WORLD RESOURCES 4 1 I Natural Resources materials

WORLD RESOURCES 4 -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