Materials
This type of resource includes materials like cotton, timber, and fresh water—formed without human intervention.
Natural Material
This tiny, negatively charged particle orbits the nucleus of an atom.
Electron
This type of rock forms when molten magma or lava cools and solidifies.
Igneous Rock
Energy always naturally flows this way between two objects, from the hotter one to the cooler one.
Hot to cold
This process glues sediments together to form sedimentary rock. An example is sand turning into sandstone as minerals act like natural “glue.”
Cementation
Because they can be engineered for durability, consistency, and strength, these materials—like plastics or synthetic rubber—are prized for high-performance uses.
Synthetic Materials
Located in the center of an atom, this part contains protons and neutrons.
Nucleus
These rocks are formed from layers of sediment that are compacted and cemented over time.
Sedimentary Rock
This type of reaction releases heat into the surroundings, like burning wood or a hand warmer.
Exothermic
This process squeezes sediments tightly together, helping form sedimentary rock. An example is how mud can become shale under pressure.
Compaction
Coal and petroleum are examples of this category of natural resources that take millions of years to form.
Non-renewable Resource
This positively charged particle determines the identity of an element and its position on the periodic table.
Proton
Heat and pressure can transform existing rocks into this type, without melting them completely.
Metaphoric Rocks
This type of reaction absorbs heat from the surroundings, such as ice melting or baking bread.
Endothermic
This process breaks down rocks into smaller pieces without moving them. Examples include acid rain wearing down limestone or tree roots cracking rocks.
Weathering
Because they are biodegradable and often require less energy to process, these resources are considered more environmentally friendly than their human-made counterparts.
Renewable Resource
To calculate this number, you add together the protons and neutrons in an atom.
Mass Number/Atomic Mass
This process breaks down rocks into smaller pieces, which can later form sedimentary rock.
Weathering
A hot cup of coffee cooling down is an example of this type of energy transfer process.
Exothermic
The from inside Earth and the from the Sun work together to power the rock cycle. This form of energy causes melting, weathering, and movement of rocks.
heat, energy
Why are fossil fuels like coal and oil found in some regions but not others?
Uneven Distribution
This number is equal to the number of protons in an atom and is used to identify the element.
Atomic Number
This process moves rock fragments and soil from one place to another, often by water, wind, or ice. An example is the way the Grand Canyon was shaped over millions of years.
Erosion
When chemical bonds break and absorb energy from the surroundings, the process is called this.
When an igneous rock is buried deep enough to recrystallize without melting, it transforms into this type of rock, and the texture and mineral alignment can reveal the direction of pressure it experienced.
Metamorphic Rock