Learn Unit V: Natural Resources with Free Lessons & Tips

A solar cell panel, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) panel, is a device that converts sunlight directly into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Three applications of solar cell panels are:

1. Residential and Commercial Solar Power Systems: Solar panels can be installed on rooftops of homes, buildings, and offices to generate electricity for on-site consumption or to feed excess power back into the grid.

2. Off-grid Power Solutions: Solar panels are used in remote areas or locations where access to traditional power grids is limited or unavailable. They provide a reliable source of electricity for powering remote homes, telecommunications equipment, water pumps, and other applications.

3. Solar-powered Gadgets and Appliances: Solar panels are used to power various gadgets and appliances such as calculators, street lights, outdoor lighting, solar-powered chargers, and solar-powered water heaters.

Many thermal plants are set up near coal or oil fields because:

1. Fuel Availability: Thermal power plants primarily rely on coal or oil as fuel for generating electricity. Setting up plants near coal or oil fields reduces transportation costs and ensures a steady and reliable supply of fuel to the power plants.

2. Efficiency: Proximity to coal or oil fields allows for efficient extraction and transportation of fuel to the power plants, minimizing losses associated with fuel transportation and storage.

3. Infrastructure: Coal or oil fields often have existing infrastructure such as railways, pipelines, and storage facilities, which can be utilized for transporting fuel to thermal power plants, thereby reducing initial setup costs and time.

Renewable resources of energy are those that are replenished naturally and are not depleted with use. Examples include solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, biomass energy, and geothermal energy. Non-renewable resources of energy are those that are finite and deplete over time with use. Examples include fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

• Pesticides are considered pollutants despite being useful to farmers because they can have harmful effects on the environment, including contamination of soil, water, and air, as well as adverse effects on non-target organisms such as beneficial insects, birds, and mammals.

• Consumers play a vital role in the food chain by feeding on other organisms, thereby obtaining energy and nutrients for growth, maintenance, and reproduction. They help regulate population sizes of prey species and contribute to nutrient cycling in ecosystems.

Recycling is generally considered better than reuse because it involves processing materials to create new products, reducing the need for virgin resources and minimizing waste. For example, recycling paper saves trees and energy compared to reusing paper, which may not be feasible due to degradation or contamination.

Three measures to lower the use of coal and petroleum include:

1. Increasing energy efficiency and conservation measures to reduce overall energy consumption.
2. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower to replace coal and petroleum-based energy sources.
3. Implementing policies and incentives to encourage the adoption of alternative transportation fuels, such as electric vehicles and biofuels, to reduce reliance on petroleum.

Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater for future use. It can be done at the local level through the installation of rainwater harvesting systems such as rooftop rainwater harvesting, rainwater storage tanks, and permeable pavements. Benefits of rainwater harvesting include: