Energy forever?
This activity looks at the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Some sources of energy on Earth will never run out. These are called renewable sources.
Other sources of energy have a limited supply on Earth and will eventually run out. We must use these non-renewable sources wisely as we depend on them for most of our energy needs at the moment.
The activity asks you to decide whether energy sources are renewable or not:
- Coal – this is non-renewable and will run out. It comes from large plants and trees buried deep in the Earth millions of years ago.
- Hydropower – this is renewable and will not run out. It comes from the energy in moving water eg waves in the sea.
- Gas – this is non-renewable and will run out. It comes from small plants and creatures buried deep in the seabed millions of years ago.
- Oil – this is non-renewable and will run out. Like gas, it comes from small plants and creatures buried deep in the seabed millions of years ago.
- Solar power – this is renewable and will not run out. It comes from energy in the Sun’s rays.
- Wind power – this is renewable and will not run out. It comes from the energy in moving air.
