A. What is coal used for? (What is the difference between energy and electricity?)
B. What is natural gas used for?
A. Coal is primarily used as a fuel source for generating electricity. It is burned in power plants to produce heat, which is then used to generate steam. The steam drives turbines that produce electricity. In addition to electricity generation, coal can also be used as a heat source in industrial processes, such as steel production.
The difference between energy and electricity is that energy is a more general term that encompasses various forms, including electricity. Energy refers to the ability to do work or the capacity to cause change. It can exist in different forms such as thermal energy, kinetic energy (energy of motion), chemical energy, etc. Electricity, on the other hand, is a specific form of energy that involves the flow of electric charge, typically through conductive materials like wires.
B. Natural gas is primarily used as a fuel for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It is a versatile fossil fuel that can be used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. In residential and commercial settings, natural gas is commonly used for heating buildings, running furnaces, water heaters, stoves, ovens, and other appliances. It is also used as a fuel for vehicles, especially in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. Moreover, natural gas is increasingly being used to generate electricity. Like coal, it can be burned in power plants to produce heat, which is then used to generate steam, driving turbines that produce electricity. Natural gas is considered a cleaner alternative to coal in terms of emissions.