In environmental science, wind and solar energy are examples of which type of energy resource that can be used again and again over time?

Introduction / Context:
Wind and solar energy are very common examples used in environmental science to introduce the idea of renewable and non renewable energy resources. Competitive exams often test whether learners can correctly classify these energy sources and understand why they are considered sustainable options compared to fossil fuels.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are given wind energy and solar energy as examples of energy resources.
• The question asks which type of energy resource they represent.
• Standard environmental science classification of energy resources into renewable and non renewable is assumed.
• No numerical calculation is required, only conceptual understanding.

Concept / Approach:
Energy resources are broadly classified into renewable and non renewable. Renewable resources are naturally replenished on a human time scale and are not depleted by normal use, for example sunlight, wind, and flowing water. Non renewable resources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas take millions of years to form and are depleted when used. The key concept is the rate of natural replenishment compared to the rate of human use.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the nature of solar energy. Sunlight reaches Earth every day and is continuously available as long as the Sun shines, so it is naturally replenished.Step 2: Identify the nature of wind energy. Wind is generated by uneven heating of the atmosphere by the Sun and rotation of Earth, which are ongoing processes, so wind is also continuously regenerated.Step 3: Compare these characteristics with the definition of renewable energy resources, which can be used without permanent depletion because they are replenished naturally.Step 4: Conclude that both wind and solar energy clearly fit the definition of renewable energy resources.

Verification / Alternative check:
Environmental science textbooks and policy documents consistently group solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy as renewable. Government schemes that promote clean energy also label wind farms and solar parks as renewable energy projects. This independent classification confirms that choosing renewable energy resources is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Non renewable energy resources are typically fossil fuels or uranium, which are depleted when used, so option B is incorrect. Exhaustible fossil fuel based resources in option C refer to coal, oil, and gas, not wind or sunlight. Conventional thermal power resources in option D usually burn coal or oil to produce electricity, which again are non renewable. Option E claiming both renewable and non renewable energy resources is wrong because wind and solar are not non renewable at all.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to think that any large scale power plant, including solar or wind farms, is similar to conventional power stations and therefore non renewable. Another error is to confuse reliability or intermittency with renewability; even though solar energy is not available at night, it is still renewable because the Sun continues to shine every day. Students should focus on whether nature replenishes the resource on a human time scale, not on whether supply is continuous during each hour.

Final Answer:
The correct classification is that wind and solar are Renewable energy resources used again and again without permanent depletion.