Earth's Spheres
What are Earth's four spheres?
Atmosphere, Biosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere
True/False: Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
True
True/False: Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation is leftover radiation from the early universe.
True
True/False: The Big Bang theory states that the universe began from a cold and spread-out state.
False.
True/False: Stars and galaxies formed before atoms existed.
False
Which sphere includes rocks, soil and tectonic plates?
Geosphere
Which process releases carbon dioxide when organisms break down glucose?
A. Photosynthesis
B. Respiration
C. Combustion
D. Decomposition
B. Respiration
Which observation shows galaxies are moving away from Earth?
A. Solar wind
B. Gravity waves
C. Redshift
D. Blue shift
C — Redshift
Approximately how old is the universe?
13.8 billion years
During which stage did electrons combine with protons to form atoms?
A. Cosmic inflation
B. Recombination
C. Formation of galaxies
D. The Big Bang
B — Recombination
For each of Earth's spheres, list a method that humans are negatively impacting the sphere.
Atmosphere - Burning fossil fuels
Biosphere - Deforestation
Geosphere - Mining and soil degradation
Hydrosphere - Water pollution
What is the carbon cycle?
The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, living organisms, oceans and Earth’s crust.
A key feature of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) that make it different from ground-based telescopes is that it:
is located above the Earth’s atmosphere, allowing it to capture clearer images
What is the Big Bang theory?
The Big Bang is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature
What happened during cosmic inflation?
During cosmic inflation, the universe expanded extremely rapidly in a very short period of time immediately after the Big Bang. In a fraction of a second, the universe grew from a tiny region to a much larger size.
Explain how a volcanic eruption can affect at least two of Earth's spheres.
A volcanic eruption can affect multiple Earth spheres. When a volcano erupts, ash and gases are released into the atmosphere, which can affect air quality and climate. At the same time, lava and ash fall onto the land, changing the geosphere by forming new rock and landforms
Describe two processes in the carbon cycle that move carbon into the atmosphere.
Respiration occurs when living organisms break down glucose for energy, releasing carbon dioxide into the air.
Combustion occurs when fuels such as coal, oil or wood are burned, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Explain how renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions because it produces electricity without burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas. Energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power generate electricity using natural processes, so they release little or no carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Describe what happened to the universe immediately after the Big Bang.
Immediately after the Big Bang, the universe expanded rapidly and began to cool. As it cooled, fundamental particles such as protons, neutrons and electrons formed. Over time these particles combined to form atoms, which eventually led to the formation of stars and galaxies.
Explain how stars and galaxies formed in the early universe.
Stars and galaxies formed when gravity pulled large clouds of hydrogen and helium gas together. As these gas clouds collapsed under gravity, they became denser and hotter until nuclear fusion began, forming stars. Groups of stars then formed galaxies.
Explain why Earth’s spheres are considered an interconnected system and give an example of interactions between spheres.
Earth’s spheres are considered an interconnected system because changes in one sphere often influence the others. For example, burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which can increase global temperatures and affect ecosystems in the biosphere.
Explain why the carbon cycle is important for maintaining life on Earth.
The carbon cycle is important because it moves carbon between Earth’s spheres and helps regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon is essential for living organisms because it forms part of molecules such as carbohydrates and proteins. The carbon cycle also helps maintain Earth’s climate by balancing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Describe two pieces of evidence that support the Big Bang theory and explain why they support it.
The first is Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, which is leftover radiation from the early universe and shows that the universe was once extremely hot. The second is redshift, where light from distant galaxies shifts toward longer wavelengths, showing that galaxies are moving away from each other and that the universe is expanding.
Explain why scientists believe the universe continues to expand today.
Scientists believe the universe is still expanding because observations show that distant galaxies are moving away from Earth. This movement is detected through redshift, where the light from galaxies shifts toward the red end of the spectrum. The farther away a galaxy is, the faster it appears to be moving away, indicating that the universe continues to expand.
Explain why gravity was important in the formation of stars and galaxies after the Big Bang.
Gravity played a crucial role in forming stars and galaxies after the Big Bang. After atoms formed, small variations in the distribution of matter caused some regions to have slightly more mass than others. Gravity pulled this matter together, forming dense clouds of gas that eventually collapsed to form stars.