Energy Notes

The Sun:

  • Approximately 150, 000, 000 km…(992,960,000 miles) away
  • The Earth’s biggest energy source
  • Energy radiates from the sun
  • Radiation is the movement of energy through space
  • When the radiation reaches Earth, it is absorbed by particles of land, water, and air

Wind:

  • When particles take in the sun’s radiation, the particles move faster
  • This increased movement of the particles is called heat.
  • The land, water, and air heat up
  • Process of heating up is not the same in all

places on Earth….why?

  • Air heats up unevenly….the uneven heating of

Earth’s air produces winds.

  • Cool air moves toward warmer air
  • Warm air moves away from cooler air and

moving air is wind.

  • Convection: The transfer of heat when the denser cold

air sinks to the bottom and the warmer, less dense air rises

to the top….can only take place through liquids and gases.

Water:

  • The sun helps produce the WATER CYCLE
  • The water cycle is a process that conserves water on Earth
  • Liquid water on earth (puddles, ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans) and water in soil and plantswill be warmed by the sun
  • Particles heat up and move faster changing into water vapor…or gas
  • Liquid water turning to water vapor is called evaporation
  • The warm particles of water vapor rises into the air, cools down, moves slower and come together. The coming together of gas particles is called condensation.
  • Condensation forms clouds and precipitation (rain, sleet, hail, snow).
  • Precipitation falls to the ground and gathers in puddles, ponds, lakes, and rivers—other liquid water seeps into the ground and is called groundwater.
  • Groundwater finds its way to the oceans

The Water Cycle

Nonrenewable and Renewable Resources

Nonrenewable Resources

  • Definition: Resources that people use up faster than they can be replaced by natural processes
  • Resources include metals like copper, tin, and aluminum
  • Other resources like coal, oil, and natural gas (fossil fuels)
  • There is a limited supply of each….what is in the ground is all we have

Using Nonrenewable Resources:

  • Metals are used to manufacture cars, wires, airplanes, pots and pans
  • Burning oil and oil products such as gasoline, coal, and natural gas to run vehicles, power factories, heat homes, cook foods, and produce electricity

What problem do we face with Nonrenewable Resources???

______

Renewable Resources:

  • Definition: Resources that natural processes continuously replace itself
  • Resources include water, air, soil, trees, and food crops
  • Water is constantly recycled
  • Gases in air also are recycled…animals take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide and plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen
  • The balance of plants and animals keep the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air recycled
  • Soil is recycled because of weathering
  • Trees are chopped down but can be replanted
  • Food Crops can be seeded after old ones are harvested

What are ways we can conserve our resources?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Videos

Sun:

Wind:

Water: