“Burning of fossil fuels results in global warming”. Give reasons to justify this statement.
“Burning of fossil fuels results in global warming”. Give reasons to justify this statement.
Official answer
Burning of fossil fuels (like coal and petroleum) releases large quantities of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide (), into the atmosphere.
These greenhouse gases trap the solar infrared radiation reflected from the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space (the greenhouse effect). This trapped heat leads to a progressive rise in the Earth's average atmospheric temperature, resulting in global warming.
Marking scheme
- 1.Mentioning the release of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide (), upon burning fossil fuels. (0.5 marks)
- 2.Explaining that these gases trap heat/solar radiation (greenhouse effect), leading to an increase in global temperature. (0.5 marks)
Hint
Identify the main gas released during combustion of carbon-based fuels and how it interacts with solar radiation.
Quick oral answer
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (), which is a greenhouse gas. It traps heat in the atmosphere instead of letting it escape into space, causing the Earth's temperature to rise, known as global warming.
Common mistakes
- 1.Confusing global warming with ozone layer depletion. Ozone depletion is caused by CFCs, whereas global warming is caused by greenhouse gases like .
- 2.Not mentioning the specific gas () responsible for trapping heat.
Analysis and explanation
Fossil fuels are rich in carbon. When they undergo combustion, carbon reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (). acts as a greenhouse gas. Under normal conditions, the greenhouse effect keeps our planet warm enough to sustain life. However, excessive burning of fossil fuels artificially inflates the concentration of , trapping excess thermal energy and causing global temperatures to rise, which disrupts global weather patterns and ecosystems.
Interesting facts
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are higher today than at any point in at least the past 800,000 years, primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels.
Question details
Q3 of 31 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 10
- Subject
- Science
- Year
- 2016
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- Very Short Answer
- Chapter
- Our Environment
- Topic
- Human Activities and Environmental Degradation
- Bloom's level
- Understanding
- Syllabus topic
- Environmental problems, waste production and their solutions.
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Frequently asked questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2016?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Our Environment" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Human Activities and Environmental Degradation" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 paper?
This is a Very Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 paper.