On what basis would you classify energy sources as :
(a) renewable and non-renewable ?
(b) exhaustible and inexhaustible ?
Are the options gives in (a) and (b) the same ?

Explanation

The options given in (a) and (b) are the same. This is because renewable sources of energy are also known as inexhaustible sources of energy whereas non-renewable sources of energy are also called exhaustible sources of energy.
(i) Those sources of energy which are being produced in nature continuously and can be used again and again for ever, are called renewable sources of energy (or inexhaustible sources of energy). These sources of energy will never get exhausted. For example, wood is a renewable source of energy (or inexhaustible source of energy), because if some trees are cut down from forests for obtaining firewood, then more trees will grow in the forest on their own or can be replanted by man. This will ensure continuous supply of wood for obtaining heat energy.
(ii) Those sources of energy which have accumulated in the earth over very, very long time of millions of years and cannot be made quickly when used up completely, are called non-renewable sources of energy (or exhaustible sources of energy). These sources of energy will get exhausted sooner or later. For example, coal is a non-renewable source of energy (or exhaustible source of energy) because coal has accumulated in the earth over a very, very long time, and if all the coal gets used up completely, it cannot be produced quickly in nature.