Earth’s Natural Resources – Lesson Summary

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Learning Objective

In this lesson we will learn how Earth’s natural resources can be classified as renewable or non-renewable, depending on how long they take to replenish.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Define ‘natural resource’.
  • Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources, with examples.
  • Describe Earth’s four spheres.
  • Discuss how matter moves through biogeochemical cycles over different timescales.

 
earths natural resources lesson contents

(Image: lovelyday12, Adobe Stock)

Lesson Topics

1 | Natural Resources

2 | Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

3 | Earth’s Spheres

4 | Biogeochemical Cycles

5 | Summary

Lesson Summary

  • A natural resource is a naturally occurring substance or environmental condition that can be utilised in some way.
  • Natural resources may be used directly or undergo processing before use.
  • A renewable resource is a resource that is instantly replenished or replenished over a relatively short period of time.
  • A non-renewable resource is a resource that is replenished over a long period of time or not at all.
  • Earth can be considered as a system of interconnected spheres.
  • The lithosphere consists of the crust and upper mantle.
  • The hydrosphere includes all locations on Earth that contain water.
  • The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that form a layer around Earth.
  • The biosphere incorporates all parts of Earth where living organisms are found.
  • Matter moves through Earth’s spheres in biogeochemical cycles.
  • These include the water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle and rock cycle.
  • Matter moves over different timescales through biogeochemical cycles.
  • They therefore incorporate both renewable and non-renewable resources.

 
beaver building dam

Earth’s resources are not only used by humans. Here, a beaver is building a dam out of mud, rocks, branches and other plant materials to create a safe haven against predators.

(Image: Ronnie Howard, Adobe Stock)

(Header image: Viks_jin, Adobe Stock)