Natural Resources

When is a mineral considered an ore?

• When it is easily accessible

• When it is profitable and useful

• When it is hard to find

• When it is useful but not profitable

Answer explanation

A mineral is considered an ore when it is profitable and useful. This means that it can be extracted and processed to obtain valuable materials or resources. The profitability and usefulness of a mineral determine its classification as an ore. It is important to note that accessibility or scarcity alone do not define an ore.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

Parent material

• the measure of a rock's ability to hold water

• The starting material of soil, made of rock or sediment that weathers

• The measure of the ability of water to flow through rock and sediment

• Part of the environment that supplies material useful or necessary for the survival of living things

Answer explanation

The starting material of soil, made of rock or sediment that weathers is called parent material. It is the initial substance from which soil is formed through weathering processes.

Match each term with the correct definition

• parent material

• the measure of a rock's ability to hold water

• porosity

• The measure of the ability of water to flow through rock and sediment

• pore

• The starting material of soil, made of rock or sediment that weathers

• permeability

• The space between particles

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

permeability

• the measure of a rock's ability to hold water

• The starting material of soil, made of rock or sediment that weathers

• The measure of the ability of water to flow through rock and sediment

• Part of the environment that supplies material useful or necessary for the survival of living things

Answer explanation

Permeability refers to the measure of the ability of water to flow through rock and sediment. It is an important characteristic that determines how easily water can move through a particular material.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

natural resource

• the measure of a rock's ability to hold water

• The starting material of soil, made of rock or sediment that weathers

• The measure of the ability of water to flow through rock and sediment

• Part of the environment that supplies material useful or necessary for the survival of living things

Answer explanation

. A natural resource is a part of the environment that supplies material useful or necessary for the survival of living things.

non-renewable resources

• a resource that is used faster than it can be replaced

• a resource that can be replenished by natural processes at least as quickly as it is used

• the measure of the ability of water to flow through rock and sediment

• a resource that is used up completely

Answer explanation

A non-renewable resource refers to a resource that is used faster than it can be replaced. It cannot be replenished by natural processes at the same rate it is consumed. This means that once it is used up, it cannot be renewed.

renewable resources

• a resource that is used faster than it can be replaced

• a resource that can be replenished by natural processes at least as quickly as it is used

• the measure of the ability of water to flow through rock and sediment

• a resource that is used up completely

Answer explanation

A renewable resource is a resource that can be replenished by natural processes at least as quickly as it is used. It is not a resource that is used faster than it can be replaced, nor is it a resource that is used up completely.

Which are factors that affect the formation of soil (click all that apply!)

• type of parent rock that formed the soil

• human interaction with the area

• climate & topography of the region

• length of time the rock was weathered

Answer explanation

Factors that affect the formation of soil include the type of parent rock, human interaction with the area, climate and topography of the region, and the length of time the rock was weathered. These factors contribute to the development of soil over time. The formation of soil is influenced by various elements, such as the composition of the parent rock, human activities, environmental conditions, and the duration of weathering processes.

What happens to the water table during a drought?

• it rises

• it stays the same

• it falls

• it bubbles up through cracks in the surface and floods the area

Answer explanation

During a drought, the water table falls. This means that the level of underground water decreases, leading to a decrease in the amount of water available.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

What happens to aquifers when large populations over pump them?

• more water is added

• people use less water

• the water moves from a different location

• they dry up

Answer explanation

When large populations over pump aquifers, the aquifers eventually dry up. This happens because the excessive pumping depletes the underground water reserves. The other options are not correct. It is important to manage water resources sustainably to prevent aquifers from drying up.