🌍 Earth Systems
What Earth system controls weather and climate?
The atmosphere
What is kinetic energy?
Energy of motion
What does the cell membrane do?
Controls what enters and leaves the cell
What is a producer?
An organism that makes its own food (like plants)
Why do scientists use models?
To represent systems that are too large, small, or complex
What causes plate tectonic movement?
Mantle convection (movement of heat in Earth’s interior)
What happens when balanced forces act on an object?
No change in motion (object stays still or moves at constant speed)
Why is mitosis important?
It allows organisms to grow and repair cells
How does energy flow in an ecosystem?
From producers to consumers to decomposers
Why are repeated trials important?
They make results more reliable and accurate
How do volcanoes affect Earth systems?
They release gases into the atmosphere and add new rock to the geosphere (can affect climate)
How does friction affect motion?
It resists movement and slows objects down (example: brakes on a bike)
How do body systems maintain homeostasis?
They work together to keep internal conditions stable (like temperature)
Why is biodiversity important?
It increases ecosystem stability and helps organisms survive changes
Why do scientists analyze data?
To identify patterns and make evidence-based conclusions
How does the movement of tectonic plates lead to earthquakes?
Plates build up stress as they move, then release energy suddenly, causing the ground to shake.
How does mass affect an object’s acceleration when force is applied?
Greater mass results in less acceleration when the same force is applied.
How do different cell structures work together to maintain cell function?
Organelles like the nucleus, membrane, and mitochondria work together to control activities, regulate materials, and provide energy.
How would removing a top predator affect an ecosystem?
It can cause prey populations to increase, leading to imbalance and possible ecosystem disruption.
Why is it important to analyze patterns in data when conducting an investigation?
Patterns help identify relationships and support scientific explanations.
Explain how interactions between the atmosphere and hydrosphere affect weather.
Water evaporates into the atmosphere, forms clouds, and returns as precipitation, influencing weather patterns.
Explain the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Acceleration increases with more force and decreases with more mass (Newton’s Second Law).
Explain how failure of one body system can affect homeostasis in the entire organism.
If one system fails (like the circulatory system), other systems cannot get oxygen or nutrients, disrupting balance and survival.
Explain how energy loss between trophic levels affects the number of organisms in a food chain.
Energy decreases at each level, so fewer organisms can be supported at higher levels.
How do scientists use evidence to support or revise a scientific explanation?
Scientists compare data to predictions and adjust explanations based on evidence.