there is no way back !
Every time you start your car, use electricity and heat your house you utilize fossil fuels.