Hydrosphere

Question 1

What is the hydrosphere?

Answer 1

A hydrosphere is the total amount of water on a planet. The hydrosphere includes water that is on the surface of the planet, underground

Question 2

what is a watershed?

Answer 2

A watershed is an area of land that channels rainfall, snowmelt, and runoff into a common body of water.

Question 3

Which aspects slow down or accelerate the flow inside of catchment areas?

Answer 3

Topography: The shape, slope, terrain of the area.
 Geology: Type, depth, and structure of the rock.
 Climate: Amount of rain or snowfall, winds and temperature.
 Vegetation: Density and diversity.
 Human interference: Agricultural, industrial, and urban development.

Question 4

What are 4 important factors when studying oceans?

Answer 4

Depth, seasons, Latitude and salinity.

Question 5

what is salinity?

Answer 5

amount of salt in the ocean.

Question 6

what is the average salinity?

Answer 6

between 3.4% and 3.7%

Question 7

What are deep water currents caused by?

Answer 7

They are caused by changes in the density of various layers of water. The denser
the water, the deeper it sinks. Water density is varies with temperatures; the colder the
water, the denser it is so cold water sinks. Salinity also affects the density; the higher
the salinity, the denser the water is and the more it tends to sink.

Question 8

What is ocean circulation?

Answer 8

Ocean circulation is
the combined effect of surface currents and subsurface currents.

Question 9

what is the cryosphere?

Answer 9

The cryosphere is made up of all the solid water on the Earth’s surface. Park ice
is made up of the ice floating on the oceans near the North and South poles.

Question 10

What is the difference between pack ice and glaciers?

Answer 10

Glaciers do not float on water, they are attached to land and are formed by compressed snow. When glaciers fall in the water the water level rises.

Question 11

What is the effect of pack ice melting?

Answer 11

It affects thermohaline circulation and doesn<t cause a rise in sea level.

Question 12

(est) What does warm water in rivers do?

Answer 12

Certain factories discharge chemicals and warm water into rivers.
Warm waters reduce the concentration of oxygen in the water which in turn can affect aquatic
species.

Question 13

(est)What do pesticides and fertilizers do when they make their way into rivers and lakes?

Answer 13

It promotes algae growth and leads to the
eutrophication of lakes, a phenomenon of reduced oxygen concentration in the water because
bacteria are consuming too much of it.

Question 14

(est)What are hydrocarbons?

Answer 14

an organic compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon found in crude oil, natural gas, and coal.

Question 15

What are the effets of mining?

Answer 15

Machines releasing Co2
destruction of habitat
release of heavy metals

Question 16

What does soil need to be fertile?

Answer 16

To be fertile, the soil must contain enough nutrients, have
adequate moisture, and have an appropriate pH.

Question 17

What is a horizon?

Answer 17

When soil develops, it thickens and forms
layers called horizons. Horizons can be distinguished by colour, texture, and composition.

Question 18

What is permafrost

Answer 18

large parts of the soil are permanently frozen.

Question 19

what is the top layer of permafrost called and why?

Answer 19

This top layer is called the active layer. Since it can grow small plants.

Question 20

What are the negative effects of melting permafrost?

Answer 20

landslides, more decomposition, and unstable house foundations.

Question 21

(est) What is the buffering capacity

Answer 21

Soil has the capacity to neutralize acid a certain amount of acidic
or alkaline substances without affecting its pH. This buffering capacity allows soil to
compensate for variations in pH.

Question 22

what pollutants are responsible for acid rain?

Answer 22

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide

Question 23

What 3 conditions must be met for combustion to happen?

Answer 23

1. An oxydant is needed to cause a fuel to react.
2. A fuel is a substance that releases a lot of energy
   when combined with an oxidant.
3. The ignition temperature is the minimum temperature
   at which combustion will start and it varies from one
   fuel to another.

Question 24

What are the 3 types of combustion

Answer 24

1. Rapid combustion happens within a short period of time and release a lot of energy,
   mostly in the form of heat and light.
   Ex:
2. Spontaneous combustion is rapid combustion in which the fuel reaches its ignition
   temperature without an outside source.
   Ex:
3. Slow combustion

Question 25

How does a slow combustion occurs

Answer 25

Slow combustion occurs over very long periods of time and energy is released gradually.

Question 26

Is nuclear energy renewable?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

How do nuclear power plants work?

Answer 27

1. Recycled water is pumped into the reactor vessel. 2. Nuclear fission converts nuclear energy (energy inside the nucleus of a uranium atom) into thermal energy. 3. Hot water flows to the steam generators which heats it further and changes it into steam. 4. Fast moving steam flows through pipes to transfer its mechanical energy to the turbine, making its blades spin. 5. Mechanical energy is transformed into electrical energy by the generator (electromagnetic induction). 6. Hot steam flows though pipes to the condenser which cools the steam and changes it back to water to be recycled.

Question 28

(est) What atoms are unstable?

Answer 28

All atoms with an atomic number greater than 83 are therefore considered unstable

Question 29

Name the 3 types of radiation.

Answer 29

Alpha particles are positive, large and heavy. They can be stopped by a sheet of paper.  Beta particles are negative particles, are lighter than alpha particles and have penetrating power. They can be stopped by a sheet of oil at least 3 mm thick.  Gamma rays are neutral. They are energy, not matter. They have the greatest penetrating power and can only be stopped by lead or concrete.

Question 30

Which type of radiation is harmful to humans?

Answer 30

Gamma rays

Question 31

What are some uses of radioactivity?

Answer 31

Ionizing radiation can tear electrons away from the atoms they encounter. Irradiating food can increase the shelf life of fresh produce.  Radiotherapy is used to kill cancer cells.  Calculating half lives (time taken to decay) can be used to date fossils.

Question 32

What is nuclear fission?

Answer 32

Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction where the nucleus of a large atom is split.

Question 33

What is nuclear fusion?

Answer 33

a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy.

Question 34

What is geothermal energy?

Answer 34

Geothermal energy is the energy that comes from the internal heat of the Earth. It is used in parts of the world where magma is closer to the surface.

Question 35

What causes soil depletion?

Answer 35

The use of heavy machinery in agriculture.

Question 36

What is soil depletion?

Answer 36

the soil compresses so much that it becomes too compacted and then has insufficient room for oxygen. This also prevents rain for seeping into the soil. Instead, the water will run off the surface into lakes and rivers, carrying with it nutrients and microorganisms important for plant growth. Therefore, the soil becomes less fertile.