|
Unlimited Tutoring & Homework Help
- Instant Help. Connect to a Tutor Now. »
- K-12, College and AP Exams
- 24 x 7 Private Tutoring
|
|
Renewable Resources
The resources that can be replenished by the environment are called the renewable resources. These are also called the inexhaustible resources. These resources are constantly recycled in the environment like water. This also includes resources like the solar energy, air, plants, animals, microbes and some minerals like nitrogen. The rates at which these resources are returned to the environment are different for different resources. The rate at which man uses them also varies.
Non-renewable Resources
The resources that cannot be replenished by the environment are called the non-renewable resources. These are also called the exhaustible resources. These resources are formed in the environment at a very slow pace and cannot be replenished at the rate at which they are used. They include fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum and most of the minerals. Coal and petroleum, for instance take millions of years to be formed as they are formed from the fossils. Thus, they can never be replaced.
