is any Combustible matter used to maintain fire, such as Coal , Wood , Oil , or Natural Gas , in order to create heat or power. Fuel releases its energy either through chemical means, such as Combustion , or nuclear means, such as Nuclear Fission or Nuclear Fusion . An important property of a useful fuel is that its energy can be stored to be released only when needed, and that the release is controlled in such a way that the energy can be harnessed to produce Work .
All Carbon-based Life forms—from Microorganism s to Animal s and Human s—depend on and use fuels as their source of energy. Their Cell s engage in an Enzyme -mediated chemical process called '' Metabolism '' that converts energy from Food or solar power into a form that can be used to sustain life. "Metabolism," ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'', retrieved August 17, 2006. Additionally, humans employ a variety of techniques to convert one form of energy into another, producing usable energy for purposes that go far beyond the energy needs of a Human Body . The application of energy released from fuels ranges from Heat to Cooking and from powering Weapon s to Combustion and generation of Electricity .
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