Introduction to Fossil Fuels
Geography: KS3, topic 7.2.1
What Are Natural Resources?
A natural resource is any kind of substance which in its natural form is needed (or desired) by humans.
Natural resources
- Natural resources are valuable because humans need or want to use them.
- Lots of natural resources provide the fuel source that we need to provide energy to use.
Types of natural resources
- We can put natural resources into three groups:
- Renewable.
- Non-renewable.
- Recyclable.
Non-renewable natural resources
- These are resources that will run out at some point. They are not being replaced.
- They are finite.
- Non-renewable natural resources include oil, natural gas and coal.
Renewable natural resources
- These are resources that can be reused. They are regenerated naturally and so will never run out.
- They are infinite.
- Renewable natural resources include water, solar power and wind power.
Recyclable natural resources
- These are resources that can be reused and so will last a long time into the future.
- Nuclear is a recyclable fuel as the uranium fuel can be reprocessed and used again.
Test yourself on Introduction to Fossil Fuels
Which is NOT a renewable natural resource?
Which type of natural resource is infinite?