Science game On Renewable and non-renewable energy
Energy allows our world to stay moving. It keeps the lights at home on, our gadgets and devices running, our food hot, and our businesses and industries alive. Cars, planes, and other vehicles need it as well.
We can get energy from quite a lot of sources. Some of the most well-known sources include fossil fuels, coal, and natural gas. You’ve likely also heard of solar power, wind turbines, and even volcanoes as ways to collect energy. Our sources can be classified into two types – renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
In simple terms, a non-renewable energy source is something that takes a very long time to replenish – this time can range from thousands to millions of years. Some examples include coal, natural gas, fossil fuels and nuclear energy. These sources only have a limited supply, but that doesn’t mean they’re scarce – it’s likely that a sizable chunk of these resources still remain in the Earth to be found and used. Most non-renewable sources are burned in the process, releasing greenhouse gases and other harmful substances in the process. These can pollute the air and cause diseases to humans, plants and wildlife. As they rise up the atmosphere, greenhouse gases also soak up heat from the Sun and raise the Earth’s temperature. On the other hand, a renewable energy source is made of something that can be replenished in a relatively short span of time, like in years. Many of these sources generate energy using naturally-occurring phenomena, such as the mechanical force of wind, the radiant energy of sunlight, or the thermal energy that comes from the Earth’s volcanic processes. Renewable energy sources generally emit less greenhouses gases and harmful chemicals. In this page, you’ll find a handy and concise study aid for gaining a deeper understanding about renewable and non-renewable energy sources and the different types available for human use.