Natural, Synthetic, Renewable, and Non-Renewable Resources

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the characteristics, classifications, and examples of natural, synthetic, renewable, and non-renewable resources.

Resource

Anything we need or use.

Natural Resource

A resource that is found in the natural world.

Synthetic Resource

A resource made of many different things that have originated in nature but have been processed.

Renewable Resource

A resource that replenishes over time; it can be infinite (never runs out) or replenish itself within a human life span (for example, crops).

Non-renewable Resource

A resource that is finite (can run out) or can only be replenished over a very long period of time.

Fossil Fuels

Non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, and gas.

Nonrenewable Energy Types

Energy types listed as nonrenewable, which include nuclear energy, gas energy, coal energy, and oil energy.