Resources

TYPES OF RESOURCES

Renewable Resource: a resource that can be replaced in nature at a rate close to its rate of use

Examples: air solar energy trees

Nonrenewable Resource: a resource that cannot be replenished by natural processes

Examples: - fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)- gold- iron- limestone

LIFE CYCLE OF COAL peat: mainly decaying twigs and

leaveslignite: soft, brown coalbituminous: soft coal (good

energy source, pollutes the air)anthracite: hard coal; cleanest

burning

PETROLEUM (Latin: rock oil)

2 Primary uses – to Build and to Burn

Building – produces plastics, fabrics, synthetic vitamins, shampoos, makeup, and much more.

Uses of PetroleumBurning – heating,

transportation, generating electricity

Environmental Impact of processing of petroleum:

Possible transportation accidents

Offshore drilling rig accidents

Energy used in pumping and refining causes pollution

Final burning releases CO and CO2 into air

Global warming? Air pollution

Availability of Fossil Fuels...

In many cases, the countries that consume large amounts of fossil fuels have very limited reserves of their own.

A traditional coal burning power plant.

Alternative Sources of Energy

• Hydroelectric Power• Solar Energy• Wind Power• Geothermal Energy• Biomass Fuels• Nuclear Energy

Hydroelectric Power• definition- electricity

produced by flowing water

• pressure from water turns a turbine and powers electric generators

Provides a steady source of energy

Very efficient

Most widely used renewable energy source used today

Safe Harbor Dam on the Susquehanna

Fish lifts help shad to migrate

How Hydroelectric Works how it works

Solar Energy Definition -

energy from the sun

Solar Cells - a.k.a. photovoltaic cells, convert solar energy into electricity

Types of Solar Heating Systems

Passive System - converts sunlight into thermal energy without using pumps or fans

Active System - captures the sun’s energy, then uses fans and pumps to distribute heat.

Did you know?In one day, Earth receives enough solar energy to meet the energy needs of the entire world for 40 years.

Solar Power

Wind Power definition: wind is used to

turn a turbine and generate electricity

“Wind farms” generate large amounts of electricity

Currently less than 1% of the world’s electricity comes from wind power

Wind farms are becoming more common across Pennsylvania and the rest of the country.

Wind Turbines

Geothermal Energy definition: heat from

the interior of the Earth

Can be in the form of water or steam

Geothermal Energy

Biomass Fuels definition: fuel from

living things

Examples: corn (ethanol), sugar cane

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Fission definition - splitting

of an atom’s nucleus into two smaller nuclei

• U-235

• nuclear reaction heats water; creates steam which turns a turbine

• 20% of electricity in US

• Major pollutant is hot water!

• Also waste disposal is not easy

Nuclear Fusion definition - combining

of two nuclei to produce a single larger nucleus

- Currently scientists cannot control it

- Clean, inexpensive energy source