Natural Resourcesand World

Classifications of Economies

Natural Resources

Elements from the Earth that are not made by people but can be used by them.

Renewable Resources

A natural resources which can never be used up or can be replaced naturally or grown again in a relatively short amount of time

Nonrenewable Resources

A natural resources which can not be replaced, such as minerals and fossils fuels.

Fossils Fuels

Coal

Oil

Natural Gas

USA Energy Sources

Fossil Fuels & Energy

Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas -- currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels.

Advantages of Fossil Fuels

Our society is built around fossils fuel

It is relatively inexpensive (compared to other energy sources)

It is what we know

Disadvantages of Fossils Fuels

Release of the greenhouse gas- carbon dioxide- when burned.

Environmental damaged in the retrieval (mines, etc).

Pollution- Acid rain and water pollution

Natural security costs- protecting foreign sources of oil

Very dependent on one form of energy

Will run out eventually

CARS!

Cars are the main consumers of energy in America Over 70 percent of the fossil fuels used in

America go to cars and other forms of transportation

This is primarily in the form of Gasoline

What other sources of energycan cars use for fuel?

Other Fuel Sources

Electric-Cars use electricity (some use gas as a hybrid fuel source) by plugging in to an outlet like an other appliance

Natural Gas-Compressed natural gas, similar to that used to heat homes

Biofuel-Fuels made from plant/animal sources, such as ethanol (corn based), algal fuel, and lard fuels

Hydrogen-Purer gas than CNG, uses fuel cells instead of gas tanks

Maybe even…Salt water?

Pros and Cons of

Other Fuels

Why not just use other fuels in our

cars?

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Why Gasoline?

Gasoline has been used for over 110 years to power our vehicles

It is easy to make and use, and almost all our engines are designed to use it

It generates a lot of power compared to other fuels

How much power?

Why NOT Gasoline?

Gasoline is a Non-renewable resource

Other fuels burn cleaner than gas Hydrogen cells only release water, electric

cars don’t have emissions (from the car, at least)

They can be renewable Electricity can be generated by wave

generators, solar power, etc.

The Biggest Drawback…Non-gasoline cars are a little…

…Ugly.

Renewable Energy Resources

Hydroelectric Power

Solar Power

Wind Power

Nuclear Power

Hydroelectric Using water to make

power- dams

7% of US energy and 19% of world energy

Advantages- renewable, not much pollution, reliable

Disadvantages- expensive to put into place (dams), floods areas of land with water (Glen Canyon), could cause disruptions to habitats

Solar Energy

Collect energy from the sun

Advantages- Inexhaustible fuel source, No pollution

Disadvantages-expensive, large numbers of solar panels (and thus large land areas) are required to produce useful amounts of heat or electricity, Only areas of the world with lots of sunlight are suitable for solar power

Wind PowerCollect energy from the

wind (turbines)

Advantages- Inexhaustible fuel source, No pollution

Disadvantages-expensive, large numbers of turbines are required to produce useful amounts of heat or electricity, Only areas of the world with lots of wind are suitable for solar power

Nuclear Power

Nuclear fission involves the splitting of a heavy element into lighter elements. Need deposits of uranium can successfully operate a fission power plant.

Advantages- Relatively little fuel is needed (uranium) , is not believed to contribute to global warming or other pollution effects associated with fossil fuel

Disadvantages- Possibility of nuclear meltdown from uncontrolled reaction--leads to nuclear fallout with potentially harmful effects on civilians, waste products can be used to manufacture weapons, high initial cost because plant requires containment safeguards

Nuclear Power

Are natural resources spread evenly around the world?

INSERT MAP FROM BOOK

What role does energy play in people’s lives?

Utah’s average energy use

Why do people live by natural resources?

Most Utahns live along the Wasatch Front mountain range. Why?