Milankovitch Cycles
What is a cycle?
A cycle is a process that repeats itself over and over again, with the "end" of one cycle usually meaning the "beginning" of another cycle.
What is a reservoir?
A large, often still body or collection of water!
Why is water considered the "universal solvent"?
It can dissolve more things than any other solvent!
Albedo is an example of WHICH kind of feedback loop?
Positive
The end result of a positive feedback loop causes that loop to happen...
More/More intensely
What is obliquity and what does it do for our planet?
It is the earth's axial tilt, and it is responsible for the earth having seasons.
What is a flux (in terms of water)?
The movement of water into or out of a reservoir (similar or more general answers may also count).
Is water more dense in its solid state or in its liquid state? Explain your answer!
It is more dense in its liquid state, and we can tell because ice floats on top of liquid water.
What is the definition of albedo?
How much light an object reflects.
The end result of a negative feedback loop causes that loop to happen...
Less/less intensely
What is eccentricity and what does it do for our planet?
Eccentricity is the gradual movement from a fully circular shape of our orbit to a more elliptical shape, and it is responsible for the length of our seasons.
What is the largest reservoir on the planet?
The ocean!
Pick One:
Why is cohesion of water important to life on earth?
Why is adhesion of water important to life on earth?
Cohesion allows for surface tension, since water molecules tend to stick together!
Adhesion allows for plants to pull water up from their roots and into their bodies through capillary action!
Name an object/thing with a high albedo!
Many answers work here, provided whatever that thing is is bright!
Give me an example of a positive feedback loop!
Examples here may vary, but...
Albedo, Global Warming, Pregnancy are all good things you could say here!
What is precession and what does it do for our planet?
Precession is the "wobble" of earth on its axis, and it can change how extreme our seasons are.
Name the steps of the water cycle from any starting point, but put it in order until it loops back around to that same starting point again!
Ex: Reservoir -> Evaporation -> Condensation -> Precipitation -> Run-off -> Reservoir
How have humans used the compressibility of water to our advantage?
When water is compressed through a small space at high pressure, it can cut through things - Even really tough things like metal, and it does so smoothly!
Name an object/thing with low albedo!
Many answers work here, provided that thing is dark!
Give me an example of a NEGATIVE feedback loop!
Examples may vary, but...
Homeostasis in the body, deer hitting cars and others are all great examples here.
How does the sun affect our planet?
The sun is responsible for our seasons, weather and climate. As seen in the previous responses, the angle of the earth relative to the sun (along with the distance) can determine the length or intensity of the seasons, or whether we have them at all. The energy from the sun is also responsible for the heat of our planet in general, and is used by producers to create energy that is used by many organisms.
Name the specific steps of the water cycle that would be considered potential fluxes!
Evaporation, Precipitation, Run-off
See also: Transpiration
The specific heat capacity of water is very high compared to most other substances, which means that it takes much more to change its temperature. This is useful for beings like us who have so much water in our bodies, because it allows us to regulate our temperature and keep it at a healthy level!
Identify which kind of feedback loop albedo is, and then explain why it is that kind of feedback loop!
A negative feedback loop is a feedback loop whose end result causes the loop to happen LESS, while a positive feedback loop is a feedback loop whose end result causes the loop to happen MORE and more intensely!