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Course: Middle school Earth and space science - NGSS > Unit 5
Lesson 1: Natural resourcesNatural resources
Review your understanding of natural resources in this free article aligned to NGSS standards.
Key points
- A natural resource is anything found in nature that can be used by humans.
- There are two types of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable resources can be replaced over human lifetimes. Nonrenewable resources cannot.
- Renewable resources are unevenly distributed around Earth. For example, some areas on Earth are windier than others. As a result, these areas are able to generate wind energy more easily.
- Nonrenewable resources are also unevenly distributed. This is because these resources are formed by geologic processes, which occur in specific places on Earth.
- Human activity can change the distribution of certain resources. For example, building a dam can increase the amount of fresh water in one region and decrease it in another.
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why cant we sometimes see the stars at night?(18 votes)
Because clouds cover them but it sometimes the way the earth is moving/facing(31 votes)
Why are clouds closer then we think they are(13 votes)
The type of cloud that is formed will determine what level the cloud is in the atmosphere.
The various cloud types have different characteristics that are dictated by the elements available, including the amount of water vapor, the temperatures at that height, the wind, and the interplay of other air masses.
Colder clouds are higher in the atmosphere while warmer ones are closer to the surface. Also, warmer clouds can hold more water vapor than colder clouds, making it possible for clouds closer to the surface to become thicker and bigger than higher clouds.(18 votes)
- wait, but how does a dam decrease fresh water in a another region?(11 votes)
if the dam holds water from a stream, the water flowing out of the dam downstream from it could be a lot slower than if the dam weren't there, and that could decrease fresh water in another region(17 votes)
- While we need fossil fuels for somethings, it does not mean they are reliable. If we keep mining and have factories that produce these things, we are destroying the Earth. We need to take care of our Earth, because it is the only one we have.(11 votes)
I agree with you. Fossil fuels are a finite resource and their extraction and use have significant environmental impacts. The good news is that there are many alternatives to fossil fuels that are cleaner and more sustainable. Some of these alternatives include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy. Do you want me to look up more information on this topic?(10 votes)
what if stars are just holes poked in a container we live in?(9 votes)
How would we test this idea against our observations of the natural world?
One possible prediction of stars being holes poked in a container is that stars would all be the same color: that of the light in the environment surrounding our container. Just with our eyes, we can observe that some stars are red or blue, for instance, so we know that isn't true. With more sophisticated equipment, we can tell from stars' light that they're different temperatures, too!
Does that answer your question at all?(12 votes)
- what causes the clouds to become dark when it is about to rain?(8 votes)
Clouds get thicker and darker as their water content increases. It's more difficult for light to pass through a thick cloud that has lots of water in it and that causes the cloud to appear dark.(7 votes)
Why are clouds kinda close and not too high up ?(7 votes)- The type of cloud that is formed will determine what level the cloud is in the atmosphere.
The various cloud types have different characteristics that are dictated by the elements available, including the amount of water vapor, the temperatures at that height, the wind, and the interplay of other air masses.
Colder clouds are higher in the atmosphere while warmer ones are closer to the surface. Also, warmer clouds can hold more water vapor than colder clouds, making it possible for clouds closer to the surface to become thicker and bigger than higher clouds.(9 votes)
- Are things we set in space re-useable? B/c, everywhere i see its like markers or plastic. But can the materials engineers use to make space equipment be re-used? And if yes, where? Btw, i searched the whole net and i got weird answers. If that wasnt clear: Can can the equipment they use to make rockets/jets be re-used?(5 votes)
- Reusable rockets are a project that is being worked on, and if the answer is found, maybe people wont be having to spend so much money on rockets.(1 vote)
If its day time here and its night time on the other side of the world then why can we see the moon around3:00sometimes(4 votes)- The moon orbits the Earth, meaning that sometimes we're able to see it during the day.(7 votes)
- when do people use these(6 votes)
3:00