Which of the following is an example of a non-renewable resource?

A non-renewable resource is one that cannot be replenished in a short time frame, meaning once it is depleted, it takes thousands or millions of years for it to be formed again naturally. Crude oil is formed from the ancient remains of plants and animals buried under layers of sediment and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. This process is extremely slow, making crude oil a non-renewable resource.

In contrast, wind energy, solar energy, and geothermal energy are renewable resources. Wind and solar energy are derived from natural phenomena that are continually available and can be harnessed repeatedly without any risk of depletion in human time frames. Geothermal energy, which is derived from the Earth’s internal heat, is also sustainable because the heat from the Earth is constantly being produced. Thus, crude oil stands out as a non-renewable resource due to its lengthy formation process and lack of immediate replenishment.