1. Air: The Breath of Life

Air is an invisible but essential natural resource that surrounds the Earth. It is a mixture of several gases required for the survival of all living beings. While humans can survive for a few days without food or water, survival without Oxygen is impossible for more than a few minutes.

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The Composition of Air

Scientists define the composition of air using percentages. A percentage represents the number of parts out of a total of $100$.

Mathematical Breakdown of Air Components

If we consider a volume of $100 \text{ units}$ of air, the distribution of gases is as follows:

• Nitrogen: $78 \text{ parts out of } 100$ ($78\%$). It is the most abundant gas but is not used directly during breathing.
• Oxygen: $21 \text{ parts out of } 100$ ($21\%$). It is the most vital gas for respiration in humans and animals.
• Other Gases: $1 \text{ part out of } 100$ ($1\%$). This includes Argon, Carbon Dioxide, and water vapour.

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Name of Gas	Percentage Composition
Nitrogen	$78\%$
Oxygen	$21\%$
Argon	$0.9\%$
Carbon Dioxide	$0.04\%$
Others	$0.06\%$
Total	$100\%$

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Wind and Wind Energy

Wind is defined as moving air. It can blow gently as a breeze or very fast during a storm. In India, wind is a major source of Renewable Energy.

• The Firki Principle: Just as a small paper pinwheel (firki) rotates when we run or blow on it, large Windmills rotate due to natural wind.
• Windmill Farms: Large areas with multiple windmills used to generate electricity, pump water from wells, or run flour mills.
• Leading Indian Wind Farms:
  1. Muppandal Wind Farm in Tamil Nadu.
  2. Jaisalmer Wind Park in Rajasthan.
  3. Brahmanvel Wind Farm in Maharashtra.

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2. Water: Precious and Limited

Water is a precious treasure of nature covering approximately two-thirds of the Earth's surface. However, the availability of water fit for human use is very low.

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Types and Distribution of Water

Water on Earth is divided into two primary categories based on its salt content:

• Saline Water: Found in oceans and seas. It is salty and not fit for drinking, farming, or industrial use.
• Freshwater: This is the water we need for survival. It is found in:
  • Ice sheets and snow (difficult to access).
  • Underground water (requires wells/pumps).
  • Rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams (easily accessible but limited).

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Water Conservation and Reducing Wastage

Since freshwater is limited, we must use it judiciously. Simple changes in our daily activities can save thousands of litres of water in Indian households.

Steps to Reduce Wastage

Activity	Way to Reduce Wastage
Brushing Teeth	Turn off the tap while brushing.
Bathing	Use a bucket and mug instead of a shower.
Cleaning Vehicles	Use a wet cloth instead of a running hose pipe.
Gardening	Water plants in the early morning to prevent evaporation.
Total Saving	High Efficiency

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Traditional Indian Water Harvesting

India has a rich heritage of Rainwater Harvesting—the process of collecting and storing rainwater for future use. This practice is essential in regions with water scarcity.

• Bawadi (Stepwells): Traditionally built in Rajasthan to store rainwater and seepage water from nearby lakes. They consist of deep trenches lined with stone blocks.
• Vav: Similar stepwells found in Gujarat used for communal water storage.
• Modern Harvesting: Collecting rainwater from rooftops and storing it in underground tanks or using it to recharge groundwater.

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3. Energy from the Sun

The Sun is the ultimate and primary source of energy for all life forms on Earth. It provides both heat and light, which are essential for biological processes and modern technology. Without the Sun, life on our planet would be impossible as temperature would drop drastically and food production would stop.

The Natural Chain of Energy Flow

Energy from the Sun travels through the food chain in the following systematic order:

• Step 1 (Plants): Green plants capture sunlight to prepare their own food through a process called photosynthesis.
• Step 2 (Herbivores): Animals like cows eat grass and plants, thereby transferring the Sun's stored energy into their bodies.
• Step 3 (Humans and Omnivores): We obtain energy either directly by eating plants or indirectly by consuming animal products.

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Modern Applications of Solar Energy

In modern India, we have developed various technologies to capture solar energy directly to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels:

1. Solar Photovoltaic Panels: Installed on rooftops of houses and street lights to produce electricity.
2. Solar Cookers: Use mirrors and thermal insulation to cook food using only the Sun’s heat.
3. Solar Water Heaters: Highly common in Indian households to provide hot water for bathing and cleaning.
4. Solar Traffic Signals: Ensure signals work even during power outages by using stored solar power.

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Comparison of Energy Usage

Type of Usage	Example Activity	Energy Form Used
Direct	Drying chillies or raw mangoes	Solar Heat
Direct	Using a Solar Water Heater	Solar Heat
Indirect	A cow grazing in a field	Stored Chemical Energy
Indirect	Humans eating breakfast	Stored Chemical Energy

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4. Forests and Biodiversity

Forests are vast areas characterized by a dense growth of various types of plants, including herbs, shrubs, and trees. They are one of nature’s most significant treasures, acting as a natural home for wild animals, birds, and insects.

