Earth's cycles

Question 1

The water cycle

Answer 1

The cycle of water through the lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Question 2

Transpiration

Answer 2

Water is absorbed by plants from their roots, the water then travels up through the stem into the leaves and the stomata where it is released into the atmosphere

Question 3

condensation

Answer 3

when water vapour is cooled down, condensing into water droplets and forming clouds.

Question 4

Precipitation

Answer 4

water drops formed by condensation fall down to Earth as rain, snow, or hail, depending on the temperature.

Question 5

Surface Runoff

Answer 5

The movement of water over land surfaces, ending in streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. often transporting sediments, nutrients, and pollutants.

Question 6

Infiltration

Answer 6

precipitation that falls onto land being soaked up by the soil, refilling groundwater sources.

Question 7

Groundwater Flow

Answer 7

Water that infiltrates into the soil becomes groundwater, which slowly moves through underground aquifers

Question 8

Evaporation

Answer 8

The Sun heats bodies of water, causing the liquid water molecules to heat up and move, turning into water vapour.

Question 9

Freezing

Answer 9

Converts water from a liquid state into a solid one, (ice & snow)

Question 10

Melting

Answer 10

Converts ice and snow back into liquid water

Question 11

Sublimation

Answer 11

Transforms solid water straight into gas, skipping the liquid phase

Question 12

Deposition

Answer 12

Transforms water vapour straight into ice, skipping the liquid phase

Question 13

Percolation

Answer 13

The movement of water through rock and soil

Question 14

carbon-oxygen cycle

Answer 14

The cycle that transfers carbon through the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere.

Question 15

volcanic eruptions (CO2 CYCLE)

Answer 15

Releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question 16

Carbon Sequestration on land

Answer 16

On land, plants take in carbon dioxide to use in photosynthesis and store withing their tissues (cells).

Question 17

Carbon Sequestration in the ocean

Answer 17

In the ocean, phytoplankton and other marine organisms take in carbon through photosynthesis. The ocean dissolves carbon dioxide, having the CO2 combining with the water to form calcium carbonate shells

Question 18

Cellular Respiration

Answer 18

Animals eat the plants and take in O2 to power cellular respiration, then release CO2 into the atmosphere, working with photosynthesis

Question 19

Photosynthesis

Answer 19

Plant cells absorb solar energy, carbon dioxide, and water to convert them into oxygen, water, and glucose, working with cellular respiration and a carbon transfer

Question 20

Decomposition

Answer 20

When organisms die, they become ready for decomposition by decomposers, they break down complex organic molecules into simpler compounds such as c02

Question 21

Fossilisation and unavailable carbon

Answer 21

The burial and transformation of organic matter into fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Question 22

Combustion of fossil fuels

Answer 22

When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, the unnatural part of the carbon cycle

Question 23

Limestone and weathering

Answer 23

Limestone is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, this reacts with acids found in rainwater and soil. It produces CO2 that’s released into the atmosphere

Question 24

Deforestation and fires

Answer 24

When trees are cut down, burnt, or decay, they carbon stored in their tissues and cells is released into the atmosphere as CO2

Question 25

The Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 25

Nitrogen is essential for organisms, they are the components of proteins, nucleic acids, and other organic molecules

Question 26

forms of nitrogen

Answer 26

Nitrogen Gas (N2)
Nitric Oxide (NO)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Ammonia (NH3)
Ammonium (NH4)
Nitrate (NO3)
Nitrite (NO2)

Question 27

Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 27

Lightning strikes generate enough energy to separate nitrogen gas into ammonia, the ammonia gets dissolved in rain, carrying the molecules to the Earth’s surface

Question 28

Consumption

Answer 28

Animals acquire organic nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals.

Question 28

Assimilation of Nitrites, Nitrates and Ammonia

Answer 28

Plants and some microorganisms take up ammonia from the soil to use in cell processes

Question 28

Ammonification

Answer 28

Decomposers break down nitrogen compounds found in dead organisms and other organic matter.

Question 29

Volcanic eruptions

Answer 29

Releases nitrogen gas straight into the atmosphere, the heat and pressure transform the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen oxides. It reacts with water vapour to form precipitation.

Question 30

Denitrification by bacteria

Answer 30

Denitrifying bacteria converts nitrate and nitrite ions into nitrogen gas, the gas then goes back into the atmosphere

Question 31

Nitrogen Fixation by Bacteria

Answer 31

Atmospheric N2 is converted into ammonia or ammonium ions by nitrogen fixing bacteria found in the soil.

Question 31

Nitrification

Answer 31

Ammonia is converted to nitrite ions by nitrifying bacteria, nitrite ions are then oxidized into nitrate ions by other nitrifying bacteria