Unit 7 - Natural Resources

What are natural resources?

Materials or substances found in nature that are used by humans for economic gain (e.g., water, oil, forests).

What are renewable resources?

Natural resources that can regenerate or replenish over time (e.g., solar energy, wind, timber if sustainably managed).

What are non-renewable resources?

Natural resources that do not regenerate within a human timescale; once used, they are gone (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas).

What are goods?

Physical items that satisfy human wants and needs (e.g., food, clothing, cars).

What are services?

Non-physical activities provided by others that satisfy needs or wants (e.g., education, healthcare, banking).

What is solid domestic waste (SDW)?

Waste from homes including paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics, organic waste, packaging, construction debris, and clothing.

What is the waste hierarchy?

A ranked model of 5 waste management methods from most to least environmentally preferable: prevention, minimization, reuse, recycling, and disposal.

What is the Pollution Management Strategy?

A strategy involving changing human activities, reducing emissions at the source, and cleaning up pollutants after their release.

What is landfill?

A waste disposal method where waste is buried, often in excavated pits, to reclaim land or reduce surface waste.

What is e-waste?

Discarded electrical or electronic devices.

What is zero waste and composting?

Zero waste focuses on minimizing landfill use, and composting helps by converting organic waste into useful material.

What is incineration?

The burning of waste materials to reduce volume and sometimes generate energy.

What is energy security?

Uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price, ensuring reliable and consistent supply.

What is nuclear power?

Electric or motive power generated by energy released from nuclear reactions in a reactor.