Activity 3.2.1 – Natural Resources Review

Natural Resources Concept Map

There are many different energy resources, but they all stem from either the sun or commercial energy. The sun heats the earth, enables plants to produce their own food and make oxygen, and provides 99% of earths energy. Commercial energy provides 1% of all earths energy needs, and branches off into two different types: nonrenewable resources and renewable resources. First, nonrenewable resources provide 82% of commercial energy, and cannot be quickly regenerated. Fossil fuels are the main type of natural nonrenewable resource. Fossil fuels branch off into oil, coal, and natural gas. Oil pollutes the air, but creates a variety of important things like asphalt, diesel, heating oil, gasoline, and jet fuel. Coal provides 21% of the energy the world uses, and 62% of the energy the United States uses. However, it also pollutes the air. Natural gas consists of a variety of gasses, and is more abundant than our oil reserves. It’s used in heating buildings, cooking, and providing electricity. The second type of commercial energy, renewable resources, branches off into six different types of energy sources. First, there is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy uses uranium and plutonium to heat water into steam to turn turbines and create electricity. It provides 16% of the worlds energy, but nuclear power plants are expensive to build. Second, is solar energy. Connected to solar energy are two types. Passive solar heating, capturing the suns heat through well-insulated windows, and solar cells, converting the suns energy straight into electricity. Next is wind energy. Wind energy is affordable, and has a low environmental impact. After that there is hydropower. Hydropower creates no pollution, but, dams (a form of hydropower that is connected to it on my map) can damage the environment. Dams are also expensive to build. Next there is geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is derived from the heat energy in the earth. Steam is pumped from deep underground to create electricity. Geothermal energy provides energy to 75% of the homes in Iceland. Lastly, there is biomass energy. Biomass energy uses plant materials and animal waste as a source of fuel. Biomass fuel contributes to air pollution, and can be exhausted if used inappropriately.

Resources

Jerome, B. A. (Producer). (2017). Exploring Natural Resources [Video file]. Visual Learning Systems. Retrieved from https://nvcproxy.alamo.edu/login?url=https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/energy-3. Accessed 3 March 2020. (Links to an external site.)