Natural Resources Quiz Study Guide
What are natural resources?
 Natural resources are found in nature and used by all living things on Earth.
 Some natural resources are limited and others are not.
 Land is an example of a natural resource that is limited. Many plants and animals are
losing their natural habitat because people are growing crops, grazing cattle, and
building homes on the land.
 Sunlight is an example of a natural resource that is not limited.
What are two types of natural resources we use for energy?
 Natural resources we use for energy are divided into two groups

renewable resources
nonrenewable resources.
 We use renewable and nonrenewable energy sources to generate the electricity and
fuel we need for our homes, businesses, schools, and factories.
Renewable resources:
 Renewable resources are resources that can be replaced by natural processes in 100
years or less.
 Examples of renewable resources:
 Biomass (bio is Latin for life)- plant and animal matter, such as wood, corn, sewage
and waste food
 Hydropower (hydro is Latin for water)- the energy in flowing water used to
produce energy
 Geothermal (geo is Latin for earth)- thermal energy from the earth
 Wind – caused by the uneven heating of the earth
 Solar- radiant energy from the sun
Natural Resources Quiz Study Guide
Nonrenewable resources:
 Nonrenewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced by natural processes in
100 years.
 Examples of nonrenewable resources:


fossil fuels- coal, petroleum (oil), natural gas, and propane
uranium- a radioactive metallic element
What are fossil fuels?
 A fossil fuel is a nonrenewable resource that takes millions of years to form.
 They are called fossil fuels because they are formed from the remains of dead animals
and other organisms. An animal or plant dies and its remains are covered by
sediment over time. The heat and pressure of the Earth convert these organic
remains into fossil fuels.
 Coal is a fossil fuel commonly found in Virginia.
Where do we get most of our energy from?
 Fossil fuels are the most common energy source to create electricity and power cars.
 The gasoline used in our cars and motorcycles and the diesel fuel used in our trucks
are made from petroleum oil.
 Natural gas is used to heat homes, dry clothes, and cook food.
 Propane fuels our outdoor grills.
 Burning fossil fuels creates air pollution and acid rain.