•Which resource can be used up, but is considered renewable because it can replace itself? Geothermal, trees, wind, or copper? Explain.
•What kind of resource is coal?
•Why is petroleum a nonrenewable resource?
•What is the difference between a renewable resource and a nonrenewable resource?
•Is an ocean wave a non-renewable resource? Explain why or why not in one or two sentences.
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1. Trees are considered a renewable resource because they can be replanted and grow back over time, even though they can be used up if not managed properly.
2. Coal is a nonrenewable resource because it is formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals and cannot be replaced within a human lifetime.
3. Petroleum is a nonrenewable resource because it takes millions of years to form from organic matter and is being used at a much faster rate than it is being replenished.
4. The main difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources is the rate at which they can be replenished. Renewable resources can be replaced relatively quickly, while nonrenewable resources are finite and take millions of years to form.
5. An ocean wave is considered a renewable resource because it is generated by wind and tides, which are constantly occurring natural processes. This means that ocean waves will continually be replenished as long as these forces are in place.