Final answer:
Fossil fuels, fresh water, and rare minerals are examples of finite resources because they are nonrenewable and are being depleted faster than can be naturally replenished. They are used for energy, sustaining life, and in technology, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three examples of finite resources are fossil fuels, fresh water, and rare minerals. These resources are considered finite because they are nonrenewable and exist in limited supply.
- Fossil fuels like petroleum, coal, and natural gas are used for energy production but are finite because they are formed from organic material over hundreds of millions of years and are being depleted faster than they can be naturally replenished.
- Fresh water is a finite resource essential for life. It is used for drinking, agriculture, and industry, but its supply is limited by the rate at which it is naturally restored through the water cycle.
- Rare minerals are used in various high-tech applications, from smartphones to electric vehicles. They are finite because they are available in limited quantities within the Earth's crust, and replenishment, if at all possible, occurs over geological time frames.
Due to their exhaustible nature, the responsible use and development of alternative energy sources are critical.