Environmental Systems
What is a system?
a) Relationships among components that interact with one another.
b) Exchange of energy, matter, information.
c) Receives inputs of energy, matter, or information; then process and produces outputs.
What are the two types of feedback loops?
Positive feedback and negative feedback?
What is the law of conservation of matter?
Matter can be transformed but never destroyed or created.
lack the carbon-carbon bond
(glucose is exception)
Name all the structural spheres
Lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere
What does feedback loop mean?
Circular process; output serves as input of same system.
Material that occupies space and has mass
Study of the interactions of matter.
What are the elements in organic compounds?
Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur
What are the two components of the Biosphere?
Biotic (living) and abiotic factors (non-living); ex. animals and water
Give an example of a Negative feedback loop.
Sweating/shivering, etc.
What is the difference of an Element and a Nutrient?
Given set of properties (periodic table of elements)
Elements needed for life (Ca, C, N)
Methane (natural gas, CH4)
What are the two types of Earth's crusts? Name a type of plate movement.
Continental and oceanic crusts. Subduction, convergent, divergent, transform.
What is dynamic equilibrium and which loop has it?
Describe the scales of pH with real life examples.
Acidic <7 (lemon juice)
neutral =7 (water)
Basic >7 (soap)
What is the function of proteins?
(chains of amino acids)
Produce tissues, structural support, store energy, transport material, serve as enzymes
Why is there no life on Mars (lithosphere)?
There is no movement of plantes, which promote life cycles by releasing gases/ new sediment/ nutrients.
Give an example of a positive feedback loop.
Glacier melting, ocean warming.
What is an Isotope and an Ion?
Isotope- different number of neutrons
Ion- gain or lose electrons (electrically charged)
What are the components of Nucleotides?
sugar, phosphate, a nitrogen base