Hi! I'm Studyfin, your science buddy. Today we will explore where our Earth gets its amazing energy!
Earth gives us many resources to help us live. Some can be replaced quickly, while others take millions of years to form.
Renewable resources can be replaced easily by nature. The sun shines and the wind blows every single day, giving us endless energy.
Nonrenewable resources exist in limited amounts. Things like coal and oil take millions of years to form deep underground, so once we use them up, they are gone for good.
✏️ Worked example
Imagine a town wants to build a new power plant. They must choose between using coal or using wind. Let's compare these two resources to help them decide.
First, identify the source of each resource. Wind comes from the atmosphere, while coal is mined from deep underground.
Next, check how fast each resource can be replaced. Wind is replaced instantly as the sun heats the Earth. Coal takes millions of years to form from old plant matter.
Then, classify each resource. Since wind is replaced quickly, it is a renewable resource. Since coal takes millions of years to make, it is a nonrenewable resource.
Finally, make a recommendation. The town should choose wind because it will never run out and is cleaner for the environment.
Want the full interactive lesson — quiz, animations, and Finn cheering them on?
Studyfin
✨ Sign up free
