3.1: What is a resource?

A resource is anything supplied by the earth to satisfy a particular need of humans or other living things

Resources can be renewable (replaced by natural processes) or non-renewable (takes too long to be replaced)

List the resources you can see in this pictureBirds, animals, rocks, soil, water, air & sunlight

Natural Resources Air Soil Temperature Rocks Living things Sunlight Water

The resources listed to the left are natural resources. TheyAre used to make things withProvide us with energy •Almost all life depends on these resources•Many need to be protected by humans to assist our survival

Resources: two categories

Renewable A renewable resources

is one which is replaced by natural processes

The replacement occurs on a timescale shorter than a human life

Air, water, wind, sunlight and living things fit this category

Non- Renewable A non-renewable

resource is one may not be replaced naturally

If the replaced, this happens on a timescale much longer than a human life eg thousands to millions of years

Rocks, soil, oil, coal & petrol fit this category

Renewable Resources

Click icon to add picture

Living things as a Resource

Renewable!

Living things Reproduce!

Living things are considered renewable because they reproduce and are replaced in our lifetime

Therefore, as long as conditions allow for reproduction, new living organisms will grow and develop

All living things provide a resource for other living things

Eg they may provide food, a habitat or fuel

Farming is a good example of where humans use other living things as a resource

Air as a resource– Oxygen, Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen Air is a mixture of

gases and suspended particles such as dust, smoke, and water droplets.

There are many gases in air...

Air:

About 21% of air is oxygeno We use oxygen in to breathe (respire), but it is replaced by plants in aprocess called photosynthesisSo the oxygen level in the atmosphere stays about the same

Only about 0.03% of air is carbon dioxide

o Plants use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, animals breathe out carbon dioxide so it is replaced

So gases are constantly being recycled through the atmosphere and so are renewable resources

Renewable!

Worded equations

Equations for photosynthesis

Equation for respirationglucose+ oxygen carbon dioxide + water +

energy

Resource 2: Sunlight as a Resource

Sunlight has an essential role in supporting life on earth Plants use sunlight to produce

food Sunlight warms the earths

atmosphere, keeping conditions ideal for living things to survive

The sun is a star and has been burning for billions of years, and will do into the future

Sunlight is a renewable resource and will be for as long as the sun keeps shining. It is constantly being made

Renewable!

Resource 3: Water

Water covers most of the Earth’s surface and all living things need water

It is the earth’s most important resource

Water

Water is earth’s most important resource Only a tiny fraction of the earth’s water is

made new everyday. Most is recycled. Water can be made when

o Living things burno Fossil fuels burno Living things release energyo During chemical reactions

Renewable!!

Water Cycle (covered later!)

Water is recycled on earth, as it moves from place to place, as shown by the water cycle.

Renewable!

Water: not remade, just recycled.

Water is essential for life on earth. All living things require it.

The total amount of water on planet earth has remained largely unchanged for billions of years

Answer these questions in your workbooks1. Name 3 natural resources2. What is the difference between

renewable and non renewable?3. Name 2 renewable resources.

Non Renewable Resources

Non Renewable Resources

Non-renewable resources are used up at a greater rate than they can be replaced

Rocks as a resource

Rocks provide 2 types of resources:o The rocks themselveso The materials found in the rocks eg

water and mineralsWhat materials from rock do the following pictures show?

Non Renewable!

Marble

Diamond and gold Bricks

Some minerals

.

•As the rocks gradually break down, they release minerals which end up in the water of oceans and lakes, and in the soil. •From the water and soil, the minerals are taken up by plants and animals, providing them with necessary trace elements

The fossil fuels oil, natural gas and coal are energy sources that are found in or

between layers of rock deep below the ground.

Rocks Rocks themselves can be

used eg: Limestone, slate and are used for building.

Marble (shown on the previous page) is used in kitchens and bathrooms around the world.

It was previously used to create sculptures and many ancient buildings in Europe are made of marble

Rocks on earth were formed millions of years ago

There are 3 types of Rock:o Igneouso Metamorphico Sedimentary

Use your netbook to find out how these 3 types of rock are formed! (record your findings in your workbook)

Igneousforms when hot liquid from inside the earth cools. It can take millions of years to form.

Sedimentary rock is formed when other types of rocks stick together and harden. It takes millions of years to form.

Metamorphic rocksAre rocks that once one form of rock and has

changed to other due to heat or pressure

Only a tiny fraction of the earth’s rocks are being replaced each year and so are not considered renewable

Therefore the minerals in rocks are not a renewable resource

Oil and gas therefore are not renewable

Soil

Soil is created by the weathering and erosion of rocko Weathering- is the process of rock breaking into

smaller and smaller pieceso Erosion- when broken down rock or sediments are

moved from where they are formed by water, wind or air.

Factors affecting weathering are:o 1. Temperatureo 2. Water setting in cracks and freezingo 3. Waveso 4. Running watero 5. Natural chemicals

Non renewable!

Soil: Erosion and Weathering

Weathering: breaking down rock

Rapid changes in temperature can split rocks

Water freezing can split rocks

Water and waves can break down rock

Particles in wind can wear down rock

Chemicals (acid rain) can dissolve rock

Erosion: carrying broken down rock away

Water, wind and ice can wash away soil, sand and rocks.

Erosion can happen quickly as it does in a dust storm, tornado or hurricane

Or slowly as with a river, ocean waves against the shore

Copy and completeResource How it is used Renewable

or non-renewable in a lifetime

Air

Sunlight

Soil

Water

Rocks

Living things

1

Answers p 433