Natural Resources and World Classifications of Economies Natural

Natural Resources and World Classifications of Economies

Natural Resources Elements from the Earth that are not made by people but can be used by them.

Renewable Resources A natural resources which can never be used up or can be replaced naturally or grown again in a relatively short amount of time

Nonrenewable Resources A natural resources which can not be replaced, such as minerals and fossils fuels.

Fossils Fuels Coal Oil Natural Gas

USA Energy Sources

Fossil Fuels & Energy Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas -- currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels.

Advantages of Fossil Fuels Our society is built around fossils fuel It is relatively inexpensive (compared to other energy sources) It is what we know

Disadvantages of Fossils Fuels Release of the greenhouse gas- carbon dioxide- when burned. Environmental damaged in the retrieval (mines, etc). Pollution- Acid rain and water pollution Natural security costs- protecting foreign sources of oil Very dependent on one form of energy Will run out eventually

CARS! Cars are the main consumers of energy in America Over 70 percent of the fossil fuels used in America go to cars and other forms of transportation This is primarily in the form of Gasoline What other sources of energy can cars use for fuel?

Other Fuel Sources Electric-Cars use electricity (some use gas as a hybrid fuel source) by plugging in to an outlet like an other appliance Natural Gas-Compressed natural gas, similar to that used to heat homes Biofuel-Fuels made from plant/animal sources, such as ethanol (corn based), algal fuel, and lard fuels Hydrogen-Purer gas than CNG, uses fuel cells instead of gas tanks Maybe even…Salt water?

Pros and Cons of Other Fuels Why not just use other fuels in our cars?

Gasoline has been Why Gasoline? How much power? used for over 110 years to power our vehicles It is easy to make and use, and almost all our engines are designed to use it It generates a lot of power compared to other fuels

Why NOT Gasoline? Gasoline is a Non-renewable resource Other fuels burn cleaner than gas Hydrogen cells only release water, electric cars don’t have emissions (from the car, at least) They can be renewable Electricity can be generated by wave generators, solar power, etc.

The Biggest Drawback… Non-gasoline cars are a little… …Ugly.

Renewable Energy Resources Hydroelectric Power Solar Power Wind Power Nuclear Power

Hydroelectric Using water to make power- dams 7% of US energy and 19% of world energy Advantages- renewable, not much pollution, reliable Disadvantages- expensive to put into place (dams), floods areas of land with water (Glen Canyon), could cause disruptions to habitats

Solar Energy Collect energy from the sun Advantages- Inexhaustible fuel source, No pollution Disadvantages-expensive, large numbers of solar panels (and thus large land areas) are required to produce useful amounts of heat or electricity, Only areas of the world with lots of sunlight are suitable for solar power

Wind Power Collect energy from the wind (turbines) Advantages- Inexhaustible fuel source, No pollution Disadvantages-expensive, large numbers of turbines are required to produce useful amounts of heat or electricity, Only areas of the world with lots of wind are suitable for solar power

Nuclear Power Nuclear fission involves the splitting of a heavy element into lighter elements. Need deposits of uranium can successfully operate a fission power plant. Advantages- Relatively little fuel is needed (uranium) , is not believed to contribute to global warming or other pollution effects associated with fossil fuel Disadvantages- Possibility of nuclear meltdown from uncontrolled reaction--leads to nuclear fallout with potentially harmful effects on civilians, waste products can be used to manufacture weapons, high initial cost because plant requires containment safeguards

Nuclear Power

Are natural resources spread evenly around the world? INSERT MAP FROM BOOK

What role does energy play in people’s lives? Utah’s average energy use

Why do people live by natural resources? Most Utahns live along the Wasatch Front mountain range. Why?