EXPLORE: Use of Earth's Resources (BrainPop)

Energy from Natural Resources(BrainPop)

Energy is the ability to do work or produce change. Every living thing needs energy to perform its daily functions and to live and grow. Plants get energy from the sun via photosynthesis. Animals get energy from food. People also use energy for many things, such as cooking, keeping food cold in the freezer, heating a home, electricity, and construction. Because billions of people use energy, there is a huge need for energy resources. 

Much of our energy comes from fuel. Fuel has energy that it releases, and is made of any material that can release energy in a chemical change. When fuel is used for its energy, it's usually burned and most of the energy is released as heat.  Burning fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil, natural gas) is a major source of energy for many people. 

Many of Earth's resources that are used for energy are nonrenewable. Such natural resources are used faster than they can be replaced. There are alternative, renewable energy resources as well; wind and solar resources will not run out because they are replaced as quickly as they are used. 

Wherever you happen to be and whatever you happen to be doing, you are probably using natural resources. For example, if you are using a computer to read this information, you are using metals, plastics that come from fossil fuels, and many other materials that come from Earth's natural resources. The computer is powered by electricity, which may come from a nearby coal-fired electric plant or possibly from a solar panel on your home. One thing is certain - modern life requires lots of natural resources! 

Watch the following video:

Sources: Renewable vs Nonrenewable Resources. Retrieved from http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Earth-Science-Concepts-For-High-School/r16/section/12.4/ on January 3, 2014. and Obtaining Energy Resources. Retrieved from http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Earth-Science-Concepts-For-High-School/r16/section/12.2/ on January 3, 2014. 

Use of Natural Resources by Humans

People depend on natural resources for just about everything that keeps us fed and sheltered, as well as for the things that keep us entertained. Every person in the US uses about 20,000 kilograms of minerals every year for a wide range of products, such as cell phones, TVs, jewelry and cars.  For example, cars include metals such as iron, lead and chromium and electronic appliances contain metals such as copper, mercury and gold, all nonrenewable natural resources. Bottled water is bottled in plastics made from petroleum products, which are likewise nonrenewable resources. Rocks and minerals are used for construction of buildings, bridges and roadways. Clothing comes from natural plants, as well as animal byproducts to create fur and leather.  Some of the materials for clothing and construction are nonrenewable and some are renewable. All are natural resources that come from the Earth. And with billions of people on the planet, we are using many of our planet's resources. 

Watch the following video:

Source: Materials Humans Use. Retrieved from http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Earth-Science-Concepts-For-High-School/r16/section/12.16/ on January 3, 2014. 

Availability of Natural Resources

Many of Earth's resources are nonrenewable, meaning once they are gone, they are gone for good. Nonrenewable resources vary in their availability; some are abundant and others are very rare. Materials, such as gravel or sand, are technically nonrenewable, but they are so abundant that running out is not an issue.  Some resources are truly limited in quantity and an alternative must be found to replace them. There are even resources, such as diamonds and rubies, whose value is due, in part, to how rare they are. 

Besides abundance, a resource's value is determined by how easy it is to locate and extract. If a resource is difficult to use, it will not be used until the price for that resource becomes so great that it is worth paying for. A great example is using ocean water for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. Currently, salt water is abundant, but desalination (removing the salts) is costly, so it is only used when water is in very limited quantities. 

Politics also plays a role in the use, availability and cost of resources. Nations that have a desired resource in abundance will often export it to other countries, while countries that need that resource must import it from a country that produces it. This situation is a potential source of economic and political trouble. 

Oil is a tremendous example of this. Eleven countries have nearly 80% of the world's oil. However, the biggest users of oil, the US, China, and Japan, are all located out side of this oil-rich zone. This leads to a situation in which the availability and price of the oil is determined largely by one set of countries and has led to war, in some instances. 

The countries in green are the biggest producers of oil. Map courtesy of CK-12.

Source:  Availability of Natural Resources. Retrieved from http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Earth-Science-Concepts-For-High-School/r16/section/12.18/ on January 3, 2014.