Environmental 1.1

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Give two reasons why environmental science is important.

- studying environmental science reminds us that we are part of the natural world and how we interact with it matters a great deal. - understanding interactions between humans and the environment is the first step toward solving environmental problems.

Natural Resource

A material or energy source provided by nature that people need to survive.

Environmentalism

A social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world from undesirable changes brought about by human actions.

Name four of the disciplines that contribute to the study of our interactions with the environment.

Biology, chemistry, ecology, economics

List three examples of nonliving things in the environment.

Continents, oceans, clouds.

What is the difference between environmental science and environmentalism?

Environmental science is the pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it. Environmentalism is a social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world.

Ecological Footprint

Expresses the environmental effects of an individual or population in terms of the total amount of land and water required.

For most of human history, population has been high and relatively stable.

False; For most of human history, the population has been low and relatively stable.

Nature makes resources at similar speeds.

False; Nature makes resources at different speeds.

The Industrial Revolution marked a shift from a rural society to an urban society powered by renewable resources.

False; The Industrial Revolution marked a shift from a rural society to an urban society powered by nonrenewable resources.

Renewable Resource

Natural resources such as fruits and grains, are naturally replenished, or renewed over short periods.

Fossil Fuel

Nonrenewable energy resources such as oil, coal, and natural gas are known as fossil fuels.

Sustainable

Resource use is considered sustainable if it can continue at the same rate into the foreseeable future.

Nonrenewable Natural Resource

Resources such as coal and oil are nonrenewable because they are naturally formed much more slowly than we use them.

Why are sunlight and oil on opposite sides of the renew ability continuum?

Sunlight is always available and oil is a nonrenewable resource.

Environment

Th environment is all living and nonliving things with which organisms interact.

Environmental Science

The study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment

Fruit is an example of a renewable resource.

True.

Our ecological footprint is affected by the number of people on Earth and how much we consume.

True.

The tragedy of the commons refers to the overuse of unregulated resources.

True.


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