The chemical energy was stored in the fossil fuel millions of years ago when the Sun's energy was used in photosynthesis to separate carbon and oxygen atoms from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The carbon was used by the plants to form tissues while the oxygen was released into the air.
It's this energy that is released by the formation of carbon-oxygen atomic bonds as carbon dioxide is generated when the fuel is burned.
Chat with our AI personalities
The chemical potential energy stored in the fossil fuel is converted to thermal energy when burned. The thermal energy is then converted to kinetic energy as it causes the molecules in the engine to move and produce mechanical work.
Potential
Chemical energy from organic matter is stored in fossil fuels. When burned, this energy is released in the form of heat, which is converted into kinetic energy to produce electricity or power engines, for example.
Fossil fuels represent chemical energy, a form of potential energy. This energy was stored in the hydrocarbon molecules and can be released by oxidation (burning).
Fossil fuels represent chemical energy, a form of potential energy. This energy was stored in the hydrocarbon molecules and can be released by oxidation (burning).
When a fossil fuel is burned, chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into thermal energy, which raises the temperature of a working fluid (such as water or air) to produce steam or hot gas. The thermal energy then drives a turbine, converting it into kinetic energy in the form of rotational motion.