CYCLING OF MATTER IN ECOSYSTEMS
PROPERTIES AND CHANGES OF MATTER
CHARACTERISTICS AND INTERACTIONS OF EARTH'S SYSTEMS
Mixture
Solving World Problems
100
What are the basic components needed for photosynthesis?
Air (carbon dioxide), water, and energy from sunlight.
100
What happens to the total weight of matter when you melt an ice cube?
It stays the same/is conserved.
100
What is the primary cause of earthquakes and volcanoes occurring along the boundaries between continents and oceans?
Tectonic plate movements.
100
How is soil formed? Why is it different everywhere you go?
Humus! Different plants, animals, and minerals break down in each area to make up the soil.
100
How could you limit the effects or prevent flooding?
any valid response
200
Explain how energy from the Sun is used by animals.
Animals obtain energy and matter from the food they eat, which originally derived energy from the Sun through photosynthesis.
200
How can you demonstrate that matter is made of particles too small to be seen?
By observing changes such as dissolving salt in water and then evaporating the water, or anything else applicable.
200
Which two Earth's systems interact when rainwater flows over the land, shaping the landscape?
The hydrosphere and geosphere.
200
Name an example of a simple food chain in an ocean ecosystem.
Phytoplankton → small fish → larger fish → sharks.
200
How can humans reduce the impact of tsunamis on coastal communities?
By designing solutions such as early warning systems and constructing sea walls.
300
Describe the movement of matter through a simple food chain.
Matter cycles from plants (producers) to herbivores (primary consumers) to carnivores (secondary consumers) and back to decomposers.
300
What does it mean if a substance is conductive?
It can absorb heat or electricity.
300
What data would you analyze to determine the pattern of a mountain range's location inside a continent?
Maps showing the location of mountains on continents.
300
Define erosion and deposition.
erosion: the wearing away of rock or soil through wind, water, or manmade means where the particles are moved to another place.
deposition: eroded material travels to a new location and is dropped in a new place.
300
Thinking back to our water filtration experiment, where you had budgets, what are some issues some people ran into, and how do those apply to real life?
Sometimes things break and you cannot afford to fix them. The budget often needs to be higher than you think. You do not always have enough money. People make mistakes. Things do not always work the way you expect.
400
How does decomposing plant matter return to the environment?
Decomposers break down dead plant matter, returning nutrients to the soil and atmosphere.
400
You mix two things and they bubble. Did a chemical or physical change occur? How do you know?
Chemical. A new substance was formed, which is shown by bubbles.
400
Describe how a rainstorm in a desert influences Earth's systems.
The hydrosphere (rain) interacts with the geosphere (land) to shape the landscape and potentially provide water to the biosphere (plants and animals).
400
Why does adding food coloring to water demonstrate the particle model of matter?
It shows how particles distribute evenly throughout the liquid, illustrating that matter is made up of tiny particles.
400
A farmer's crops keep dying and he cant figure out why. What kinds of things should he check to see what is wrong?
sun exposure, water (things needed for photosynthesis), nutrients in the soil, wind, erosion.
500
Why is soil not the primary source of plant matter?
Most plant matter is formed from carbon dioxide in the air and water, not from soil nutrients.
500
Is the salt mixed in water a solute or solvent?
Solute. The water is the solvent.
500
What are some natural hazards that humans cannot eliminate but can lower their effects?
Landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, blizzards, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes.
500
The student investigated how hard the mineral was and found that it scratched glass. When rubbing the mineral against a tile the mineral left behind a greenish-black powdered streak. Magnets do not stick to the mineral.
pyrite
500
How can humans balance agricultural (farming) needs while conserving Earth's resources?
By implementing sustainable practices such as crop rotation, efficient water use, and protecting natural habitats.