Natural Resources ©Weston, 2009 NATURAL RESOURCES.

Natural Resources

©Weston, 2009

NATURAL RESOURCES

#1 Joe’s Chillin’

Look at how muchof Joe’s homeenvironment dependson things madefrom nature…

Leather from cow

wood from tree

cloth from cotton

H2O from lake

glass from sand

plastic frompetroleum

bear

steel from ground

EVERYthing! Even the things we considerto 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 asa 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 weplease. In fact, some resources are runningout.

#3 Nonrenewable ResourcesThink 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 otherfactors squish and change these dead organisms…

Coal deposits fromancient trees

Petroleum and natural gasfrom ancient organisms

And then we show up MILLIONSof years later to collect and usethese fossil fuels.

#5 How are fossil fuels used?

Coal is mostlyused to provideheat & electricity.

Most petroleum is used to make gasoline & fuels.

Natural gases, likepropane, methane, andbutane, are used asfuels, especially to provide heat.

#6 And as they’re used…???

…they release tons and tons ofpollution and harmful greenhousegases 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 verylong time before we discovered and beganusing their remains. However, once you’veburned some coal or used some petroleumin your minivan, it cannot be replaced ANY-time soon.

We call these kinds of resources, like fossil fuels, nonrenewable. You usethem, but there’s no realistic way to replace or replenish them in a shortamount of time.

#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 reasonableamount of time.i. Fossil Fuels – remains of ancient organisms ex: coal, petroleum, natural gas

Nonrenewable resources do tend to pollute, but they dohave 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 afairly abundant metal in the Earth, uranium, could be used torelease the power of nuclear energy.

Nuclear energyreleased as atomssplit, becoming…

Thermal energyboils water.

Kinetic energyof moving steambecomes mechanical energy of spinning turbine fan.

Mechanical energy becomeselectrical energy as magnetinside a generator spins.

Finally, that electrical energyis available for public use.

#10 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 reasonableamount of time.i. Fossil Fuels – remains of ancient organisms ex: coal, petroleum, natural gas

ii. Nuclear Power – uranium will somedayrun out

Nuclear power doesn’t pollute theair like burning fossil fuels. However,the waste leftoverfrom the uranium isradioactive and mustbe disposed offar away from wherepeople might ever comein contact with it.

#11 Resources that CAN be replaced?

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

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

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

A. Nonrenewable Resources – once used,they cannot be replaced in a reasonableamount of time.i. Fossil Fuels – remains of ancient organisms ex: coal, petroleum, natural gas

ii. Nuclear Power – uranium will somedayrun 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 thoseexamples you just wrotehave in common?

They sure are in a stateof dangerous balanceon Earth. Just a fewbad decisions could leadto a drastic shortage ofany of these, and that ishappening in many parts ofthe 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 aninexhaustible resource.

A stream is dammed…

Potential energybuilds.

Potential energybecomes kineticenergy as waterfalls.

Kinetic energy becomes mechanical energyof a spinning turbine fan.

Mechanical energy becomeselectrical energy in generator.

#14 Let’s 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

But there aremany otherresources thatwe are starting touse that are clean,safe, and inex-haustible. Wecall these “alternativeresources” becausethey are goodalternatives tofossil fuels and other more limited resources.

i. Alternative Resources – cleaner choicesthan fossil fuels

Let’s see…

#15 Here’s a couple

The kinetic energy ofthe wind becomesmechanical energy ofthe spinning blades.

A generator thenmakes electricity.

Clean, with only a little noise as pollution.

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

Clean, with no pollution. Wow.

#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 poweri. 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 havebeen done, count on more and more cleaner (alternative) energy sources tobe 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 onEarth demanding fresh water to drink & use, we have to make sure we use itcorrectly 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 trendsCars that are hybrids or run onnon-gasoline power.

Homes that are increasinglyenergy-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 CANpractice the three Rs of conservation. Reduce your energy use and waste.Reuse products instead of throwing them away immediately. Recycle anyproduct that you can.

If each person made the 3 Rs a part of their daily habits, it’s pretty likely thatit would add up to make a BIG difference all over the world.

#20 And That’s…