"Renewable energy can come also from living things that reproduce quickly, such as wood,..." Is wood a living thing? I don't understand why it says this in my text.
Trees are living things. Leaves with sunlight produce energy for the tree to grow (taller and bigger around) and the seeds they produce reproduce more trees. They aren't living in the sense that humans and animals do. We talk about trees dying and dead trees in the woods decompose just like we do when we die. Anyway, that's my take on the situation.
Well, I do understand trees are living things, but what about wood? Like when it is separated from the tree?
Ohh, wait I understand now. Nevermind!
Well, you gotta understand that wood comes from trees so wood is a renewable resource.
Yes, I understand that now.
No, wood itself is not a living thing. Wood is actually the result of a complex process that occurs in trees, which are living organisms. The process of photosynthesis allows trees to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. Glucose is then used by the tree to produce energy and build its own structure. Over time, the tree accumulates layers of dead cells called xylem, which eventually become wood.
While trees are indeed living organisms, once they are harvested and separated from their roots, they lose their ability to grow, metabolize, and reproduce. Therefore, wood is considered a renewable energy source because it can be sustainably harvested from trees, which can be replanted and regrown. This is in contrast to fossil fuels, such as coal or oil, which are formed from ancient organic matter but cannot be replenished within a human lifespan.
So, to summarize, wood is not a living thing itself, but it is derived from living organisms (trees) and can be considered a renewable energy source due to its potential for sustainable harvesting and replanting.