Multifaceted Importance of Forests

Forests perform several critical roles in maintaining the health of our planet:

• Source of Products: We obtain timber, honey, resins, rubber, and medicinal herbs from forests.
• Natural Habitat: They provide food and shelter to a vast variety of life forms (Biodiversity).
• Soil Protection: The roots of trees hold the soil firmly, preventing it from being washed away by rain (Soil Erosion).
• Nutrient Recycling: Fallen leaves decay on the forest floor, enriching the soil with nutrients that help new plants grow.
• Rainfall: Forests play a crucial role in the water cycle by releasing moisture through transpiration.

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Indian Heritage and Conservation Movements

India has a long-standing tradition of respecting and protecting forests. Key efforts include:

• Sacred Groves: These are community-protected patches of forests where cutting trees or harming animals is strictly forbidden due to cultural and religious beliefs.
• Chipko Movement ($1970$s): A famous movement in Uttarakhand where local women encircled and hugged trees to prevent them from being cut down by contractors.
• Van Mahotsav: A national forest festival celebrated during the first week of July to encourage large-scale tree plantation across the country.

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Consequences of Deforestation

Large-scale cutting of trees (Deforestation) leads to several negative impacts:

1. Loss of Habitat: Wild animals lose their homes and may enter human settlements.
2. Soil Erosion: Fertile topsoil is washed away, leading to floods and poor agriculture.
3. Global Warming: Fewer trees mean more Carbon Dioxide in the air, increasing the Earth's temperature.
4. Drought: Reduction in forest cover can significantly decrease local rainfall.

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Summary of Forest Protection

Movement/Festival	Location/Time	Primary Goal
Chipko Movement	Uttarakhand	Preventing felling of trees
Van Mahotsav	July (Annually)	Increasing green cover
Sacred Groves	Across India	Traditional community protection

5. Soil, Rocks, and Minerals

The Earth’s crust is a vast storehouse of natural treasures. It is primarily composed of various types of rocks, which are further made up of minerals. Over immense periods of time, these rocks transform into the soil that supports all terrestrial life.

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The Process of Soil Formation

Soil is not just "dirt"; it is a complex mixture formed through a slow process called disintegration or weathering. This process can take thousands of years to produce a single layer of fertile soil.

• Disintegration: Large rocks are broken down into smaller particles by the continuous action of the Sun (heat), Water (rain/flow), and Wind.
• Biological Action: Living organisms, such as earthworms, help in loosening the soil. Earthworms are often called natural agents of the soil.
• Enrichment: Dead plants and animals decompose and decay, adding humus (organic nutrients) to the sand and rock particles.
• Recycling: This is a perfect example of natural recycling where old life enriches the soil to help new life grow.

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Types of Rocks and Their Utility

In India, different types of rocks have been used for thousands of years in architecture and tool-making. The following table summarizes their uses:

Rock Type	Primary Use in India
Marble	Flooring, Statues, and beautiful Temples
Laterite	Used directly as Building Bricks in coastal regions
Slate	Traditional Roofing material
Granite	Hard-wearing Kitchen Countertops
Sandstone	Construction of historical Forts
Total Variety	Vital for Infrastructure

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Minerals: The Hidden Treasures

Rocks are composed of minerals, which are the raw materials for almost everything we use in modern technology.

• Extraction: Metals like Aluminium, Gold, Copper, and Iron are extracted from specific minerals found in mines.
• Electronics: A modern smartphone is a "mineral library," containing about a dozen different minerals including Cobalt, Silver, and Copper.
• Daily Life: Minerals are used in making jewellery, cosmetics, airplanes, and cars.

6. Fossil Fuels and Natural Resources

Natural Resources are substances provided by nature that are essential for our survival and comfort. These can be categorized based on their replenishment rate.

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Renewable vs. Non-renewable Resources

Understanding the difference helps us use our resources judiciously:

1. Renewable Resources:
   • These are resources that get replenished or restored by natural processes within a reasonable time.
   • Examples: Sunlight, Air, Water, and Forests.
2. Non-renewable Resources:
   • These exist in limited quantities and take millions of years to form. Once exhausted, they cannot be replaced.
   • Examples: Minerals, Rocks, and Fossil Fuels.

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Fossil Fuels: Energy from the Past

Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient plants and microorganisms that were buried deep inside the Earth millions of years ago.

• Coal: Primarily used in Thermal Power Plants to generate electricity in many Indian states.
• Petroleum: A crude oil that is refined to produce Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene.
• Natural Gas: Used as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) for cooking in kitchens and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) as a cleaner fuel for transport.

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Conservation: Need of the Hour

Over-dependence on fossil fuels has led to large-scale air pollution and the threat of resource depletion. We must follow the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi:

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not for every man’s greed.”

Ways to Conserve Resources:

• Switch to Renewable Energy (Solar and Wind).
• Use Public Transport or cycles for short distances.
• Practice Rainwater Harvesting to recharge groundwater.
• Protect Sacred Groves and participate in Van Mahotsav.

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