1 What Will Happen If All the Soil Is Washed Away?

Challenge 6

You are an African tribeswoman. Your people have always used wood as their fuel. A scientist has told you that trees are needed to keep the soil together and stop it being washed away in the rains. The scientist wants you to use waste to make methane and burn that.

1 What will happen if all the soil is washed away?

2 What would be the problems of using methane instead of wood?

Challenge 7

You have moved into an old, isolated house that has no boiler or central heating. The local people tell you stories about how the electricity supply to the houses can be cut off for days after a storm. There is no natural gas supply to the house, because it is so isolated. You are going to install a boiler and central heating.

1 Why is electricity a poor choice for heating this house?

2 Which fuels are used to heat water in houses?

3 Which of these fuels could be piped into the boiler?

4 Which of these fuels would be tipped or shovelled into the boiler?

5 Which of these fuels is the cleanest? Give your reasons.

6 Which fuel would you use to heat the isolated, old house? Explain your decision.

Challenge 8

You design caravans and motor homes. A modern caravan or motor home has lots of appliances, including a cooker. You want the cooker to work everywhere, even if there is no electricity or natural gas supply.

1 What fuels are used in cookers?

2 What fuel would you choose for this cooker?

3 Explain why you chose this fuel rather than any of the others.

Challenge 9

You live in northern Finland. During the winter, it is very cold. You are buying a new car.

1 Which fuels can be used in cars?

2 Which of these fuels would you choose for a car in northern Finland?

3 Explain why you chose this fuel and rejected the others.

This worksheet may have been altered from the original on the CD-ROM.