Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
What makes a natural resource renewable?
It can be naturally replaced or replenished in a relatively short time.
What type of energy uses sunlight to produce electricity?
Solar energy.
What type of pollution can be caused by burning gasoline?
Air pollution.
What is the practice of protecting and using natural resources wisely called?
Conservation.
A student places a solar-powered calculator near a sunny window. What natural resource provides the calculator with energy?
Sunlight
Is natural gas a renewable or nonrenewable resource?
Nonrenewable
What natural resource is used to turn the blades of a wind turbine?
Wind.
How can using solar panels instead of burning coal help the environment?
Solar panels generate electricity without releasing air pollution while operating.
A student washes a plastic water bottle and uses it again the next day. Is this reusing or recycling?
Reusing
A family wants electricity from a renewable energy source that can produce power during the day or night when conditions are right. What energy source could they use?
Wind Energy
Name three fossil fuels used to produce energy.
Coal, oil, and natural gas.
What type of energy comes from heat beneath Earth's surface?
Geothermal energy.
Why might building a hydroelectric dam negatively affect animals living nearby?
It can change water flow, block fish movement, and disrupt animal habitats.
Old aluminum cans are melted down and turned into new cans. What process does this describe?
Recycling
A factory turns plant materials into fuel that can be used for energy. What process is the factory using?
Biomass
Why are fossil fuels considered nonrenewable even though they form naturally?
They take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced as quickly as we use them.
A power plant uses water flowing through a dam to turn turbines. What type of energy is produced?
Hydroelectric energy (hydroelectricity)
A city has thousands of cars powered by gasoline and diesel. What environmental problem will most likely increase?
Air pollution from carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.
Why does turning off lights when leaving a room help conserve natural resources?
It reduces electricity use and the resources needed to produce electricity.
Two buses travel the same route. Bus A uses diesel fuel, while Bus B runs on electricity produced by wind turbines. Which bus is likely to cause less air pollution overall, and why?
Bus B, because wind-generated electricity produces very little air pollution during operation.
A community wants to stop depending on energy resources that will eventually run out. Name two renewable energy sources it could use instead of coal.
Any two: solar, wind, hydroelectric, or geothermal energy.
A farm collects leftover crops and animal waste to produce fuel. What type of energy is being produced, and what process is used?
Biomass energy through biomass conversion.
A hybrid vehicle uses battery power at low speeds and gasoline at higher speeds. Explain one positive and one negative environmental effect of this vehicle.
Positive: It can reduce gasoline use and emissions at low speeds. Negative: It still burns gasoline and releases harmful gases at higher speeds.
A school wants to reduce waste and conserve resources. Give one example of reusing, one example of recycling, and one example of conserving energy.
Reusing a folder, recycling paper, and turning off unnecessary lights.
A town must choose between building a coal-burning power plant and installing wind turbines. Explain one environmental advantage and one disadvantage of using wind turbines.
Advantage: Wind turbines produce electricity without burning fossil fuels. Disadvantage: They depend on wind conditions and can affect birds or animal habitats.