GEOGRAPHY – NOTES CH1 RESOURCES IMP
What is resource?
Anything that has some utility to satisfy our needs is known as a resource. Utility or usability is
the factor which makes a substance a resource. Resources also always have worth- either
economic worth, enjoyable worth, or the enjoyable worth also becoming economical with time.
For example, Your home remedies, are the resources that have worth to you. However, if we
sell these remedies, we will also have its economic value. Examples of some resources is the
water you drink every day, the air we breathe in, our house furniture , etc. Human beings are
important resources because their ideas, knowledge and skills and capabilities lead to the
creation of new resources. Types of Resources: There are three types of resources—
Natural resources, Man-made resources and Human resources.
What are two factors that help change a substance to a resource over time?
Two major factors that help change a substance to a resource over time are
Time and Technology. With human wit and potential expands, with time we
can discover and invent new ideas and products which will become a
resource when used. Time gives us the option to embrace our plans.
People are the most important resource as it is their ideas, knowledge,
inventions and discoveries -technology-that lead to the creation of
more resources. Technology is also a human-made resource and it is used
everywhere in our day-to day life for physical interactions, businesses
wholesale, leisure, etc. For example, the technology behind
Hydroelectricity was all in humankind’s which has become such an
efficient resource out of normal flowing water, the substance. . Iron ore was
not a resource until people learnt to extract iron from it. Iron is used for It is used to
manufacture steel and also used in civil engineering like reinforced concrete,
girders etc.
Iron is used to make alloy steels like carbon steels with additives such as nickel,
chromium, vanadium, tungsten, and manganese.
Explain types of resources
Types of resources can be broadly classified into 3 types ; natural resources, human
resources and man-made resources.
What is a natural resource?
A natural resource is a resource that directly derives/ is drawn from our natural
surroundings without much modification e.g., the air we breathe, the water we use on
regular basis, the food we eat, the soil and the minerals. These resources are naturally-
bonded and have mixed properties however sometimes other types of resources need to
be present to use the natural resource. For example, to cook vegetables you obviously
need the natural resource vegetable but to cook it you need a pan, a man-made resource.
There are two types of natural resources- Non-Renewable and Renewable resources.
Renewable resources are those that can be renewed and replenished some which are not
affected by our human activities like solar power or wind power, but some which are for
our careless use for eg. Water, or carbon-dioxide levels. Non-renewable resources are
limited in stock and those that cannot be renewed or replenished eg, Coal, biogas, fossil
fuels.
How are natural resources distributed?
distribution of natural resources depends upon number of physical factors like terrain, climate
and altitude. The distribution of resources is unequal because these factors differ so much over
the earth.
What is human-resource?
Human resources are people technically. It depicts our mindset, emotions, potential,
knowledge, skill, and helps us form other new resources and create new
discoveries/inventions. Us as human- resources help all 3 pillars of sustainability-
social, economic, and biodiversity through our health and improved quality set of skills.
Sometimes, natural substances become resources only when their original form has been
changed through our knowledge and thought-process. Iron ore was not a resource until people
learnt to extract iron from it. Human resources use other resources they created to take care of all
factors together, keeping a balanced environment.
What is a man-made resource?
A man-made resource is any resource that is actually a production of mankind and it derives its
properties and manufacturing from factories. It is either made using machinery, or handout work.
It usually has some economic worth and is made just for utility of the product.
What is resource conservation?
When we give time to resources to get replenished and renewed, or we conserve our resources for
proper and ethical use , it is called resource conservation. There are many ways of conserving
resources. Each person can contribute by reducing consumption, recycling and reusing things.
Ultimately it makes a difference because all our lives are linked.
What is sustainable development?
Balancing the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future generation is called
sustainable development. The 4 pillars of sustainability are the Human, Social, Economic, and
Environmental pillars. We need many base rules to balance these pillars as follows:
Respect and care for all forms of life.
Improve the quality of human life.
Conserve the earth՚s vitality and diversity.
Minimize the depletion of natural resources.
Change personal attitude and practices toward the environment.
Ubiquitous resources
- Found everywhere , wherever u go
- Eg , air , any plants, sand ,earth
Localized resources
- Only found in some local areas, specified and certain areas
- Eg, minerals
Biotic resources
All found in biodiversity, all natural resources which are living
Eg plants animals etc
Abiotic resources
Natural raw material, sources of energy, non-living usually
Eg , sunlight,wind energy,air, water, rocks
Actual resources
The resources that are actually used on a regular basis
Eg, water
Potential resources
The resources which has a grasp of utility in the future with the help of time and
technology
