Explain why coal is a finite resource. (1 point)
A. Coal is a finite resource because it will never replenish. Therefore, there is a limited supply on Earth.
B. Coal is a finite resource because it will slowly replenish and can be conserved so that it is not harvested faster than it is replenished.
C. Coal is a finite resource because it replenishes on a geological timescale of millions of years. Therefore, there is a limited supply.
D. Coal is a finite resource because it must be refined before being used for energy.
c is the best choice.
I'm sorry, but the article never explained why coal is a finite resource. I read the whole thing. -:
Fine, I figured it out by myself, but it might be wrong.
The correct option is C. Coal is a finite resource because it replenishes on a geological timescale of millions of years, leading to a limited supply.
To understand why coal is a finite resource, we need to first understand how coal forms. Coal is primarily formed from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago. Over time, layers of dead plant matter accumulated and were buried under sediment. The heat and pressure from the overlaying sediment transformed the plant material into coal through a process known as coalification.
Because coal forms from organic material that takes millions of years to accumulate and undergo the necessary geological processes, the replenishment of coal deposits is an extremely slow process. This slow rate of formation means that the amount of coal available on Earth is limited and cannot be quickly replenished to meet current demands.
Option A is incorrect because it states that coal will never replenish, which is not entirely accurate. Although the rate of replenishment is extremely slow, coal deposits can theoretically be replenished over geological timescales.
Option B is incorrect because it suggests that coal can be conserved and harvested in a sustainable manner. While efforts can be made to use coal more efficiently or promote alternative energy sources, the fact remains that coal itself is a finite resource due to its slow rate of replenishment.
Option D is incorrect because the need for refinement does not directly relate to coal being a finite resource. Coal must indeed go through a refining process before it can be used for energy, but this is unrelated to its limited supply on Earth.