Patterns of Earth & Sky
If you look up at the night sky and see a constellation directly overhead, why does it appear to be in a different position a few hours later?
Earth is rotating on its axis, changing your view of space.
Where do plants get the majority of the matter they need to grow and build their structures?
Mostly from water and the air (carbon dioxide).
Name one of the four major spheres of the Earth system and provide one example of something found in each.
Atmosphere (air), Biosphere (plants/animals), Geosphere (rocks/soil), and Hydrosphere (water/ice).
What specific conditions in the atmosphere are required for water vapor to turn into liquid water droplets to form a cloud?
Water vapor (moisture) and cooling temperatures (which trigger condensation).
An astronomer tracks a specific star for a whole year. They notice that the star is visible in the winter night sky but cannot be seen at all in the summer night sky. What causes this yearly pattern?
Earth revolves around the sun, meaning the night side of Earth faces a different direction in space during different seasons.
Which of the following statements best explains where all the food energy in an ecosystem originally comes from?
The sun, which is captured by plants during photosynthesis.
How does the hydrosphere (water) interact with the geosphere (land) to change the shape of a coastline over time?
The atmosphere holds water vapor. As it rises and cools, it undergoes condensation, turning back into liquid droplets (forming clouds).
Identify one way that human activities (part of the biosphere) can negatively impact the hydrosphere.
Examples: Pollution/runoff from factories or farms entering rivers; plastic waste in the ocean; over-pumping groundwater.
Which of the following best explains why the sun appears much brighter to us than Sirius, which is a star that is actually much larger and brighter than the sun?
The sun is much closer to Earth than Sirius.
What is the primary role of decomposers (like fungi and bacteria) in an ecosystem restoration project?
To break down dead matter and waste, returning raw materials back into the soil and air.
Describe how a mountain range (geosphere) can affect the amount of precipitation (hydrosphere) that a nearby forest (biosphere) receives.
Mountains force moist air to rise. The air cools and drops rain on the windward side. By the time the air crosses to the other side, it has lost its moisture.
Look at this simple ecosystem claim: "Plants create matter completely out of nothing using sunlight." Why is this scientifically incorrect?
Sunlight is energy, not matter. Plants must use molecules from water and air to construct physical matter.
Why do we experience a predictable cycle of day and night every 24 hours?
Because Earth makes one full spin, or rotation, on its axis every day.
If a restoration site has plenty of plants and decomposers but a massive drop in the herbivore population, what is a likely consequence for the carnivores?
The carnivore population will drop because their source of food molecules has decreased.
Most of Earth’s water is salt water in the ocean. Where is the majority of Earth’s freshwater stored, and is it easily accessible for humans to drink?
Only about 3% of Earth's water is fresh. Most of it is "locked" in glaciers and ice caps.
How is energy in an animal's food used by an animal?
Body repair and growth, Motion and movement, Maintaining body warmth
What is a constellation?
A group of stars that form a recognizable pattern or picture when viewed from Earth.
Why do scientists use models, like the digital simulations in Amplify, when trying to fix a broken ecosystem?
To test out restoration ideas safely and observe how different parts interact over time.
Explain the difference between surface water and groundwater. How does water move from the surface into the geosphere?
The water is moving from the hydrosphere into the geosphere (soil/rock layers).
A student records the length of a shadow cast by a stick in their backyard every hour from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. What daily pattern will they observe?
The shadow will be longest in the morning and afternoon, and shortest around midday (noon).