Many people all over the world use wood for burning. Wood is a source of energy. When it burns, it gives out heat and light. People collect wood and use it to cook their food and to keep warm.
This meal is being cooked on a wood fire.
In some places people cook food in a pot balanced over the flames of an open fire. As wood burns, it gives off smoke and grows smaller until all that is left is a grey ash. Wood smoke can pollute the air. To reduce this pollution, it is better to burn dry hardwood as it gives off less smoke than ‘green’ wood.
This wood is being changed into charcoal.
Charcoal is made from wood that has been partly burnt. It is made by burning wood very slowly. After a few days, the wood turns into black charcoal. Charcoal can be used to draw with and is used as fuel. People use charcoal to cook on barbecues.
This car uses a fuel that can be made from wood.
Wood can be used to make a fuel called wood alcohol, or methanol. Methanol fuel is used to run cars and is even used by the racing cars in the Indianapolis 500 speedway races. Cars that use methanol fuel are cleaner and produce less pollution.
