Classification of Resources Quiz

What is a Resource?

• A resource refers to anything that meets human needs and wants

Classification of Resources based on Availability

• Resources can be broadly classified into two categories based on their availability:
  • Renewable resources: can be replenished over time, e.g., water, wind, and solar energy
  • Non-renewable resources: cannot be replenished over time, e.g., fossil fuels, minerals, and metals

Classification of Resources as Actual and Potential

• Resources can be classified as actual or potential based on their current usability:
  • Actual resources: resources that are currently being used or can be used immediately, e.g., cultivated land, factories, and machines
  • Potential resources: resources that have the potential to meet human needs but are not yet being used, e.g., uncultivated land, untapped oil reserves, and unexplored mineral deposits

Classification of Resources based on Distribution

• Resources can be classified on the basis of their distribution:
  • Ubiquitous resources: resources that are available everywhere, e.g., air, water, and sunlight
  • Localized resources: resources that are limited to a specific area or region, e.g., copper deposits, iron ore, and fossil fuels

Broader Biological or Ecological Perspective of a Resource

• From a biological or ecological perspective, a resource refers to any component of the natural environment that supports life, including:
  • Abiotic resources: non-living components, e.g., water, air, soil, and sunlight
  • Biotic resources: living components, e.g., plants, animals, and microorganisms