Resources Class 8 Notes CBSE Geography Chapter 1 [Free PDF Download]

What are Resources?

Anything that can be used to fulfil a need and has some value is a resource. Substances like water, electricity, vegetables, cars and textbooks all have a specific utility and hence they are considered as resources. Some resources are economically valuable while some are not. Beautiful scenery does not have an economical value like gold, but it is equally important to satisfy human utility. Some resources may gain value with time while some may lose their value. 

Time and Technology

Time and technology play a significant role in changing substances into valuable resources. These two factors are related to the needs of the people. As people themselves are the most significant resource, their ideas, knowledge, inventions and discoveries with time lead to the formation of more resources. With the advancement of technology, every discovery or invention leads to many other subsequent ones. Here are a few examples:

• The discovery of fire gave the idea of cooking.

• Agricultural development came out as a result of domestication of animals.

• The invention of the wheel caused the invention of various modes of transport.

• The technology to produce hydroelectricity has resulted in the successful harnessing of energy present in fast-flowing water.

Types of Resources

Resources are classified into natural, man- made and human resources.

Natural Resources are extracted from nature and are mainly utilized without making any change in their form. For example, air, water, minerals, etc.

Man Made Resources are the ones which are made by humans. They are derived from natural resources but are not used in their original form. For example, roads, machines, etc.

Human Resources are the quality and quantity of humans who can use their skills to create more resources for mankind. Every human is a resource if they can create man made resources. 

The natural resources can be either Renewable or Non-Renewable. Renewable resources can be renewed easily and quickly and they can be used for millions of years. For example, sunlight, wind, etc. but the non-renewable resources take millions of years to form and get renewed so they can be used only for a few centuries. For example, coal, petroleum, etc.

The training and improvement of skills of a human by education is called Human Resource Development. It enhances the mental and physical capability of humans so that they can be of use to humanity.

Conservation of Resources

The use of resources for need, without greed is called conservation of resources. It enables the resources to be renewed for future generations. Also, when the resources are used in a manner that they remain useful for the future generations too, it is called Sustainable Development. We can do this by recycling and reusing things. We can also follow a reduction of use for the unimportant things in our life.

Principles of Sustainable Development

• Respect and care for all forms of life

• Improve the quality of human life 

• Conserve the earth’s vitality and diversity 

• Minimise the depletion of natural resources 

• Change personal attitude and practices towards the environment 

• Enable communities to care for their own environment

Important Questions and Answers

1. Explain how resources have value.

Ans: Resources have a value if they are of any use to the people, directly or indirectly. The resources can either have a commercial value or they do not have a commercial value. Here are some examples:

Platinum is a resource that has economic value as we make many valuable products from it like jewellery.

A beautiful landscape that you observe may not have economic value but is still said to be a resource as it is functional in providing pleasure to the human mind.

2. What is wind energy and why is it becoming important?

Ans: Wind energy is the use of power of wind to generate electricity which we can use for other purposes. A turbine is rotated using wind energy and this generates electricity we can use. 

As wind turbines are an environmentally clean and sustainable renewable form of electricity, wind power is gaining popularity. Wind energy is also emerging as an economically competitive source of energy as compared to most conventional power sources. 

3. Why is a human resource important?

Ans: Human resources are important because humans are sometimes skilled and can be trained to make the best use of nature in order to use the existing resources and also generate more resources using the knowledge and technology that they gain over time.

4. Mention and define the major types of natural resources.

Ans: Broadly, there are two types of resources:

Renewable Resources whose availability is not affected by human consumption. These resources get renewed quickly even with constant human usage. 

Non-Renewable Resources which have a limited supply and are highly affected by human consumption. These resources decline with human consumption. They take thousands of years to get formed. For example, coal and petroleum.

Class 8 Geography Chapter 1 Notes - Resources

 Benefits of Studying from the Class 8 Geography Notes 

• The notes highlight significant topics which are found in the 6 chapters.

• They are highly recommended for those who wish to revise and practice their knowledge on the subject before they give their board exams. 

• Insightful and it provides students with an opportunity to gain a holistic view of how all the chapters are interrelated. 

• Revision notes also help in exam preparation.

• The notes are cumulative of all the chapters and are a short-cut way of understanding all the various nuances of the subject itself. 

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Class 8 Geography Chapter 1 - Resources

This chapter is mainly about resources such as transportation systems, power (electricity), food, water, etc. These resources are characterized in the chapter according to the utility one can get from a product. One has to understand one of the most essential characteristics of a resource is its usability and how the general populace of a country can benefit from it. In other words, it needs to have value. Any material or substance that can be of value to people is automatically on-the-spot converted into a resource. Moreover, some resources are known for being efficient to use and inherently have economic value. A student can learn about types of resources in geography class 8, the notes have very specific information on the topic itself, however, it is advisable to refer to the text-book before revising by way of class 8 geography chapter 1 notes. 

Resources

Anything that can be converted into something of value is a resource. A resource is usually used to satisfy a need or a want of an economy. Resources are also involved in the ‘allocation of resources’ process that is involved in economics. That is the capacity for intersectionality that this chapter has. Moreover, resources are one of the most essential components of any business. Workforces, labour market, etc. are all examples of what all come under the umbrella term ‘resources’. 

Types of Resources 

Universally, there are considered three main types of resources under which all the other types are situated. The three kinds are natural; man-made; human. 

• Natural Resources

These types of resources are naturally found in nature itself as the name suggests. Some natural resources are the air we breathe, water for drinking or bathing, oil resources, minerals in the soil, the soil itself for plantation purposes, etc. Anything that can be found in nature which can be put to use by the human race is supposed to be a natural resource. Thus, renewable energies like the sun and wind energy also come under this definition. 

• Man-Made Resources

Some natural resources which can be moulded into resources by humans are considered a man-made resource. All man-made/human-made resources are essentially materials or substances found in nature that had to be refined and processed for humans to gain some sort of benefit out of it. 

• Human Resource

As mentioned earlier, labour markets and such constitute a resource. This resource is known as the human resource, and the NCERT class 8 geography chapter 1 notes elucidates further about its importance. Human resources are defined as a resource that refers to the number of people and the mental/physical capacity of people who are willing to work. The business sector especially treats human resource as one of the most valuable resources one can find.

Conserving Resources

The stock of natural resources is limited. It is better to conserve the natural resources by using them carefully so that they get the time to be renewed. Careful use of these resources balances the need for using them and the conservation for the future. Due to the excessive use of water, its scarcity can be seen in many places, and coal and petroleum are also going to be exhausted in the near future. It is our duty to preserve natural resources and to use them in a proper manner. Three most efficient ways to conserve natural resources are reducing the consumption of natural resources, reusing in them if possible, and recycling of discarded items.