Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources

Some natural resources can be replaced quickly by nature, while others take so long to form that once we use them up, they are gone for good.

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Definition

A natural resource is anything found in nature that people use. A renewable resource is one that nature can replace in a short amount of time, so we can keep using it without running out. A nonrenewable resource is one that took millions of years to form and cannot be replaced once it is used up.

Remember the rule

Ask yourself: Can nature make more of this in my lifetime? YES = Renewable. NO = Nonrenewable.

Key words

Natural Resource: Something found in nature that people use, like water, wood, or coal.
Renewable Resource: A resource nature can replace quickly, like trees, wind, or sunlight.
Nonrenewable Resource: A resource that cannot be replaced in a human lifetime because it took millions of years to form, like oil or coal.
Fossil Fuel: A fuel made from the remains of ancient plants and animals buried underground for millions of years. Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels.
Conservation: Saving or using resources carefully so they last longer and are not wasted.
Solar Energy: Energy that comes from sunlight and can be used to make electricity or heat.
Replenish: To refill or restore something that was used up.
Finite: Having a limit; something that will eventually run out.

Worked examples

Is sunlight a renewable or nonrenewable resource?

→ Renewable. The sun shines every day and people cannot use it all up. · Solar panels capture sunlight and turn it into electricity for homes and schools.

Is coal a renewable or nonrenewable resource?

→ Nonrenewable. Coal formed from plants that lived and died over 300 million years ago. Once we dig it up and burn it, there is no more coal to replace it. · Coal is a fossil fuel and is the most common example of a nonrenewable resource.

Is fresh water a renewable or nonrenewable resource?

→ Renewable. Water cycles through rain, rivers, and lakes and is naturally replaced. However, if we waste or pollute water faster than nature can clean it, it can become scarce. · This is a great reminder that even renewable resources need to be used carefully.

Is natural gas a renewable or nonrenewable resource?

→ Nonrenewable. Like coal and oil, natural gas formed underground from ancient organisms over millions of years and cannot be replaced quickly.

Are trees a renewable or nonrenewable resource?

→ Renewable. New trees can be planted and grown to replace ones that are cut down. Forests that are carefully managed can keep providing wood for many years. · If forests are cut down faster than new trees can grow, they start acting like a nonrenewable resource, so conservation matters.

Is oil (petroleum) a renewable or nonrenewable resource?

→ Nonrenewable. Oil took millions of years to form deep underground. We pump it out to make gasoline and plastics, but Earth cannot make more oil fast enough to replace what we use.

Common mistakes

Thinking water can never run out because it is renewable. Even renewable resources can become scarce if we waste or pollute them faster than nature can restore them.
Confusing fossil fuels with just coal. Oil and natural gas are also fossil fuels and are all nonrenewable.
Assuming something is renewable just because it comes from nature. Diamonds come from nature but are nonrenewable because they take billions of years to form.
Thinking nonrenewable means it is gone right now. It means the supply is limited and will eventually run out if we keep using it.
Forgetting that renewable does not mean unlimited. Wind and sunlight are truly limitless, but wood and water can be used up locally if not managed well.

FAQs

Why do we still use nonrenewable resources if they will run out?

Nonrenewable resources like oil and coal store a lot of energy and have been cheap and easy to use for a long time. People are working on using more renewable resources like solar and wind power so we can depend less on the ones that run out.

What is the most common renewable resource used for energy in the United States?

Wind energy and solar energy are among the fastest growing. Water power from rivers, called hydropower, has also been used for a very long time.

Can people make nonrenewable resources?

No. Nonrenewable resources like coal, oil, and natural gas take millions of years to form naturally. People cannot make them in a lab or factory.

How does recycling help with nonrenewable resources?

Recycling materials like aluminum, plastic, and glass means we do not have to pull as many new raw resources out of the earth. This helps nonrenewable resources last longer.

Is wind a renewable resource?

Yes. The wind blows because of differences in air temperature caused by the sun. People cannot use all the wind up, and it is always being made naturally, so it is renewable.

What can kids do to conserve resources?

Kids can turn off lights to save electricity, take shorter showers to save water, recycle paper and plastic, and walk or bike instead of riding in a car to save fuel. Every small action adds up.

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