Vocabulary
What is a natural resource?
Something found in nature that people use to meet their needs.
Name one renewable energy source.
Solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass
What is surface water?
Water found on Earth’s surface, like rivers and lakes
What is a mineral?
A solid, nonliving substance found in nature with a crystal structure
What causes pollution from energy use?
Burning fossil fuels
What is a renewable resource?
A resource that can be replaced by nature in a short amount of time.
Name one nonrenewable energy source.
Coal, oil, natural gas, or nuclear fuel
What is groundwater?
Water found underground in spaces between rocks and soil
What is an ore?
A mineral or rock that contains valuable materials that can be mined
Name one way pollution can harm the environment.
It can harm air, water, plants, or animals
What is pollution?
The introduction of harmful substances into the environment.
Why are fossil fuels considered nonrenewable?
They take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly.
What is an aquifer?
An underground layer that stores groundwater
How do minerals form?
From cooling magma/lava or crystallizing from water
Name one way humans use water.
Drinking, farming, industry, or making electricity
What is conservation?
The careful use and protection of natural resources so they last longer.
Which type of energy uses moving water to turn turbines?
Hydroelectric energy
What is desalination?
Removing salt from ocean water to make freshwater
Why are minerals not evenly distributed around the world?
They form under specific geological conditions
How can conservation help protect resources?
By using less, reusing materials, and reducing waste
What is resource distribution?
How natural resources are spread out across Earth and where they are found.
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of renewable energy.
Example: Advantage – cleaner/less pollution; Disadvantage – depends on weather or can be expensive to build
Why is desalination not used everywhere?
It is expensive and uses a lot of energy
How do plate tectonics and volcanoes affect mineral locations?
They move and create rocks where minerals can form
Why is renewable energy important for the future?
Nonrenewable resources will run out and renewables cause less pollution