Vocabulary
Materials and substances found in nature—such as water, air, sunlight, soil, minerals, forests, and wildlife
Natural Resources
Which of the following is not considered a natural resource?
1. Lumber
2. Wind
3. Natural Gas
4. Water
Natural Gas
Coal-fired power plants accounts for about how much percent of the electricity in the United States?
1. 20%
2. 50 %
3. 25%
4. 30%
4. 30%
Engineers build this to restrict the natural flow of a river by controlling how much water passes through turbines.
Dams
Are humans more likely to use surface water or groundwater as a freshwater source? Why?
Surface water, because it is easier to get to, where groundwater can be difficult to obtain or not near where humans live.
A mineral deposit large enough and valuable enough for it to be extracted from the ground
Ore
Which type of renewable energy comes from underground?
Geothermal
Which fossil fuel is produced from the remains of peat?
Coal
Is wind power a practical source of renewable energy everywhere on Earth?
No, wind does not occur equally around the planet.
How does the type of rock in the Earth's crust affect the distribution of groundwater?
Porous rocks allow water to move through it and accumulate in the spaces whereas non-porous rock stops the movement of water.
A process that removes salt from sea water to make fresh water
Desalination
What is the biggest drawback of biofuel?
It takes about the same amount of energy to make as it produces.
To meet the demand for natural gas, pressured fluids are being shot into the ground to break up shale, what process has become popular?
Fracking
Different geological processes, materials, and conditions result in different kinds of minerals.
In what way does water scarcity harm the economic development of an area?
Without enough water, people cannot live and grow, use water for agriculture or industry.
The splitting of an atom's nucleus into two nuclei, which releases a great deal of energy
Nuclear Fission
Many minerals are formed from ___________________ as water evaporates.
Solutions
Name five renewable energy resources.
Solar, bioenergy, geothermal, wind, and hydropower.
How do humans rely on minerals in their lives?
What are the different sources of freshwater on Earth?
Glaciers, ice caps, groundwater, and surface water.
Energy-rich substance formed from the remains of organisms
Fossil Fuel
What is the most popular source of biomass energy?
Wood/Lumber
What is the biggest con/drawback of using biomasses as a main source of energy?
The energy it takes to produce these biofuels is often equal to or greater than the energy they give off.
What percentage of the distribution of the worlds freshwater is found in the ground as groundwater?
20%
Because most of it sank into the core when the Earth was molten.