Unit 10: Distribution of Resources

Nonrenewable Resource

• A resource that can be replenished quickly, like solar energy.

• A resource that cannot be replaced quickly, like oil or coal.

• A resource that is always available, like air.

• A resource that can be reused indefinitely, like water.

Porosity

• The ability of a material to conduct electricity.

• The tiny holes or spaces inside a material, like rock or soil, that can hold water or air.

• The measure of a material's resistance to deformation.

• The process of a material breaking down into smaller pieces.

Natural Resource

• Materials from the Earth that people use, like water, air, trees, and minerals.

• Only renewable resources like solar and wind energy.

• Any substance that is man-made and used for production.

• Resources that are only found in urban areas.

Extract

• To remove or take something out, like getting oil from the ground or taking gold from rocks.

• To combine different elements into a single entity.

• To analyze data for insights and conclusions.

• To create something new from existing materials.

Groundwater Overdraft

• When too much water is taken from underground sources, like wells, and it can't be replaced fast enough.

• A process where groundwater levels rise due to excessive rainfall.

• The natural replenishment of groundwater through surface water infiltration.

• A method of conserving water by reducing usage in agriculture.

Desalination

• The process of removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable or usable.

• A method of purifying water using chemical agents.

• A technique for extracting minerals from seawater.

• The process of filtering water through sand and gravel.

Mining

• The process of digging into the Earth to find and take out valuable materials like metals, coal, or minerals.

• A method of extracting oil from the ground.

• The act of planting trees in a forest.

• A technique used to purify water from contaminants.

Subduction Zone

• A region where tectonic plates collide and one is forced below the other, often leading to earthquakes and volcanic activity.

• A flat area of land that is formed by the accumulation of sediment over time.

• A type of geological formation that occurs when two tectonic plates move apart from each other.

• A location where the Earth's crust is thickest and most stable.

Permeability

• The ability of a material to retain water.

• How easily a material, like soil or rock, allows water or other liquids to pass through it.

• The measure of a material's density.

• The capacity of a material to conduct electricity.

Renewable Resource

• A resource that can be used again and again because it is naturally replaced, like sunlight or wind.

• A resource that is finite and cannot be replenished once used, like fossil fuels.

• A resource that is artificially created and cannot be reused, like plastic.

• A resource that is only available in certain regions and cannot be transported.