The Earths Resources Flashcards
Learn the scientific language in The Earths Resources unit
Energy
A resource that comes in different forms such as light and heat
Electricity is a useful form of energy that we use to power many different devices.
Fossil Fuel
An energy source from the remains of ancient organisms
Common fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources.
Fuel
A substance that is burned to produce heat or electricity
Fuels can be used to heat homes, make vehicles move or generate electricity.
Hydropower
Electricity generated from flowing water
A limitation of hydropower is that dams put aquatic animals at risk.
Mineral
A natural substance usually found as crystals within rocks
Common minerals include calcite, used to make cement, and silica, used to make glass.
Natural Resource
A resource found in the natural world
Trees, animals, coal and water are natural resources.
Non-renewable resource
A resource that has a long replacement time
Non-renewable resources take longer than a human lifetime to be replenished. An example is coal.
Nuclear power
The generation of electricity from a radioactive material
The heat from a nuclear fuel converts water into steam. This spins a turbine to produce electricity.
Ore
A rock or mineral that can be dug up as a source of metals
Ores provide us with useful metals such as iron, aluminium and copper.
Overuse
Using a resource so quickly that the amount of it drops dramatically
Even renewable resources can be overused. Overfishing is an example.
Primary Energy Resource
A natural resource that can be used as a source of energy
Primary energy resources provide energy that can be changed into other, more useful forms.
Property
A feature such as colour, size, weight, texture or hardness
Jewellery is often made from metals because of their properties, such as hardness and shininess.
Renewable Energy
Energy that comes from a renewable resource
Renewable energy resources include solar, hydro and wind power.
Renewable Resource
A resource that has a short replacement time
Renewable resources take less than a human lifetime to be replenished. An example is water.
Replacement time
The time it takes for a resource to be replaced by natural processes
Soil has a long replacement time. It can take up to 1000 years to produce 1 cm of healthy soil.
Resource
Something that we need or use
Resources include water, food, phones, trees, chickens and rocks.
Solar Panel
A device used to convert the energy in sunlight into electricity
A limitation of solar panels is that sunlight varies with location on Earth, time of day and time of year.
Solar Power
Electricity generated from sunlight
Solar panels harness the Sun’s light energy and transform it into electrical energy.
Solar Thermal Energy
Heat from the Sun
Solar thermal energy can be used to heat homes or generate electricity.
Sustainability
Using a resource in a way that prevents it from running out
The use of a resource is sustainable if it can continue in the same way for hundreds of years.
Synthetic Resource
A resource that is made by humans
Smartphones, buildings, cutlery and clothes are synthetic resources.
Turbine
A device that spins when air, water or steam passes through it
As a turbine spins, it turns a generator which produces electricity.
Wind Power
Electricity generated from the motion of air
Wind turbines harness the movement energy of wind and transform it into electrical energy.
