Earth and Its Systems

Question 1

a _____ is a group of interacting or interrelated entities that form a unified whole

Answer 1

system

Question 2

_____ is a complex system of interacting physical, chemical, and biological processes, and provides a natural laboratory whose experiments have been running since the beginning of time

Answer 2

earth

Question 3

______ is a system that cannot exchange either energy or matter with its surrounding environment

Answer 3

isolated system

Question 4

______ is a system that allows only the exchange of energy with its surroundings

Answer 4

closed system

Question 5

an _____ is a system that has external interactions and allows the exchange of matter and energy

Answer 5

open system

Question 6

the earth system as a whole is a _____ system

Answer 6

closed

Question 7

the boundary of the earth system is the _________

Answer 7

the outer edge of the atmosphere

Question 8

the closed earth system is compromised of different _____ systems

Answer 8

open

Question 9

the open systems of the earth:

Answer 9

the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere

Question 10

the _____ comprises the solid Earth and includes both the earth’s surface and the various layers of the earth’s interior

Answer 10

geosphere

Question 11

the gaseous envelope that surrounds the earth and constitutes the transition between its components and vacuum of space

Answer 11

atmosphere

Question 12

this includes all water on earth (including surface water and groundwater)

Answer 12

hydrosphere

Question 13

this is the life zone of the earth and includes all living organisms, and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed

Answer 13

biosphere

Question 14

the earth is surrounded by a blanket of air, which we call ______

Answer 14

atmosphere

Question 15

the atmosphere consists of unique layers, namely:

Answer 15

the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and the thermosphere

Question 16

the _______ is the outermost region of the atmosphere

Answer 16

exosphere

Question 17

the atmosphere is primarily composed of _____ (about 78%) and ______ (about 21%)

Answer 17

nitrogen, oxygen

Question 18

one of the most important processes by which the heat on the earth’s surface is redistributed is through ______

Answer 18

atmospheric circulation

Question 19

the ______, _______, and _____ are zones of diffuse atmospheric components in the far reaches of the atmosphere

Answer 19

mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

Question 20

the ______ contains ozone that protects life on the planet by filtering harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun

Answer 20

stratosphere

Question 21

the ______ constitutes the climate system that maintains the conditions suitable for life on the planet’s surface

Answer 21

troposphere

Question 22

state the layers of the atmosphere from bottom to top

Answer 22

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

Question 23

this is the “life zone” of the earth and includes all living organisms and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed

Answer 23

biosphere

Question 24

for the majority of life on earth, the base of the food chain compromises ______.

Answer 24

photosynthetic organisms

Question 25

the _______ contains all water found on our planet

Answer 25

hydrosphere

Question 26

heat is absorbed and redistributed on the surface of the Earth through ________.

Answer 26

ocean circulation

Question 27

through the process of weathering and erosion, the _______ is another important process contributing to the shaping and reshaping of the surface of the earth

Answer 27

hydrologic cycle

Question 28

the _______ is the solid earth that includes the continental and oceanic crust as well as the various layers of the earth’s interior

Answer 28

geosphere

Question 29

94% of the earth is composed of the elements ______, ______, and ______.

Answer 29

oxygen, silicon, magnesium

Question 30

the geosphere is not static, and its surface (crust) is in a ______.

Answer 30

constant state of motion

Question 31

mineral resources are mined from the ________.

Answer 31

geosphere