renewable, nonrenewable, and inexhaustible...

Renewable, Nonrenewable, and Inexhaustible Natural Resources

NATURAL RESOURCES

#1 Joe’s Chillin’

Look at how much of Joe’s home environment depends on things made from nature…

Leather from cow

wood from tree

cloth from cotton

H2O from lake

glass from sand

plastic from petroleum

bear

steel from ground

EVERYthing! Even the things we consider to be “man made” are just made from substances found in nature.

#2 Write it!

Notes – Natural Resources I. Natural Resources – materials and substances

we use from Earth

(write your name)

So, yes…pretty most of what you use can be thought of as a natural resource (or coming from a natural resource).

•Aluminum •Water •Sugar and/or high-fructose corn syrup •All those other not-so-good-for-you chemicals All of these things don’t just magically “appear” in a factory for us to use as we please. In fact, some resources are running out.

#3 Nonrenewable Resources

Think about all those ancient times long before humans were around…

…and like everything else, all those things died.

#4 And when their bodies didn’t completely decompose?

Millions of years of pressure from the weight of rocks and earth around them, combined with some heat from the Earth and other factors squish and change these dead organisms…

Coal deposits from ancient trees

Petroleum and natural gas from ancient organisms

And then we show up MILLIONS of years later to collect and use these fossil fuels.

#5 How are fossil fuels used?

Coal is mostly used to provide heat & electricity.

Most petroleum is used to make gasoline & fuels.

Natural gases, like propane, methane, and butane, are used as fuels, especially to provide heat.

#6 And as they’re used…???

…they release tons and tons of pollution and harmful greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. This dirties our air and contributes to global warming.

#7 If it takes millions and millions of years to make fossil fuels…

…then shouldn’t we run out as we use it?

Someday, we WILL run out of fossil fuels. Ancient trees and creatures lived for a very long time before we discovered and began using their remains. However, once you’ve burned some coal or used some petroleum in your minivan, it cannot be replaced ANY- time soon. We call these kinds of resources, like fossil fuels, nonrenewable. You use them, but there’s no realistic way to replace or replenish them in a short amount of time.

#8 Write It!


we use from Earth

A. Nonrenewable Resources – once used,

they cannot be replaced in a reasonable

amount of time.

i. Fossil Fuels – remains of ancient

organisms ex: coal, petroleum, natural gas

Nonrenewable resources do tend to pollute, but they do have their advantages. They’re (for now) abundant, cheap, and easy enough to use. Remember, like most things in life, it’s MONEY that matters most when societies make important decisions like what types of resources they’ll use.

cheap

#9 Another Nonrenewable Resource

To make a very long story short, scientists discovered that a fairly abundant metal in the Earth, uranium, could be used to release the power of nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy released as atoms split, becoming…

Thermal energy boils water.

Kinetic energy of moving steam becomes mechanical energy of spinning turbine fan.

Mechanical energy becomes electrical energy as magnet inside a generator spins.

Finally, that electrical energy is available for public use.

#10 Write It!


we use from Earth



amount of time.



ii. Nuclear Power – uranium will someday

run out

Nuclear power doesn’t pollute the air like burning fossil fuels. However, the waste leftover from the uranium is radioactive and must be disposed of far away from where people might ever come in contact with it.

#11 Resources that CAN be replaced?

If they CAN be replaced as fast as they’re used (or reasonably so), then we call them renewable resources.

Imagine what life would be like without trees and the products that come from them.

#12 It’s pretty easy, so let’s write it.



amount of time.



ii. Nuclear Power – uranium will someday

run out

B. Renewable Resources – can be replaced as

quickly as it is used.

ex: lumber, crops & livestock, biomass

(fuel coming from plants & animals)

Hmm…what do those examples you just wrote have in common? They sure are in a state of dangerous balance on Earth. Just a few bad decisions could lead to a drastic shortage of any of these, and that is happening in many parts of the world. You may just not be aware of that because of our Texas riches.

#13 Resources we (probably) don’t have to worry about.

Doesn’t that sound nice? And it’s probably a shame we don’t use more of these resources, but it sure looks like momentum is building to take us there.

Hydroelectric power is usually considered to be an example of an inexhaustible resource.

A stream is dammed…

Potential energy builds.

Potential energy becomes kinetic energy as water falls.

Kinetic energy becomes mechanical energy of a spinning turbine fan.

Mechanical energy becomes electrical energy in generator.

#14 Let’s write it!





C. Inexhaustible Resources – immediately

replaced & will not run out

ex: hydroelectric power

But there are many other resources that we are starting to use that are clean, safe, and inexhaustible. We call these “alternative resources” because they are good alternatives to fossil fuels and other more limited resources.

i. Alternative Resources – cleaner choices

than fossil fuels

Let’s see…

#15 Here’s a couple

The kinetic energy of the wind becomes mechanical energy of the spinning blades. A generator then makes electricity. Clean, with only a little noise as pollution.

Solar panels use photovoltaic cells (means light to electricity) to convert radiant energy into electrical energy.

Clean, with no pollution. Wow.

#16 Write it!





C. Inexhaustible Resources – immediately

replaced & will not run out

ex: hydroelectric power

i. Alternative Resources – cleaner choices

than fossil fuels

•Wind power

•Solar power

•Geothermal power

#17 What’s the future hold?

With all the news and studies about global warming and pollution that have been done, count on more and more cleaner (alternative) energy sources to be used. We might not have very many good replacements for lumber, so while we use wood as much as we always have, we should maintain our forests so that future generations have trees and the environment doesn’t get as harmed. Fresh water is also something to consider. With more and more people on Earth demanding fresh water to drink & use, we have to make sure we use it correctly so that there’s enough to go around. But we’re more aware now than anytime in the past about these issues and we’re starting to see more and more people choosing “green” energy solutions and conserving energy and other resources. Recycling happens more than ever, and people are more aware of their effect on the environment.

#18 Future trends Cars that are hybrids or run on non-gasoline power.

Homes that are increasingly energy-efficient.

Recycling continuing to become daily habits, not “new” thinking.

Alternative energy proving to be a cost-effective way of conserving our resources and taking care of our planet.

#19 What can/should you do?

It’s not my job to tell you what kind of car you should buy in the future…

13 miles per gallon Electric car equivalent of 100+ mpg

That’s your choice based on your needs and priorities. However, you CAN practice the three Rs of conservation. Reduce your energy use and waste. Reuse products instead of throwing them away immediately. Recycle any product that you can. If each person made the 3 Rs a part of their daily habits, it’s pretty likely that it would add up to make a BIG difference all over the world.

#20 And That’s…

renewable, nonrenewable, and inexhaustible...

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