Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished or restored within a relatively short period of time, either by natural processes or human intervention. Non-renewable resources, on the other hand, are natural resources that are finite and cannot be replenished once they are depleted.

Table of Contents:

• Renewable Resources
• Non-Renewable Resources
• Differences between Renewable & Non-Renewable Resource
• FAQs

Renewable Resources

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished or restored within a relatively short period of time, either by natural processes or human intervention.

Examples of renewable resources include:

• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy
• Hydro Power
• Geothermal Energy
• Biomass

Renewable resources are becoming increasingly important as the world seeks to transition to more sustainable energy sources. They have numerous environmental and social benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air and water quality, and creating jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Additionally, the cost of renewable energy has been declining rapidly, making it more competitive with non-renewable energy sources.

Non-Renewable Resources

Non-renewable resources, on the other hand, are natural resources that are finite and cannot be replenished once they are depleted. These resources were formed over millions of years and are being used up much faster than they can be replenished.

Examples of non-renewable resources include:

• Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
• Minerals (gold, silver, copper, iron, etc.)
• Nuclear fuels (uranium, plutonium, etc.)

The use of non-renewable resources has significant environmental consequences, such as air pollution, water pollution, and climate change.

The depletion of these resources also poses a significant risk to future generations, as they will have limited access to these resources. The transition to renewable resources is essential for ensuring a sustainable future.

Fossil fuels are the most commonly used non-renewable energy sources. They are formed from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago and were buried under layers of sediment. Over time, heat and pressure transformed the remains into coal, oil, and natural gas.

Nuclear fuels are extracted from the earth and used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants. They are mined from the earth’s crust and are not renewable, as their supply is finite.

Tar sands and oil shale are unconventional sources of oil that require extensive processing to extract. They are also non-renewable and have significant environmental impacts, including deforestation and water pollution.

The use of non-renewable energy sources has significant environmental consequences, including air pollution, water pollution, and climate change. Therefore, it is important to transition to renewable energy sources to ensure a sustainable future.

Differences Between Renewable & Non-Renewable Resources

Renewable and non-renewable resources differ in several ways, including:

1. Availability: Renewable resources can be replenished within a relatively short period of time, either by natural processes or human intervention, while non-renewable resources are finite and cannot be replenished once they are depleted.

2. Environmental Impact: The use of non-renewable resources has significant environmental consequences, such as air pollution, water pollution, and climate change, while renewable resources have fewer environmental impacts and are considered more sustainable.

3. Cost: The cost of renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, has been declining rapidly, making them more competitive with non-renewable energy sources, such as coal and natural gas.

4. Energy Efficiency: Renewable resources are generally less efficient than non-renewable resources in terms of energy output per unit of input. For example, a solar panel may convert only a small percentage of the sun’s energy into electricity, while a coal-fired power plant can convert a much larger percentage of the energy in coal into electricity.

5. Dependence: Infrastructure for harvesting renewable energy is prohibitively expensive and not easily accessible in most countries. Non-renewable resources are often imported from other countries, which can create dependencies and geopolitical risks, while renewable resources can be produced domestically, reducing dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Overall, the transition to renewable resources is essential for ensuring a sustainable future, as non-renewable resources are finite and have significant environmental and social impacts.

FAQS

Grade 7 Science Worksheets

• Elements and Compounds
• Solar Energy
• Photosynthesis
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Law of conservation of energy
• Periodic table
• Properties of Matter
• Waves
• Energy Resources 
• Weather and Climate
• Immune, Circulatory and Digestive Systems
• Organs in Multi-cellular Organism
• Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic Rocks
• Structure of the Earth
• Law of Conservation of Mass
• Physical and Chemical Changes
• Scientific Method
• Human Digestive System
• Environmental Science
• Renewable and Non-renewable energy Resources
• Characteristics of Living Organisms
• Life Science
• Earth and Space Science
• Solar Eclipse
• Heat Technology
• Newton’s Laws of Motions
• Physical Science
• Tools, Measurement and SI Units
• Earth Atmosphere
• Interactions of Living things
• The Earth Ecosystem
• Organelles in Plant and Animal cells
• Layers of the Earth
• Cycles in Nature

Grade 7 Math Worksheets

• Fractions
• Linear equations word problems
• Statistics
• Properties of Parallel Line 
• Finding slope from an equation
• Identifying Quadrilaterals
• Percent Change
• Properties of addition and multiplication
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Solving two step inequalities
• Symmetry
• Fractions to Decimals (New)
• Whole Number Exponents with Integer Bases (New)
• Adding and Subtracting Fractions (New)
• Integer Addition and Subtraction (New)
• Dividing Mixed Numbers (New)
• Basics of Coordinate Geometry (New)