Renewable, Nonrenewable, and Inexhaustible Natural Resources

Transcription

1 Renewable, Nonrenewable, and Inexhaustible Natural Resources

2 NATURAL RESOURCES

3 #1 Joe s Chillin glass from sand Look at how much of Joe s home environment depends on things made from nature cloth from cotton plastic from petroleum H 2 O from lake steel from ground wood from tree Leather from cow bear EVERYthing! Even the things we consider to be man made are just made from substances found in nature.

4 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. #2 Write it! (write your name) Notes Natural Resources I. Natural Resources materials and substances we use from Earth 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

5 #3 Nonrenewable Resources Think about all those ancient times long before humans were around and like everything else, all those things died.

6 #4 And when their bodies didn t completely decompose? And then we show up MILLIONS of years later to collect and use these fossil fuels. 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

7 #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.

8 #6 And as they re used??? they release tons and tons of ollution and harmful greenhouse ases into our atmosphere. his dirties our air and contributes to global warming.

9 #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 ANYtime 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.

10 #8 Write It! Notes Natural Resources I. Natural Resources materials and substances 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.

11 #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. Thermal energy boils water. Nuclear energy released as atoms split, becoming Mechanical energy becomes electrical energy as magnet inside a generator spins. Kinetic energy of moving steam becomes mechanical energy of spinning turbine fan. Finally, that electrical energy is available for public use.

12 #10 Write It! 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. Notes Natural Resources I. Natural Resources materials and substances 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 ii. Nuclear Power uranium will someday run out

13 #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.

14 #12 It s pretty easy, so let s write it. Hmm what do those examples you just wrote have in common? 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 ii. Nuclear Power uranium will someday run out They sure are in a state of dangerous balance B. Renewable Resources can be replaced as on Earth. Just a few bad decisions could lead quickly as it is used. to a drastic shortage of ex: lumber, crops & livestock, biomass any of these, and that is happening in many parts of (fuel coming from plants & animals) the world. You may just not be aware of that because of our Texas riches.

15 #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 Mechanical energy becomes electrical energy in generator. Potential energy builds. Potential energy becomes kinetic energy as water falls. Kinetic energy becomes mechanical energy of a spinning turbine fan.

16 #14 Let s write it! 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. B. Renewable Resources can be replaced as quickly as it is used. ex: lumber, crops & livestock, biomass (fuel coming from plants & animals) C. Inexhaustible Resources immediately replaced & will not run out ex: hydroelectric power i. Alternative Resources cleaner choices than fossil fuels Let s see

17 #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.

18 #16 Write it! B. Renewable Resources can be replaced as quickly as it is used. ex: lumber, crops & livestock, biomass (fuel coming from plants & animals) 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

19 #17 What s the future hold? ith all the news and studies about global warming and pollution that have een done, count on more and more cleaner (alternative) energy sources to e used. e might not have very many good replacements for lumber, so while we use ood as much as we always have, we should maintain our forests so that uture generations have trees and the environment doesn t get as harmed. resh water is also something to consider. With more and more people on arth demanding fresh water to drink & use, we have to make sure we use it orrectly so that there s enough to go around. ut we re more aware now than anytime in the past about these issues and e re starting to see more and more people choosing green energy olutions and conserving energy and other resources. Recycling happens more han ever, and people are more aware of their effect on the environment.

20 #18 Future trends Cars that Alternative are hybrids energy or run proving on to be a cost-effective way of non-gasoline conserving power. our resources and taking care of our planet. Homes that are increasingly energy-efficient. Recycling continuing to become daily habits, not new thinking.

21 #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.

22 #20 And That s