{"id":2434,"date":"2016-06-07T22:51:59","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T22:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/geologyxwaymakerxmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=2434"},"modified":"2025-10-13T17:08:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:08:39","slug":"reading-energy-consumption-on-earth","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/geo\/chapter\/reading-energy-consumption-on-earth\/","title":{"raw":"Reading: Energy Consumption on Earth","rendered":"Reading: Energy Consumption on Earth"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n\r\n\"Two\r\n\r\nWhat resources are in those electronics?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nEveryone may realize that we use resources like trees, copper, water, and gemstones, but how many of us realize the tremendous variety of elements we need to make a single electronic device? A tablet computer with a touch screen contains many common chemical elements and a variety of rare earth elements.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Common Materials We Use from the Earth<\/h2>\r\nPeople depend on natural resources for just about everything that keeps us fed and sheltered, as well as for the things that keep us entertained. Every person in the United States uses about 20,000 kilograms (40,000 pounds) of minerals every year for a wide range of products, such as cell phones, TVs, jewelry, and cars. Table 1\u00a0shows some common objects, the materials they are made from, and whether they are renewable or non-renewable.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Table 1. Common Objects We Use from the Earth<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
Common Object<\/th>\r\nNatural Resources Uses<\/th>\r\nRenewable or Non-Renewable?<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Cars<\/td>\r\n15 different metals, such as iron, lead, and chromium to make the body.<\/td>\r\nNon-renewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Jewelry<\/td>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPrecious metals like gold, silver, and platinum.\r\n\r\nGems like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, turquoise.<\/td>\r\nNon-renewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Electronic Appliances (TV\u2019s, computers, DVD players, cell phones, etc.)<\/td>\r\nMany different metals, like copper, mercury, gold.<\/td>\r\nNon-renewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Clothing<\/td>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSoil to grow fibers such as cotton.\r\n\r\nSunlight for the plants to grow.\r\n\r\nAnimals for fur and leather.<\/td>\r\nRenewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Food<\/td>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSoil to grow plants.\r\n\r\nWildlife and agricultural animals.<\/td>\r\nRenewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Bottled Water<\/td>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWater from streams or springs.\r\n\r\nPetroleum products to make plastic bottles.<\/td>\r\nNon-renewable and Renewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Gasoline<\/td>\r\nPetroleum drilled from wells.<\/td>\r\nNon-renewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Household Electricity<\/td>\r\nCoal, natural gas, solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power.<\/td>\r\nNon-renewable and Renewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Paper<\/td>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTrees\r\n\r\nSunlight Soil<\/td>\r\nRenewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Houses<\/td>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTrees for timber.\r\n\r\nRocks and minerals for construction materials, for example, granite, gravel, sand.<\/td>\r\nNon-renewable and Renewable<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

Summary<\/h2>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Many objects, such as a car, contain many types of resources.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Resources may be renewable or non-renewable, and an object may contain some of each.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Rare earth elements and other unusual materials are used in some electronic devices.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
    \r\n

    Practice<\/h3>\r\nUse this resource to answer the questions that follow.\r\n\r\n