Natural resources: substances that come from Earth

EXAMPLES Metals (ex. Gold & copper) for

jewelry, coins, construction, etc Nonmetals (ex. Halite & graphite) for

food, pencil lead, jewelry, glass Fossil Fuels (coal, petroleum) for

heating, power plants, fuels, medicines, plastics

Scarcity- As demand increases, supply can decrease, depending on the availability of the item

This can cause an increase in prices

Recycling is a way to meet our needs and save resources while reducing the amount of trash that must be disposed of

Renewable resources: can be replaced after they have been used

Examples: trees and, in general, freshwater (excludes desert areas)

Nonrenewable resources: after they are used, they cannot be replaced for millions of years if at all

The resource may be used faster than it is replaced

Examples: gold and copper, iron, aluminum, and fossil fuels

Fossil Fuels: coal, oil and natural gas, which were formed millions of years ago from the remains of ancient organisms

Scientists estimate that we will run out of coal within 200 years

Alternative Energy Sources: other sources of energy to replace fossil fuels

Solar energy: Pros:a.plentiful b.provide heat, hot water and

generate electricity Cons:a.amount of sun varies with the time of

day and seasonsb.more expensive than fossil fuels

Geothermal energy: comes from heat within Earth that can be used to generate electricity and produce heat and hot water

Problems: it’s only available in certain areas such as northern California and Iceland

Wind Turbines: Uses energy from the wind to make electricity

Problem: only makes sense in areas where there are strong, steady winds.

Hydroelectric power: Captures the energy from flowing water

Problems: dams may break or cause backup flooding

Nuclear energy: generates electricity without causing air pollution

Cons: a.extremely dangerousb.need for long-term storage of

radioactive wastes. c.Might be a target or radioactive

resource for terrorists