Problem
A. Explain, in terms of basic chemistry, why natural gas produces less per unit of energy generated than other fossil fuels?
B. Fossil fuels are continually forming, even today. So should we consider coal, oil, and natural gas to be renewable energy sources? Explain.
C. Explain how combined-cycle power plants manage to achieve high thermodynamic efficiency.
D. Why can't a clever engineer design a heat engine with 100% efficiency?
E. What's the difference between fossil fuel reserves and resources?
F. How is it possible for oil reserves to increase without the discovery of any new oil fields?
G. Why might the finite reserves of fossil fuels be less of an issue than a straightforward calculation of the time until we run out of fuel would suggest?