Module 3 - energy transformations Flashcards
what is photosynthesis and its equation?
-The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.
Carbon dioxide + water → (sunlight, chlorophyll) = glucose + oxygen
Explain the water cycle and its steps.
The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere.
1. Evaporation- the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.
2. Precipitation- water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail
3. Transpiration- The evaporation of water through plant leaves.
4. Advection- the movement of water — in solid, liquid, or vapor states — through the atmosphere.
5. Run off- The movement of water across Earth’s surfaces. May occur in river channels, creak lines or across flat surfaces.
What is boiling point and its significance
the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to the pressure of the gas above it
-Maintains liquid water on Earth from a wide range of
temperatures
- High BP vital for living things
- If BP of water was lower, tissues of living things
could be damaged
What is the ability to act as a solvent
-Universal solvent → dissolves most things
- Water dissolves more substances than almost any
other solvent known.
- due to its polar properties.
What is thermal capacity
-The quantity of heat necessary to produce a unit change of temperature in a unit mass of material.
-Specific heat - number of Joules of energy that is required to
increase the temperature of 1 gram of a substance 1C.
- Polar molecules take a lot more energy to increase in
heat
- Water has a higher heat capacity than almost any
other substance on Earth.
- it can take in or give up a tremendous amount of heat
without changing its own temperature.
What is surface tension
-The property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to the cohesive nature of its molecules
-Surface tension = property allowing liquid to resist external
force
- caused by the polarity of water (surface tension
results as water molecules are attracted to each
other, forms stronger bonds)
- This attraction is referred to as cohesion
- It results in a ‘film’ on the surface which is more
difficult to break
What are the three stages of ENSO
Neutral- in the middle of the continuum
La Nina- colder counterpart
El Nino- warmer counterpart
What happens during the neutral phase of ENSO
-Trade winds are steady across the tropical pacific from east to west creating the walker circulation.
-warm water piles up in the western pacific.
-Water temperatures in the east are lower as the trade winds cause cool water to be drawn up from the deep.
What happens during the La Nina Phase of ENSO
-Trade winds blow harder building up more heat on the western pacific.
-With trade winds blowing harder more cold water is brought up from the deep on the eastern side of the Pacific
-increases the east-to-west temperature difference.
-The west has higher water temperatures, therefore, there is greater evaporation meaning more cloud and rain in the western pacific.
What happens during the El Nino phase of ENSO
-Trade winds weaken, allowing warm waters to drift towards the east.
-The walker circulation breaks down due to the change in temperature patterns.
-As the walker circulation breaks down it results in even weaker trade winds.
-As the trade winds weaken and the warm water from the west drifts towards the east, the colder water settles in the west.
What are the El Nino and La Nina consequences for Australia
La Nina- Higher risk of flooding, colder temperatures and more tropical cyclones.
El Nino- Higher risk of droughts, Higher temperatures, more heatwaves and clearer nights.
