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New
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Year 11
AQA

Impacts of industry on the physical environment

I can describe how industry can both negatively and positively affect the physical environment.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Impacts of industry on the physical environment

I can describe how industry can both negatively and positively affect the physical environment.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Industrial development can have negative impacts on the environment.
  2. Newer industries can be more sustainable.
  3. The Nissan plant in Sunderland illustrates how modern industrial development can be environmentally sustainable.

Keywords

  • Contamination - the pollution of air, water or land with something that is unnatural and harmful

  • Sustainable - being able to meet one's needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs

  • Energy efficient - being able to produce the same level of output but through the use of less energy

Common misconception

Only manufacturing industries harm the environment.

All sectors of industry have the potential to harm the environment, though manufacturing continues to be highly wasteful.


To help you plan your year 11 geography lesson on: Impacts of industry on the physical environment, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Hold a debate amongst students as to whether the manufacturing of electric cars is environmentally sustainable.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does sustainable mean?
Correct answer: being able to meet needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs
using resources until they run out
being able to produce the same amount of energy without wastage
Q2.
Match the types of industry with their examples.
Correct Answer:Primary sector,farming
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farming

Correct Answer:Secondary sector,textile production
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textile production

Correct Answer:Tertiary sector,doctors
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doctors

Correct Answer:Quaternary sector,research and development
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research and development

Q3.
is where the natural environment is damaged or destroyed by a harmful substance.
Correct Answer: Pollution
Q4.
Which of the following is a key cause of economic change in the UK during the Industrial Revolution?
the rise of digital technology
Correct answer: the shift from agriculture to manufacturing industries
the expansion of the service sector
the decline in global trade
Q5.
What is globalisation?
Correct answer: the growth and spread of ideas around the world
when resources are used without being replaced
being able to produce energy
Q6.
What is the term used to describe the decline of manufacturing industries and growth of the service sector in the UK?
urbanisation
Correct answer: de-industrialisation
globalisation
industrialisation

4 Questions

Q1.
What is contamination?
Correct answer: the pollution of air, water or land with something that is unnatural and harmful
being able to meet needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs
not paying people enough for the work that they are doing
Q2.
All have the potential to cause harm to physical landscapes and the biodiversity that lives there.
Correct Answer: industries
Q3.
How can industries be more sustainable?
Correct answer: audit the way they work
Correct answer: look at resource use such as energy and water consumption
burn more fossil fules
Correct answer: set a target for improvement
continue working with no change
Q4.
Nissan Sunderland plant generates renewable energy, recycles rainwater and has energy buildings to make electric cars.
Correct Answer: efficient