Science Study Notes on Natural Resource

By Geeta Nauriyal|Updated : March 13th, 2020

In this article, we are discussing the topic of Natural Resources.  Questions on this topic are generally asked in the REETUPTETCTET and other teaching examinations. If you go through the previous year's question papers, you will find that every year a good number of questions are asked on this topic.

Resources obtained from the environment are known as natural resources. On one hand, natural resources are fast depleting because of overexploitation by humans and on the other hand, the earth is becoming a big dumping ground for waste generated by the activities of the rapidly growing human population.

These resources can be further divided into two:

A. Abiotic resources

B. Biotic resources (living natural resources)

Abiotic Resources:-

Abiotic resources are the physical or chemical non-living resources of our nature. For example land, water, Energy, Metals Petroleum and Natural gas.

1. Water: The natural water bodies include oceans, seas, and surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, waterfalls and ponds. Almost 80% of the earth’s freshwater remains frozen at a higher latitude and on mountain tops in the form of glaciers and ice sheets. Only 20% is available in liquid form. The primary source of water on land is rainfall. Water is an essential requirement for all living beings.

2. Energy: The prime source of energy is solar radiation. Coal, as you know, has been formed from vegetation which grew millions of years ago, fell and got trapped in sediments. Under immense pressure and intense heat for years, trees and vegetation buried in the sediments transformed into coal. Coal is used as a fuel for cookingrunning locomotives, furnaces industries and generating electricity. Coal is also used for the extraction of metals and minerals and in thermal power generation.

Energy is also harnessed from the sun (solar energy), wind (wind energy), animal excreta (biogas), sea (tidal energy) and radioactive minerals (nuclear energy).

3. Petroleum and natural gas:- Petroleum and natural gas are also fossil fuels. Petroleum probably originated from marine animals that lived during past geological periods, just as coal was formed from vegetation. Petroleum and natural gas are obtained from deep inside the earth and they are non-renewable energy resources. Petroleum products are used for running automobiles, steamers, and aeroplanes and for making plastics and fertilizers.

4. Metal ores or minerals:- Metal ores are chemical compounds (salts) of metal such as Aluminium, iron, copper, lead, zinc, manganese etc. These ores are found as deposits under the earth's surface. Aluminium is used to make utensils, and parts for vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft. Iron and its alloys are used for making ornaments, heavy machinery, railway engines, railway lines and a wide variety of articles. Copper is used for making industrial containers, and electric wire and is also used in electronics and telecommunication industries. Alloys such as brass and bronze contain copper.

5. Land:- Many organisms, including humans live on land. Landforms just approximately 29% of the earth’s surface include mountains, rocks, deserts, swamps, forests and grasslands. Humans use the land for growing crops that provide them with food. They also need land to build shelters, roads and cattle sheds. The need for land usage is steadily growing.

Biotic resources:-

These include plants, animals and microorganisms.

1. Plants:- The natural food resources included in the human diet are the various cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Humans cultivate plants to obtain good grains, pulses, spices, vegetables, fruits, sugar and oil from them. Fibre-yielding plants are grown by us to obtain cotton, jute and flex etc. Industrial raw materials such as rubber, timber, and resins are irreplaceable plant products.

2. Animals:- Goats, fish, eggs, poultry, prawns and crabs are the source of food for human beings. Horses, bullocks, elephants, oxen, camels, donkeys, yaks etc. are used for transportation and are known as draught animals. Yaks and sheep yield wool for woollens. Silkworms are reared for silk.

3. Microorganisms:- They provide antibiotics essential for medical purposes. Their use in fermentation and in breweries is an age-old practice. Microbes are responsible for processing waste and dead plants and animals.

Thanks 

byjusexamprep

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