NATURAL RESOURCES

DEFINITION

Natural resources are naturally occurring

resources in the environment that have not
been disturbed by mankind. By resource is
meant any physical entity, which has limited
availability. These resources occur in their
natural form.
 Kinds of natural resources
Natural Resources can be classified into seven
Groups
1. Forest
2. Wind
3. Soil
4. Water
5. Minerals
6. Fossil Fuels
7. Sunlight
 FOREST
A forest is any area with a lot of
trees. There are forests all over the
world. The type of forest varies
depending on the location of the
forest: for example, there are
tropical rain forests, coniferous
forests, and deciduous forests.
 FOREST as energy resources
1. Are forests a renewable resource?
Yes, if they are carefully replanted and
allowed to grow. If it is cut down faster
than it can grow, then it is not renewable.
2. How can forests be used as an energy
source?
The wood can be burned for fuel.
3. In what ways are forests a good source
of energy?
It can be renewable.
4. What are the disadvantages to using
forests as a source of energy?
It pollutes; cutting down trees takes away
animal homes and affects the oxygen in
the world.
5. How do you use the resource of forests
in your life, if at all?
Answers will vary.
 WIND
Wind is caused by the uneven
heating of the atmosphere. Some
areas of the world, such as costal
regions, have more wind than
others because the terrain of the
area is relatively flat and has few
obstacles to block the wind from
blowing.
 WIND
The wind blows naturally – it is not caused
by human activity, and it cannot be used up.
The power of the wind drives sailboats. It
has been used to power windmills that
grind grain. Windmills can also use the
circular movement of the blades to turn a
turbine. This is increasingly used as a
means of generating electricity.
 WIND as energy resources
1. Is wind a renewable resource?
Yes, because it cannot be used up.
2. How can wind be used as an energy source?
Wind can power windmills to power turbines to make
electricity.
3. In what ways is wind a good source of energy?
It doesn’t cause pollution and it is renewable.
4. What are disadvantages to using wind as a
source of energy?
It could hurt some animals and some people think the
windmills are ugly.
 FOSSIL FUELS
Fossil fuels take millions of years to form.
They are the product of the fossilized
remains of dead plants and animals that
have been exposed to the heat and
pressure deep within the earth’s crust.
There are many types of fossil fuels, such
as petroleum (gasoline), natural gas, and
coal.
 FOSSIL FUELS
as energy resources
1. What creates or causes fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are the product of the fossilized remains of dead plants
and animals that have been exposed to the heat and pressure.
2. Where can fossil fuels be found?
They are found deep within the earth’s crust.
3. Are fossil fuels a renewable resource?
No. Theoretically they are, but as they take so long to form they
cannot possibly be replaced at the rate they are consumed.
4. How can fossil fuels be used as an energy
source?
They are burned to create energy.
5. In what ways are fossil fuels a good source of energy?
They are currently producing 86% of the world’s energy.
6. What are the disadvantages to using fossil fuels as a source of
energy?
They pollute, they are not renewable.
 SUN LIGHT
The sun is the closest star to Earth. It brings heat
and light to the world. Some areas of the world,
such as those closest to the equator, have more
sun than others.
The sun’s rays are used for energy by organisms that
undergo photosynthesis. Nearly every organism on
the planet gets energy through photosynthesis,
directly or indirectly. There are also ways that people
can utilize the energy that the sun provides.
 SUN LIGHT as energy resources
1. What creates or causes solar energy?
Solar energy comes from the sun.
2. Where can solar energy be found?
It can be found anywhere on Earth, in greater concentration closer to the
equator.
3. Is solar energy a renewable
resource?
Yes, it cannot be used up.
4. How can solar energy be use as an energy source?
It can be used for warmth, for light, and via solar panels to generate
electricity.
5. In what ways is solar energy a good source of energy?
It is renewable, it doesn’t cause pollution.
6. What are the disadvantages to using solar power as a
source of energy?
It doesn’t work at night.
 WATER
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical
formula H2O. Its molecule contains one oxygen
and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent
bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions,
but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state,
ice, and gaseous state, water vapor or steam.
 SOIL
Soil is a natural body consisting of
layers (soil horizons) of mineral
constituents of variable thicknesses,
which differ from the parent
materials in their morphological,
physical, chemical, and mineralogical
characteristics. It is composed of
particles of broken rock that have
been altered by chemical and
environmental processes that include
weathering and erosion.
 MINERALS
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid
chemical substance that is formed through
geological processes and that has a
characteristic chemical composition, a highly
ordered atomic structure, and specific
physical properties. By comparison, a rock is
an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids
and does not have a specific chemical
composition.
 Renewability
• RENEWABILITY is whether or not a resource can be restored after it has been used.
• Basis for classifying natural resources:
– Renewable
– Nonrenewable
• RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES can be replaced when used.
– Resource may renew itself and be used again, but renewing may take a long
time
– Examples
• Air
• Soil
• Wildlife
• Plants
• Water
• NONREWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES can not be replaced when used.
– With careful management, some can be reused.
– Examples:
• Minerals (Gold, Silver)
• Fossil Fuels (Oil and Coal)
 EXHAUSTIBILITY

• EXHAUSTIBILITY is whether or not the supply of a resource is replenished as it is

used.
• Some resources can be replenished; others cannot be replenished.
INEXHAUSTIBLE NATURAL RESOURCES are resources that are continually being
replenished.
Examples:
Sunlight
Air & Wind
Water
EXHAUSTIBLE NATURAL RESOURCES are resources that are available in limited
quantity that can be used up.
Examples:
Minerals
Fossil Fuels
Soil (replaced so slowly)
 CONSERVATION

• CONSERVATION is using resources wisely.

– Resources are not abused, wasted nor destroyed.
– “Wise” is using a resource in ways that do not
diminish its value and assure that supplies will be
available for future generations.
 PRESERVATION
• PRESERVATION is maintaining a natural resource without using it up.

1. Do not use plastic bags

2. Do not spit on the ground which is not only unhealthy but also disrespect to
mother earth
3. Join nature clubs and forms one in your school .college and in towns
4. Use summer holidays to prepare a projects on themes related to
sustainable development
5. Plant a tree in your locality or home during monsoon
6. Do not waste paper. Use the blank side printed materials for doing a rough
work.
7. Do not use rivers and streams as dumping ground for waste and garbage
8. Participate on community efforts to clean tanks wells and streams.
Thank You For Your Time
And Attention