Systems & System Models
What is a system?
A system is an organized group of related parts that interact to form a whole.
Name all five major spheres on Earth.
geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, anthrosphere, atmosphere
What is the biosphere?
all living things on earth.
True or False. A bee pollinating a flower is a system.
True
What is the difference between an open system, a closed system, and an isolated system?
The inputs and outputs. Open system, free flow of inputs and outputs; a lot of things flowing in and out of system. Closed system, some limited flow of inputs and outputs; some things in, some things out, restricted. Isolated system, no flow of inputs and outputs; nothing goes in, nothing goes out.
Which of the five Earth Spheres is the link that connects all the spheres?
What subsystem unit is the biosphere made of?
biomes
True or false. Matter enters and leaves the earth, making it an open system.
False.
Give an example of all of the following: an open system, a closed system, and an isolated system.
Give an example of how the hydrosphere interacts with the geosphere.
Answers vary. Rain falls onto the Earth, and enters the groundwater system, erodes and transfers minerals, rocks, etc.
What is a biome?
A biome is a major regional distribution of organisms with specific climate conditions and plant communities.
True or False. The fur and fat on a polar bear is an adaptation.
True.
What is a system control/feedback?
Controls keep a system working properly by monitoring and managing the inputs and outputs. Feedback is information from one step of a cycle that acts to change the behavior of a previous step of a cycle.
Provide an example of how the biosphere interacts with the atmosphere.
Answers vary. We breathe in O2, we breathe out CO2
What is unique about a biome?
The plants and animals of each biome are adapted to living in that particular environment.
Feedback is information from one step of a cycle that acts to change the behavior of a previous step of a cycle. A feedback loop is formed when an output returns to become an input in the same system that generated the output.
Provide an example of how all five spheres can interact with one another.
Answers will vary.
Two questions: What is an adaptation, and provide an example.
Adaptation: physical or behavioral trait that helps an animal survive and reproduce in its environment. Adaptations are inheritable characteristics.