natural resources Flashcards
Natural Resource
materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
Renewable Resource
Renewable resources are an energy source that cannot be depleted and are able to supply a continuous source of clean energy
Nonrenewable Resource
This means that nonrenewable resources are limited in supply and cannot be used sustainably. There are four major types of nonrenewable resources: oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy.
Recycling
the action or process of converting waste into reusable material.
Fossil Fuel
a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
Petroleum
a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil; oil.
Natural Gas
flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons, occurring naturally underground (often in association with petroleum) and used as fuel.
Coal
a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground deposits and widely used as fuel.
Acid Precipitation
Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components
Smog
fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants.
Nuclear Energy
the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion, especially when used to generate electricity.
Chemical Energy
Chemical energy is energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun.
Wind Power
power obtained by harnessing the energy of the wind.
Hydroelectric Energy
a form of renewable energy that uses the water stored in dams, as well as flowing in rivers to create electricity in hydropower plants.
