Final answer:
The average American is responsible for consuming approximately 21.2 barrels of oil per year, showing the significant reliance on fossil fuels for energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average American is responsible for consuming energy equivalent to many barrels of oil per year. Given that the United States uses approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day with a population of about 330 million people, we can calculate this per capita consumption.
As one barrel of crude oil contains about 6.1 GJ of energy, which is 1,700 kWh, and since the U.S. consumes about 7 billion barrels per year, the individual consumption is substantial. To calculate how many barrels per person per year, divide the total yearly consumption by the population (7 billion barrels/year divided by 330 million people).
By dividing 7 billion by 330 million, we see that each person consumes about 21.2 barrels of oil per year. This figure reflects the vast amount of energy available for each person in the U.S. and underscores the heavy reliance on fossil fuels such as petroleum.