Class 8 Social Science Notes Chapter 1 (Resources) – Resource and Development (Geography) Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 1: Resources from our Geography book. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding how we interact with our environment and is quite important for various competitive exams. Pay close attention.

Chapter 1: Resources - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. What is a Resource?

• Definition: Anything that can be used to satisfy a human need is called a resource.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Utility: The usability of a substance or object makes it a resource. Water, electricity, a textbook – all have utility.
  • Value: All resources have some value. Value means worth.
    • Economic Value: Some resources can be bought or sold or used to make things that can be bought or sold (e.g., metals like gold or iron ore).
    • Aesthetic Value: Some resources have value because they are beautiful (e.g., landscapes, mountains, waterfalls).
    • Legal Value: Sometimes, ideas or inventions become exclusive rights through patents, giving them legal and often economic value.
    • Ethical Value: Some resources hold ethical importance (e.g., biodiversity, clean air).
• Factors that turn a substance into a Resource:
  • Time: Over time, needs change, and new knowledge can turn previously unimportant substances into resources (e.g., discovery of fire, invention of the wheel).
  • Technology: This is the application of the latest knowledge and skill in doing or making things. Technology is crucial in converting substances into usable resources (e.g., technology to harness hydroelectricity turned fast-flowing water into a resource). People themselves, with their ideas, knowledge, inventions, and discoveries, are the most important resource that leads to the creation of more resources.

2. Types of Resources

Resources are generally classified into three main categories:

• A. Natural Resources:

  • Definition: Resources drawn directly from nature and used without much modification.
  • Examples: Air we breathe, water in rivers and lakes, soils, minerals, forests, sunlight.
  • Classification of Natural Resources:
    • Based on Level of Development and Use:
      • Actual Resources: Resources whose quantity is known, and which are being used in the present. (e.g., Coal deposits in the Ruhr region of Germany, petroleum in West Asia, rich dark soils of the Deccan plateau in Maharashtra).
      • Potential Resources: Resources whose entire quantity may not be known and which are not being used at present. They could be used in the future. The level of technology we currently have may not be advanced enough to utilize them easily. (e.g., Uranium deposits in Ladakh, high-speed winds were a potential resource 200 years ago, now used in windmills - an actual resource).
    • Based on Origin:
      • Biotic Resources: Obtained from the biosphere; these are living resources. (e.g., Plants, animals, forests, fish, microorganisms).
      • Abiotic Resources: Composed of non-living things. (e.g., Rocks, soils, minerals, water, air, sunlight).
    • Based on Stock (Renewability):
      • Renewable Resources: Resources which get renewed or replenished quickly. Some are unlimited and are not affected by human activities (e.g., solar and wind energy). Others can be depleted if used carelessly (e.g., water, soil, forest).
      • Non-Renewable Resources: Resources which have a limited stock. Once the stocks are exhausted, it may take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished. (e.g., Coal, petroleum, natural gas). Since this period is much longer than human lifespans, they are considered non-renewable.
    • Based on Distribution:
      • Ubiquitous Resources: Resources found everywhere. (e.g., Air we breathe, sunlight).
      • Localised Resources: Resources found only in certain places. (e.g., Copper, iron ore, specific mineral deposits).
  • Note: The distribution of natural resources depends upon physical factors like terrain, climate, and altitude. Distribution is unequal across the Earth.

• B. Human-Made Resources:

  • Definition: Resources created by human beings using natural resources.
  • Process: People use natural resources to make buildings, bridges, roads, machinery, vehicles, etc. Technology itself is a human-made resource.
  • Examples: Buildings, roads, bridges, machinery, vehicles, technology, infrastructure.

• C. Human Resources:

  • Definition: People themselves are the most important resource. It is their knowledge, skill, and technology that enable them to make the best use of nature and create more resources.
  • Importance: People with health, education, motivation, and skills are valuable resources.
  • Human Resource Development (HRD): Improving the quality of people's skills so that they are able to create more resources.

3. Conserving Resources

• Need for Conservation: Many resources are non-renewable and limited. Overuse and irrational consumption can lead to depletion and environmental degradation, threatening future availability.
• Resource Conservation: Using resources carefully and giving them time to get renewed. This involves reducing consumption, recycling, and reusing things.
• Sustainable Development:
  • Definition: Carefully utilizing resources so that besides meeting the requirements of the present, it also takes care of future generations. It means balancing the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future.
  • 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 (includes natural resources and ecosystems).
    • Minimise the depletion of natural resources.
    • Change personal attitude and practices towards the environment.
    • Enable communities to care for their own environment.

Key Terms Recap:

• Utility: Usefulness.
• Value: Worth (economic, aesthetic, legal, ethical).
• Patent: Exclusive right over an idea or invention.
• Technology: Application of knowledge and skill to make things.
• Stock of Resource: Amount of resources available for use.
• Actual Resource: Resource currently used, quantity known.
• Potential Resource: Resource not currently used fully, could be used in future.
• Renewable Resource: Replenishes quickly.
• Non-renewable Resource: Limited stock, takes very long to replenish.
• Ubiquitous Resource: Found everywhere.
• Localised Resource: Found in specific places.
• Resource Conservation: Using resources carefully, allowing time for renewal.
• Sustainable Development: Balancing present needs with future needs, ensuring long-term availability of resources.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which of the following makes a substance a resource?
   a) Quantity
   b) Shape
   c) Utility
   d) Colour

2. Resources that are drawn from nature and used without much modification are called:
   a) Human-made resources
   b) Natural resources
   c) Human resources
   d) Abiotic resources

3. Resources whose quantity is known and are being used in the present are classified as:
   a) Potential resources
   b) Ubiquitous resources
   c) Actual resources
   d) Renewable resources

4. Coal and petroleum are examples of:
   a) Renewable resources
   b) Biotic resources
   c) Non-renewable resources
   d) Potential resources

5. Resources found everywhere, like air, are known as:
   a) Localised resources
   b) Biotic resources
   c) Potential resources
   d) Ubiquitous resources

6. Technology is an example of which type of resource?
   a) Natural resource
   b) Human-made resource
   c) Actual resource
   d) Biotic resource

7. Balancing the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future is called:
   a) Resource development
   b) Sustainable development
   c) Resource depletion
   d) Human resource development

8. Which of the following is considered a Human Resource?
   a) Forests
   b) Technology
   c) People
   d) Minerals

9. Uranium found in Ladakh is an example of:
   a) Actual resource
   b) Potential resource
   c) Ubiquitous resource
   d) Non-renewable resource (Note: While Uranium itself is non-renewable, its specific deposit in Ladakh before utilization is primarily classified by its development status).

10. Improving the quality of people's skills to enable them to create more resources is referred to as:
    a) Skill India
    b) Resource Conservation
    c) Sustainable Development
    d) Human Resource Development

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c) Utility
2. b) Natural resources
3. c) Actual resources
4. c) Non-renewable resources
5. d) Ubiquitous resources
6. b) Human-made resource
7. b) Sustainable development
8. c) People
9. b) Potential resource
10. d) Human Resource Development

Make sure you revise these notes thoroughly. Understanding the classification and the importance of conservation is key. Any questions?