Distribution of Natural Resources

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Natural Resource Noun

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[nach-er-uhl ree-sors]

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Natural Resource

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Any substance or material that occurs naturally in the environment and is utilized by human beings for survival or benefit.

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Example: The image shows Earth as a source of water being tapped into a glass, illustrating natural resources.

Front

Renewable Resource Noun

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[ri-noo-uh-buhl ree-sors]

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Renewable Resource

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A natural resource that can be replaced or replenished naturally over a relatively short period, such as a human lifetime.

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Example: Plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose, demonstrating renewable energy use.

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Nonrenewable Resource Noun

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[non-ri-noo-uh-buhl ree-sors]

Back

Nonrenewable Resource

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A natural resource that exists in a fixed amount or forms too slowly to be replaced within a human lifespan.

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Example: Fossil fuels form over millions of years from marine organisms, illustrating nonrenewable resources.

Front

Fossil Fuels Noun

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[fos-uhl fyools]

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Fossil Fuels

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Energy-rich substances formed from the preserved remains of ancient organisms, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

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Example: The image shows coal, oil, and natural gas as examples of fossil fuels.

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Coal Noun

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[kohl]

Back

Coal

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A combustible, black sedimentary rock formed from the compressed remains of ancient plant matter found in swampy environments.

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Example: The image shows how ancient plants in swamps became coal over millions of years through burial and pressure.

Front

Petroleum Noun

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[puh-troh-lee-uhm]

Back

Petroleum

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A liquid fossil fuel, commonly called oil, formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms buried under intense heat.

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Example: The image shows how petroleum forms from marine organisms over millions of years, illustrating the process and layers involved.

Front

Natural Gas Noun

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[nach-er-uhl gas]

Back

Natural Gas

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A gaseous fossil fuel, primarily methane, formed alongside petroleum from ancient organic matter and trapped in underground rock formations.

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Example: The image shows natural gas trapped in rock layers, illustrating its formation and extraction.

Front

Fracking (Hydraulic Fracturing) Noun

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[frak-ing (hy-draw-lik frak-cher-ing)]

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Fracking (Hydraulic Fracturing)

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A drilling technique that injects high-pressure fluid into rock formations to fracture them and release trapped oil or gas.

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Example: Arrows show how high-pressure fluid fractures rock layers to release oil or gas.

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Nuclear Energy Noun

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[noo-klee-er en-er-jee]

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Nuclear Energy

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The energy released during nuclear reactions, like fission, especially when used to generate electricity in power plants.

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Example: The image shows how nuclear fission releases energy by splitting a nucleus.

Front

Nuclear Fission Noun

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[noo-klee-er fish-uhn]

Back

Nuclear Fission

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A nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of a heavy atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a large amount of energy.

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Example: The image shows how a uranium atom splits into lighter elements, releasing energy and neutrons.