Natural Resources Lesson 4  pp

Natural Resource Something in nature that is valuable to people Used to make food, energy, and raw materials for products

1) Biological Resources A natural resource that IS or WAS living. –Most important kind because used mainly for FOOD –EXAMPLES TREES –Produce oxygen, absorb pollution, maple syrup, cook, heat, furniture, homes PLANTS (food) ANIMALS (food) SOIL (food) –DEPEND on other natural resources Ex: most plants & animals cannot live without air, sunshine, and water

2) Mineral & Fuel Resources Mineral – natural resource found in rocks, (the solid material from which Earth is made) Any substance taken from Earth and used by people –100 common –People use to make products Ex: use graphite to make pencils, fertilizers, cement, chemicals

EXAMPLES of minerals Fossil Fuels – a natural resource used to provide heat and other energy –EX: coal, natural gas, petroleum –USAGE Provide heat/energy –Cook, heat buildings, power machines Make products –Paint, aspirin, carpets, plastic products

RENEWABLE resource CAN be made again by nature or by people in a practical amount of time EXAMPLES –Fresh water (water cycle) –Soil (weathering) –Trees (if replanted)

How can renewable resources be made again? By the water cycle By nature – when trees, animals, and plants die, they renew the soil by adding nourishing substances By people – by planting trees

NONRENEWABLE resources One that takes too long to replace or cannot be replaced at all SCARCE – limited –Example: if people use fresh water faster than water cycle replaces it CONSERVATION – actions people can take to save natural resources –Example: planting new trees to replace ones cut down Using less water to allow the water cycle to recover RECYCLING – process designed to recover or reuse materials instead of throwing them away –Ex: aluminum and steel cans, paper/newspapers, glass & plastic containers

NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES Fossil fuels are nonrenewable.

How do we protect natural resources? Conservation Recycling Using solar energy to heat homes and water Planting new trees to replace those cut down

Review Questions Write & answer in notes (individually) 1)How do people use biological resources? 2)How do people use mineral and fossil fuel resources? 3)Why is it important to use natural resources wisely?

Answers 1) Trees provide wood for building, heating, and cooking. People use plants and animals for food. 2) Minerals can be used to make products; fossil fuels can be used to cook food, heat buildings, and power machines. 3) Some natural resources take a long time to replace or cannot be replaced at all.

Using Old Resources in New Ways I)Sun (solar power) A)Heat B)Provide hot water (bathe, clean) C)Generate electricity D)Its clean – little pollution

Using Old Resources in New Ways (continued) II)Wind (clean) I)Gather winds II)Send wind into turbines III)Produces electricity IV)Unreliable / Unavailable in some areas

Using Old Resources in New Ways (continued) II)Tidal energy (from water - clean) I)Energy of water as it flows – high to low tides II)Disadvantage – dams can be built in only few places III)Generates electricity

Why do natural resources matter? We cannot live without water. If a group lacks a resource, it must trade with other groups to get that resource. If there are not enough resources in an area, people may destroy a piece of the area to get all of the resource until it is no longer available. Thus, plants and/or animals can become extinct.