EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Sunlight is a renewable resource, and its most direct use is achieved by capturing the sun’s energy. A variety of solar energy technologies are used to convert the sun’s energy and light into heat: illumination, hot water, electricity and (paradoxically) cooling systems for businesses and industry.

Detailed explanation-2: -A major advantage to using solar energy is that it is a renewable resource. We will have a steady, limitless supply of sunlight for another 5 billion years. In one hour, the Earth’s atmosphere receives enough sunlight to power the electricity needs of every human being on Earth for a year.

Detailed explanation-3: -Renewable resources include solar energy, wind, falling water, the heat of the earth (geothermal), plant materials (biomass), waves, ocean currents, temperature differences in the oceans and the energy of the tides.

Detailed explanation-4: -Sunlight is a renewable resource because it is continuously renewed during human lifetimes. It is true that eventually, the hydrogen that feeds the nuclear fusion reactions in the sun will run out, but that will not occur for another 5 billion years or so, which is far beyond the human capacity for planning.

Detailed explanation-5: -Sunlight and wind are renewable resources that can be replenished as we use them, unlike fossil fuels and uranium, which will deplete with extraction and cannot be renewed.