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?
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