Book 22, Question 92
Why Do Liquid Fuels Pack So Much Energy?
A little liquid fuel can carry a huge amount of energy. Think of how far a tank of gasoline can take a car. One gallon of gasoline holds about as much energy as a hundred-watt bulb uses in two weeks.
More fun facts
- Gasoline and diesel are both made from crude oil.
- Gasoline is made of molecules with about 4 to 12 carbon atoms, while diesel molecules have about 8 to 25.
- A gallon of diesel holds about 113 percent of the energy in a gallon of gasoline, because diesel is more energy dense.
- A gallon of propane holds only about 73 percent of the energy in a gallon of gasoline.
- A gallon of pure ethanol holds about 67 percent of the energy in a gallon of gasoline.
- Natural gas is so spread out that about 124 cubic feet of it holds the same energy as one gallon of gasoline.
- One kilogram of hydrogen gas has about the same energy as one gallon of gasoline.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy
Questions kids ask
How much electricity equals a gallon of gasoline?
One kilowatt hour of electricity equals about 0.03 gallons of gasoline, so a gallon is worth about 33 kilowatt hours.