Energy Basics
The ability to do work.
What is energy?
Anything people use that comes from nature.
What is a natural resource?
A resource that can be replaced in a short amount of time, such as sunlight or wind.
What is a renewable resource?
Deposits of fuel that were once ancient plants and animals.
What are fossil fuels?
Using a reusable water bottle instead of a single use plastic bottle is an example of this R word.
What is reuse?
This type of energy is found in batteries.
What is chemical energy?
Air, water, soil, plants, and animals are all examples of these.
What are natural resources?
A resource that forms over millions of years and cannot be replaced easily after it is used.
What is a nonrenewable resource?
Two main examples of fossil fuels burned for energy.
What are coal and oil?
Taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth helps do this with water.
What is reduce water use?
This kind of energy comes from the sun.
What is solar energy?
Trees that are cut down for wood and can grow back over time are this kind of resource.
What is a renewable resource?
These are examples of a renewable resource used for energy.
What is sunlight, wind, or moving water?
When we use less of a resource, reuse items, or recycle materials, we are doing this.
What is conserving resources?
Turning old paper, glass, or metal into new products instead of throwing them away.
What is recycle?
Energy from moving water that can be used to make electricity.
What is hydroelectric energy?
Rock and mineral resources that take a very long time to form and are used up when we use them.
What are nonrenewable resources?
These are examples of a nonrenewable resource used for energy.
What is coal, oil, or natural gas?
Turning off lights when you leave a room and unplugging electronics are examples of this.
What is saving energy, or conserving energy?
Planting new trees after cutting some down is an example of doing this to our tree resources.
What is renewing or replacing them?
Energy from moving air that can be used to turn turbines and make electricity.
What is wind energy?
These are the two main groups that scientists use to describe natural resources.
What are renewable and nonrenewable resources?
This kind of resource is used faster than it can be replaced, so we must use it carefully.
What is a nonrenewable resource?
Smoke and gases released when fossil fuels are burned can cause this problem in the air.
What is air pollution?
These three words help us remember how to use natural resources wisely.
What are reduce, reuse, and recycle?