Environmental Science: Renewable vs Non-Renewable Energy Worksheet

Question 1

Classify each energy source as renewable or non-renewable: solar, coal, wind, natural gas, hydropower, and oil.

Accepted Answer

Solar, wind, and hydropower are renewable energy sources because they are naturally replaced on a short time scale. Coal, natural gas, and oil are non-renewable energy sources because they form over millions of years and can be used up.

Question 2

Explain why coal is considered a non-renewable energy source.

Accepted Answer

Coal is considered non-renewable because it forms from ancient plant material over millions of years. Humans use coal much faster than Earth can replace it.

Question 3

A town gets most of its electricity from wind turbines. Name one advantage and one challenge of using wind energy.

Accepted Answer

One advantage of wind energy is that it does not burn fuel or release much air pollution while producing electricity. One challenge is that wind turbines only produce electricity when the wind is blowing strongly enough.

Question 4

A power plant burns natural gas to make electricity. Describe one environmental impact of using natural gas.

Accepted Answer

Burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. It can also release some air pollutants, although usually less than coal.

Question 5

Compare solar energy and oil by explaining which one is renewable and which one is non-renewable.

Accepted Answer

Solar energy is renewable because sunlight is naturally available every day and is not used up when people collect it. Oil is non-renewable because it forms very slowly underground and can be depleted.

Question 6

A family wants to reduce its use of non-renewable energy at home. List two actions the family could take.

Accepted Answer

The family could install solar panels if possible and use less electricity by turning off lights and electronics when they are not needed. They could also choose energy-efficient appliances or use public transportation more often.

Question 7

Hydropower uses moving water to generate electricity. Explain why hydropower is renewable, and describe one possible environmental concern.

Accepted Answer

Hydropower is renewable because the water cycle continually moves water through rivers and reservoirs. One environmental concern is that dams can change river habitats and affect fish migration.

Question 8

A student says, "Renewable energy sources never harm the environment." Explain why this statement is not fully correct.

Accepted Answer

The statement is not fully correct because renewable energy sources can still have environmental impacts. For example, dams can affect rivers, wind turbines can affect some wildlife, and solar farms need land and materials.

Question 9

Biomass energy can come from wood, crops, or plant waste. Explain why biomass can be renewable if it is managed carefully.

Accepted Answer

Biomass can be renewable if new plants are grown to replace the materials that are burned or used. It must be managed carefully so people do not remove trees or crops faster than they can regrow.

Question 10

A city currently uses a coal power plant. It plans to replace part of its electricity supply with solar panels. Describe one way this change could affect air pollution and one way it could affect energy reliability.

Accepted Answer

Replacing some coal power with solar panels could reduce air pollution because solar panels do not burn fuel to make electricity. Energy reliability could be affected because solar panels produce less electricity at night and during very cloudy weather unless energy is stored or another power source is available.

Question 11

Sort these examples into two groups: a gasoline car, a home with rooftop solar panels, a geothermal power plant, and a coal-fired power plant.

Accepted Answer

The home with rooftop solar panels and the geothermal power plant use renewable energy. The gasoline car and the coal-fired power plant use non-renewable energy because gasoline and coal come from fossil fuels.

Question 12

Explain why using a mix of different renewable energy sources can be helpful for a community.

Accepted Answer

Using a mix of renewable energy sources can help a community because different sources work best at different times and places. For example, solar energy works during sunny periods, wind energy works when it is windy, and hydropower or geothermal energy may provide steadier electricity in some areas.

Environmental Science: Renewable vs Non-Renewable Energy

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