All the naturally occurringsubstances which we use can be considered natural resources. These are the materials from the earth which support life on earth and help fulfilling the needs of human beings. Humans require air, water, food from plants and animals, sunlight, minerals, land, soil and fossil fuels to exist. All these useful raw materials are called natural resources.
The picture below gives us a few examples of the numerous things we obtain from natural resources.
Different types of natural resources – renewable and nonrenewable resources
Different Types of Natural Resources:
There are many ways of classifying these natural resources. They can be biotic or abiotic(that is derived from organic materials or inorganic materials). Another way of classification of resources is by the amount of resources available for human consumption. Through this, resources can be classified into exhaustible and inexhaustible natural resources.
1. Inexhaustible Natural Resources:
Nature has blessed us with an unlimited supply of resources such as air, water and sunlight. These resources are called inexhaustible resources. They are also called renewable resources.
2. Exhaustible Natural Resources:
As the human population is increasing at an astounding rate, we have reached a number of 7.4 billion today! Naturally, this means that we are utilizing more and more natural resources. If we go at this rate, we will soon reach a day when nature will not be able to provide us with resources such as plants and trees, animals, mineral ores, and fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. Thus, these resources are exhaustible. These resources are called exhaustible or non-renewable resources.
If the use of these resources is not monitored carefully, there will be no food for our predecessors to eat, no energy for them to power their machines and no material for them to build a shelter with. This is why it is important to understand which resources are exhaustible and which are not, and to practice sustainable development. This is nothing but the development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
To know more about fossil fuels natural gas, coal and petroleum which give us the energy to run our homes, factories, and vehicles, and how they are harnessed, download BYJU’S – The Learning App.
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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Q1
Why are natural resources important?
Resources are important to any country’s development. For example, to generate energy, fossil fuels are needed; and mineral resources are needed for industrial development. Natural resources are needed for food production, fuel for transportation and energy, and raw materials for the production of goods.
Q2
How do humans depend on natural resources?
Living beings need air and food for life and growth, land to build shelter and live, and fuel for transportation and energy. For all these purposes, we use natural resources like trees, water, air, petroleum etc.
Q3
Is soil a natural resource?
Soil consists of air, water, minerals, and organic material and is one of the world’s most important natural resources. Most life on earth as a direct or indirect source of food depends on soil. Plants absorb all nutrients from the soil and for humans, soil gives feed. fibre, food and fuel.
Q4
What makes natural resources valuable?
Natural resources occur naturally on earth without the help of humans. Natural resources give us water, wood, food and energy. It is not possible to live without natural resources. Natural resources include oil, coal, natural gas, metals, stone, and sand. Air, sunlight, soil, and water are other natural resources. Thus, Natural resources are valuable as they are used to support life and meet the needs of people.
Q5
Why is freshwater an important natural resource?
Freshwater is vital for life. Water supports human life and the ecosystem. We use freshwater for food production, drinking, power generation and sanitation. We, human beings and animals, cannot live without drinking water and if the water is not clean, health will be affected.
FAQs
Renewable resources cannot be depleted over time. Non-renewable resources deplete over time. Renewable resources include sunlight, water, wind and also geothermal sources such as hot springs and fumaroles. Non-renewable resources includes fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.
What are natural resources and examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources? ›
Renewable resources can be replaced by natural processes as quickly as humans use them. Examples include sunlight and wind. Nonrenewable resources exist in fixed amounts. They can be used up.
What are 5 examples of renewable and non-renewable? ›
| Renewable Resources | Nonrenewable resources |
|---|
| Solar Energy | Oil |
| Soil | Steel |
| Trees | Aluminum |
| Grass | Coal |
1 more rowThey are natural and self-replenishing, and usually have a low- or zero-carbon footprint. Examples of renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power, bioenergy (organic matter burned as a fuel) and hydroelectric, including tidal energy.
What are 10 renewable resources? ›
Renewable resources include solar energy, wind, falling water, the heat of the earth (geothermal), plant materials (biomass), waves, ocean currents, temperature differences in the oceans and the energy of the tides.
What are the 3 main non-renewable resources? ›
There are four major types of nonrenewable resources: oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy. Oil, natural gas, and coal are collectively called fossil fuels.
Is air renewable or nonrenewable? ›
Air, water, soil, plants, and animals are examples of renewable resources. With the exception of some microorganisms that cannot tolerate oxygen, all living things need air, making this one of the most essential natural resources.
Is fish renewable or nonrenewable? ›
Fish, shellfish, and marine algae are renewable resources—they can reproduce and replenish their populations naturally. That means we can sustainably harvest fish within certain limits without depleting their populations.
Is water renewable or non-renewable? ›
Water is a renewable resource when properly managed and used responsibly. Water circulates in nature in numerous states of matter, including liquid, vapour, and ice. As a result, the water that evaporates returns to the earth in the form of rain. As a result, water becomes a renewable resource.
What are the 5 main types of renewable? ›
What are the 5 Main Types of Renewable Energy?
- Solar Energy.
- Wind Energy.
- Hydropower.
- Geothermal Energy.
- Biofuels.
Here are a few common sources of renewable energy:
- SOLAR ENERGY. Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can even be harnessed in cloudy weather. ...
- WIND ENERGY. ...
- GEOTHERMAL ENERGY. ...
- HYDROPOWER. ...
- OCEAN ENERGY. ...
- BIOENERGY.
No, gold is not a renewable resource. It is a non-renewable resource because it cannot be grown or created. It is mined from the earth, and once it's used up, it cannot be replaced.
What are the different renewable and nonrenewable resources? ›
Renewable resources are those which cannot be depleted and could be reused. Examples of renewable resources include air, water, soil, solar energy, etc. Natural resources that are limited in quantity are referred to as non-renewable resources. The examples are coal, petroleum, etc.
What are the 3 main renewable resources? ›
There are five major renewable energy sources:
Solar energy from the sun. Geothermal energy from heat inside the earth. Wind energy.
Is oxygen renewable or nonrenewable? ›
Yes, oxygen is a renewable resource, for now. It comes from the fusion of carbon 12 to form oxygen 16. In a few quadrillion years, this reaction may become energetically unfavorable but it's perfectly workable for the time being. Once created, oxygen 16 doesn't do an awful lot after forming O2.
What are 4 renewable and non-renewable energy sources? ›
Different energy resources
| Energy resource | Energy store | Renewable or non-renewable |
|---|
| Fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gases) | Chemical | Non-renewable |
| Nuclear fuels | Nuclear | Non-renewable |
| Biofuel | Chemical | Renewable |
| Wind | Kinetic | Renewable |
5 more rowsEnergy sources are of two general types: nonrenewable and renewable. Energy sources are considered nonrenewable if they cannot be replenished (made again) in a short period of time. On the other hand, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are replenished naturally.
What are the different types of natural resources? ›
It is not possible to live without natural resources. Natural resources include oil, coal, natural gas, metals, stone, and sand. Air, sunlight, soil, and water are other natural resources.
What do renewable and non-renewable resources have in common? ›
Renewable and non-renewable resources are similar in which both are natural resources which are produced by nature itself, without intervention of human activity.
