Earth and Beyond (Asssignment 1)

Question 1

Where does the BIOSPHERE fit into the organisation PYRAMID of life?

Answer 1

The biosphere consists of - plants
animals
and their interactions with
- rocks
soil
air
water

Question 2

There are 3 SPHERES in the BIOSPHERE.
Name them

Answer 2

1) Lithosphere
2) Hydrosphere
3) Atmosphere

Question 3

Name the 6 processes in the WATER CYCLE

Answer 3

1) Evaporation
2) Condensation
3) Transpiration
4) Rain
5) Infiltration
6) Ground water

Question 4

The interaction between the different SPHERES in the BIOSPHERE can be better understood by looking at the ……

Answer 4

Water Cycle

Question 5

Describe one way the LITOSPHERE interacts with the HYDROSPHERE

Answer 5

When it rains, the water flows in between the rock particles
Where the rocks forms a barrier, water collect and form an underground lake
The water between the soil particles and in the underground lakes, make up GROUND WATER

Question 6

Describe how the LITOSPHERE interacts with the ATMOSPHERE

Answer 6

Air is found in the spaces between soil particles

Question 7

Describe how the HYDROSPHERE interacts with the ATMOSPHERE

Answer 7

Water in the hydrosphere evaporates into the atmosphere as water vapour.
Water vapour returns to the ground when it condenses as dew or falls as rain, hail or snow

Question 8

Imagine a small island on the equator.

How would the island’s day and night temperatures differ from the day and night temperatures in a region that is far inland but also on the equator?

Answer 8

Island - has a smaller difference between day and
night temperatures compared to a place that
is inland and far from the sea

Question 9

Island - has a smaller difference between day and
night temperatures compared to a place that
is inland and far from the sea

Why?

Answer 9

ISLAND:
The island is surrounded by water.
Water takes a lot of heat up and loses its heat slowly

Therefore, there is not a big difference between day and night temperatures.

INLAND:
Rocks heat up and cool down quickly

Therefore, there is a big difference between day and night temperatures

Question 10

Name 2 plants and 2 insects or animals that spend all or part of their lives in or on the LITOSPHERE

Answer 10

Plants - lichens; mosses
Animals - earthworms; moles

Question 11

Name 2 plants and 2 insects or animals that spend all or part of their lives in or on the HYDROSPHERE

Answer 11

Plants - water lillies; seaweeds
Animals - ducks ; fish

Question 12

Name 2 plants and 2 insects or animals that spend all or part of their lives in or on the ATMOSPHERE

Answer 12

Plants - pine trees ; proteas
Animals - swallows; butterflies

Question 13

Name 2 amphibians

Answer 13

Frogs and toads

Question 14

With which spheres of the Earth do amphibians interact?

Answer 14

Hydrosphere and lithosphere

Question 15

Rocks are exposed at low tide and covered with water at high tide often have seaweed growing on them.

Explain this example as an interaction of the biosphere with the lithosphere, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere.

Answer 15

The rocks are exposed (low tide), the seaweed which is attached to the rocks (lithosphere) is exposed to the air (atmosphere)

When the water comes in (hightide) the seaweed is under the water (hydrosphere)