Sustainable Ecosystems
What is a sustainable ecosystem?
A sustainable ecosystem is an ecosystem that is capable of withstanding pressure and giving support to a variety of organisms.
Who was the first scientist to discover that atoms are divisible?
Joseph John Thomson
What is the model of the solar system that places the Sun in the centre called?
The heliocentric model
What is unit is electricity measured in?
watts or kilowatts
Give a breif explanation on how acid precipitation could affect biodiversity.
Answers may vary.
Example: Constant exposure to acid precipitation causes forest soils to lose valuable nutrients, such as calcium. It also increases the amount of aluminum, which interferes with the uptake of nutrients by trees. Some trees cannot survive the changes that are caused in their ecosystem by acid precipitation. Acid precipitation can be even more devastating to aquatic ecosystems
Explain why sodium metal would not be a good material to use for a water bottle.
Sodium explodes when it comes in contact with water, so once someone fills up their bottle with water, the bottle would combust.
Why is the measurement of the astronomical unit not exact?
The astronomical unit represents the average distance between the Earth and the Sun. However, Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle, so as the time changes, and Earth orbits, the distance increases or decreases.
why does lightning follow a jagged path?
When a lightning channel begins to form, pulled along by the difference in electrical charges, it takes the path of least resistance through the air, like water flowing through rocks.
Explain the role that bacteria plays in the nitrogen cycle
The bacteria found on land and in water convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas, returning it to the atmosphere. Also, cyanobacteria in aquatic ecosystems convert nitrogen into ammonium, which is absorbed by plants. In terrestrial ecosystems, some bacteria can do the same.
Explain why the concentration of DDT in ring seals is much higher than the concentration in arctic cod.
answers may vary
Example: A ring seal can consume large quantities of DDT contaminated arctic cod. The seal stores the DDT it has consumed. Therefore, the DDT concentration in the seal can be several hundred times higher than in organisms lower on the food chain, like the Arctic cod.
Why are shooting stars, not actually stars?
answers may vary
Example: When you see a shooting star, you are actually seeing a comet tail. The whitish tail of the comet is sunlight reflecting off the particles that have been released, giving it the appearance of a moving star.
When you bring a negatively charged ebonite rod near a pith ball electroscope, the pith ball moves toward the rod. Is the pith ball positively charged?
The ball could be positively charged or neutral, since the ball would be attracted to the negatively charged rod either way.
Name two different types of organisms that are responsible for inputting nutrients into nutrient-deprived ecosystems.
Answers may vary.
Example:
nitrogen-fixing bacteria and nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria
Name an occupation that requires workers to know safety icons and WHMIS symbols.
Answers may vary.
Example: construction worker, scientist
Why is it safe to watch an eclipse of the moon but not an eclipse of the Sun?
During a Solar eclipse, as the moon starts to cover the Sun, the Sun is still visible and still dangerous to look at with the unaided eye. A lunar eclipse is safe to watch because it does not harm the unaided eye nor give off any radiation that can burn your retina and blind you.
Why is the flooring in an operating room made of a conducting material? Should the floor be waxed?
the type of flooring in an operating room is made of conducting material because it will attract electrical charges to prevent them from coming in contact with sensitive electronic equipment. It should not be waxed because wax is an insulator, therefore ruining the purpose of the conducting flooring.