Energy Conservation & Resource Management
What is the law of conservation of energy?
There is a finite amount of energy in a closed system. Within that system energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred to a new location or transformed to a different type of energy.
What are two types of waves that transfer energy?
transverse & longitudinal
would also accept mechanical & electromagnetic
What causes changes in seasons on Earth.
Earth revolving around the sun and rotating on its tilted axis.
What are the four main spheres of Earth?
biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere
What are the three main types of rocks?
Sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous
Why is resource management important for global energy?
Fossil fuels are a limited source of energy. They are not available everywhere.. Renewable energy sources are often climate and space dependent and very expensive to harvest and store. Using fossil fuels responsibly and taking advantage of areas that can produce energy from renewable sources helps to ensure there is enough energy for all.
How do transverse waves move?
Transverse waves perpendicular to the direction in which energy moves.
would also accept up and down
Describe how the tilt of the Earth affects the length of days and nights.
When one hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun it experiences longer days and shorter nights. When tilted away from the Sun is experiences shorter days and longer nights.
Describe one component of the biosphere.
The biosphere includes all living organisms on Earth.
How are igneous rocks formed?
Igneous rocks form from cooled lava/magma.
How does energy transfer in a food web? Provide and example.
Plants use energy from the sun to produce their own food, this energy is transferred to herbivores when they consume the plants and then to carnivores when the consume the herbivores. When a rabbit eats grass the energy from the grass is transferred to the rabbit. The rabbit uses some of this energy for its body to function but passes some onto a fox when eaten.
Describe how longitudinal waves transfer energy through a medium.
Particles in the medium compress and spread out and move parallel to the direction of moving energy.
How do the positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon impact ocean tides?
What is the atmosphere, and why is it important?
The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth. It provides breathable air and supports photosynthesis.
Describe the process of sedimentary rock formation.
Sedimentary rocks form when sediments accumulate and are buried deeply where the pressure compacts and cements them together into layered rocks.
What role does resource management play in reducing pollution in water, air, and soil?
Clean water, soil, and air are necessary for healthy ecosystems and organism survival. We can manage these resources by implementing systems to test water, soil, and air regularly to detect any pollutants and determine their source. We also manage them by putting guidelines in place for pollution prevention and intentionally developing ways to clean polluted water, soil, and air.
Provide an example of a transverse wave and explain its characteristics.
Sound waves are transverse waves. Sound causes particles in a medium to vibrate back and forth moving the energy through compression and rarefaction.
What are spring and neap tides?
Spring tides occur when the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned causing the largest differences between high and low tide. Neap tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth form a 90 degree angle causing the smallest difference between high and low tides.
Explain the role of the hydrosphere in Earth's systems.
The hydrosphere provides water for living organisms and impacts weather due to the water cycle. It also causes erosion which changes the geosphere.
What are metamorphic rocks, and how do they form?
Metamorphic rocks are formed when existing rocks are transformed by intense heat and pressure causing a change in their structure and texture.
Explain how energy is conserved on an amusement park ride.
When a roller coaster is at the top of a hill it has gravitational potential energy. When it begins to move downhill the potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy. This process continues throughout the ride. Some energy is transformed into heat or sound energy as well.
Explain the relationship between wave height and energy transfer.
More energy increases the height of the wave and shortens the wavelegth.
How does the tilt of the Earth affect climate?
Because of Earth's tilted access parts of Earth near the equator get consistent, direct sunlight throughout the year resulting in higher temperatures year round. The poles of Earth experience less direct sunlight during their winter months than summer months making their seasons more diverse.
How do the geosphere and biosphere interact?
The geosphere provides shelter to many animals and nutrients to plants.
Explain the rock cycle and how rocks can change from one type to another.
The rock cycle shows how different types of rocks are formed. Igneous rock forms when lava/magma cools and hardens. Igneous and metamorphic rock can be weathered into sediments and become sedimentary rock through compression and cementation. Igneous and sedimentary rock can become metamorphic rock when exposed to extreme heat and pressure. Sedimentary and metamorphic rock can be melted in lava/magma and cool to igneous rock.