Natural resources Flashcards
Natural Resource
materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.
Renewable Resource
which will replenish to replace the portion depleted by usage and consumption, either through natural reproduction or other recurring processes.
Nonrenewable Resource
are limited in supply and cannot be used sustainably.
Recycling
the action or process of converting waste into reusable material.
Fossil Fuel
a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
Petroleum
a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil.
Natural Gas
flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons,
Coal
a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground deposits and widely used as fuel.
Acid Precipitation
any form of precipitation with acidic components.
Smog
fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants.
Nuclear Energy
the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion, especially when used to generate electricity.
Chemical Energy
what holds the atoms in a molecule together.
Solar Energy
radiant energy emitted by the sun.
Wind Power
power obtained by harnessing the energy of the wind.
Hydroelectric Energy
a form of renewable energy that uses the water stored in dams, as well as flowing in rivers to create electricity in hydro power plants.
