Feedback Mechanisms

Question 1

What are feedback mechanisms?

Answer 1

interactions between systems and different environments on the Earth

Question 2

Feedback mechanisms are System-environment interaction cycles that affect ____ systems.

Answer 2

open

Question 3

Why do feedback mechanisms particularly affect open systems?

Answer 3

Because there needs to be some sort of matter that is exchanged in these feedback mechanisms

Question 4

Feedback mechanisms are a way of explaining _____ in a system.

Answer 4

change

Question 5

What are the two types of feedback systems?

Answer 5

Positive feedback system, Negative feedback system

Question 6

Positive feedback mechanism _____ change in a system

Answer 6

enhances

a “vicious cycle,” once it starts changing it causes more and more change

Question 7

An example of a positive feedback mechanism related to global warming is…

Answer 7

forest fire cycle

as the atmosphere gets warmer it causes more forest fires, more forest fires decreases the amount of trees, lower amount of trees causes more carbon dioxide to build up in the atmosphere, which causes the atmosphere to get warmer, which causes more forest fires, which releases more carbon dioxide, which….

Question 8

A negative feedback mechanism _____ change in a system.

Answer 8

reduces

Slows the pace of change.
works as a balancing effect, to maintain a status quo or stationary (non-change), back-to-normal, condition

Question 9

An example of a negative feedback mechanism related to global warming is…

Answer 9

atmospheric warming

as the atmosphere gets warmer it causes more ocean water to evaporate into the atmosphere, and all of that evaporated water causes clouds, which blocks sunlight, which cools the atmosphere back down.

Question 10

Earth is ____ because we haven’t found any other planet that has supported life, even simple life, let alone the complex life we have here.

Answer 10

unique

Question 11

Earth is the only planet that has found to have ______ in the atmosphere.

Answer 11

oxygen

Question 12

What are the unique properties of Earth?

Answer 12

Presence of Oxygen in the atmosphere, Presence of Water, the Biosphere, and Soil

Question 13

The Hydrosphere contains _____ in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas

Answer 13

water

we are the just the right distance from the sun to have a temperature range that allows water to exist in these three forms., or as all three of these phases

Question 14

Earth’s rich biosphere _____ with all other systems on the planet.

Answer 14

interacts

Question 15

Why is soil integral to the rich Biosphere on Earth?

Answer 15

Without a layer of soil, we wouldn’t have plants growing, and we wouldn’t have a biosphere without this. Most other planets are lifeless, rocky wastelands.

Question 16

The Major layers of the Earth are…

Answer 16

The Crust, The Mantle, the Outer Core, the Inner Core

Question 17

The Mantle is composed of…

Answer 17

very hot rock that is not a liquid but is not brittle rock. Squishy, plasticy rock

Question 18

The Outer Core is a _____.

Answer 18

solid

Question 19

Does the Outer Core rotate?

Answer 19

Yes it does

Question 20

What does the Outer Core’s rotation cause?

Answer 20

Our strong magnetic field

Question 21

What is the Inner Core made up of?

Answer 21

Iron.

Question 22

Is the Outer Core a solid, liquid, or gas?

Answer 22

Solid.

Question 23

The Earth has a ____ that are broken into large _____ that move across the surface.

Answer 23

crust, plates

Question 24

About _____ million years ago all of continents were joined into one super-continent called ____

Answer 24

200, Pangea

Question 25

Since _____ the continents have been moving apart to their current location.

Answer 25

Pangea

Question 26

Are the continents still moving?

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

Earth has a _____ to its axis.

Answer 27

tilt

Question 28

How many degrees is the Earth’s axis tilted?

Answer 28

23.4

Question 29

What does Earth’s tilt cause?

Answer 29

The seasons. At certain times of the year the Southern Hemisphere is more directed towards the sun.

Question 30

With an exponential population growth, we need to carefully address the resources that are ____ because the Earth is a _____ system.

Answer 30

limited, closed

Question 31

What is a renewable resource?

Answer 31

anything that can be replaced faster than they are used.

Question 32

What is an example of a renewable resource in the Eastern United States?

Answer 32

Water,

Water can be replenished faster then it is consumed

Question 33

What is a non-renewable resource?

Answer 33

a resource that cannot be replaced faster than it is used

Question 34

What is an example of a non- renewable resource on the Earth?

Answer 34

Any fossil fuel, or natural gas, gemstones, diamonds, pearls

They take millions and millions of years to form, and we use them up very very quickly. Anything that we dig up from the Earth takes a long time to form, and we mine it and use it up quickly

Question 35

Americans use ____ more energy then the rest of the world, therefore we have almost a responsibility but more of an impetus to watch what we are using

Answer 35

4 times

Question 36

Another word for limited is?

Answer 36

finite

Question 37

feedback mechanisms are…

Answer 37

System-environment interaction cycles that affect open systems