Natural Resources

Many things that we use each day began as part of the environment. These things are called natural resources which materials from the environment that people use. Natural resources can be divided into two main groups. Energy resources are natural resources that provide people with energy. An example of an energy resource is sunlight. The energy of sunlight can be changed into electricity. Minerals, water, plants, animals, rocks, and soil are all material resources. Some material resources can be used to make other products. Renewable resources are those that are regularly replaced. Plants, animals, and water are all renewable resources. Water is replaced through the water cycle. Nonrenewable resources are those that can only be used once and can't be replaced by the nature as quickly as they can be used. All natural resources must be used with care. The sun is the Earth's most important energy source. Plants use energy from sunlight to produce food. Oil, coals, and natural gases are called fossil fuels. Petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. Before using petroleum it is separated into different substances in a process called refining. Coal is a solid fossil fuel from dead plant materials. Nuclear energy is energy that comes from the nuclei of atoms. One kind of nuclear energy is called fission. Conservation is the wise use of natural resources. The first step to conserving resources is to reduce the consumption.