WORLD RESOURCES4-1

I. Natural Resources

*materials in the natural environment that people value and use to satisfy their needs

A. Renewable resources – constantly being regenerated or replaced by the environment (soil, water, sun)

B. Nonrenewable resources – cannot be replaced once they have been used (minerals like fossil fuels – coal, oil, gas, gold)

*recycling & reduction of consumption can help the problems with nonrenewable resources

II. Energy Sources

A. Fossil Fuels – coal, oil, and gas which are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals 1. most important and heavily used energy 2. some countries have their own supplies,

others have to import fossil fuels 3. oil and natural gas are unevenly spread

throughout the world 4. if oil continues to be used the way it is

today, it is expected to run out in less than 100 years

B. Nuclear Energy – produced by fission (the splitting of uranium atoms in a nuclear reactor)

C. Water Power – uses the energy of falling water to move machinery or generate electricity (ex. Dams)

D. Wind Power – uses the energy of the wind to create electricity

E. Geothermal Energy – energy that comes from the earth’s internal heat (magma heats water and produces steam)

F. Solar Energy – energy produced by the sun