Which scenario describes a renewable resource being used for energy?
A. factory fuels its furnaces with coal.
B. turbine creates electricity using a gasoline-powered motor.
C. school heats its classrooms with a natural gas furnace.
D. power company generates electricity using a river’s current.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is D. power company generates electricity using a river’s current.
A renewable resource refers to a source of energy that is naturally replenished over time and can be used indefinitely, unlike fossil fuels, which are finite and take millions of years to form. In this scenario, the river’s current is being used to generate electricity, which is an example of hydroelectric power—a renewable energy source.
Hydroelectric power relies on the flow of water, typically from rivers or dams, to spin turbines that generate electricity. Water is continuously replenished by the water cycle (precipitation and evaporation), so as long as a river exists and flows, it can provide a consistent source of energy. This makes hydroelectricity a clean, sustainable, and renewable energy source.
Here’s why the other options don’t describe the use of renewable energy:
- A. factory fuels its furnaces with coal: Coal is a nonrenewable resource. It takes millions of years for coal to form from organic matter, and once it is used up, it cannot be replaced on a human timescale.
- B. turbine creates electricity using a gasoline-powered motor: Gasoline is also a nonrenewable fossil fuel. While gasoline can be used to generate electricity, it is not a renewable resource because it is finite and cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
- C. school heats its classrooms with a natural gas furnace: Natural gas is another nonrenewable resource. Like gasoline, it is extracted from the Earth and can only be used until reserves are depleted, making it unsustainable in the long term.
In summary, hydroelectric power (option D) is the only example where a renewable resource—flowing water—is used to generate energy.