Natural Systems Part 1

Question 1

Define system

Answer 1

A set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process.

Question 2

Parts of System

Answer 2

. Stores / Components
. Flows / Transfers
. Boundaries
. Inputs
. Outputs

Question 3

Define Flows / Transfers

Answer 3

When matter or energy moves from one store to another.

Question 4

Define Stores / Components

Answer 4

where matter or energy is stored and builds up.

Question 5

Define Boundaries

Answer 5

the limits of the system

Question 6

Define Inputs

Answer 6

where matter or energy is added to a system (e.g. solar energy)

Question 7

Define Outputs

Answer 7

when matter or energy leaves the system

Question 8

Name three types of systems

Answer 8

. Open system
. Closed system
. Isolated system

Question 9

Define open system

Answer 9

. Both energy and matter can leave an open system — there are inputs and outputs

Question 10

Define closed system

Answer 10

. Matter can’t enter or leave a closed system — it can only cycle between stores

. Energy can enter and leave a closed system— it can be an input or output

Question 11

Define isolated system

Answer 11

. These have no interactions with anything outside the system boundary

. There is no input of matter or energy into the system

Question 12

Examples of open system

Answer 12

. Drainage basin system

Question 13

Examples of closed system

Answer 13

. Earth

. Carbon cycle

. Global Hydrological System ( in simple terms it is the water cycle)

Question 14

Examples of isolated system

Answer 14

. No examples in nature

. Controlled lab experiments are isolated systems

Question 15

Define Dynamic Equilibrium

Answer 15

. A system is in dynamic equilibrium if the inputs and outputs of the system are balanced on average

. Stores stay the same

. Flows and processes continue to happen

Question 16

What happens if one of the elements of the system changes? e.g. change in input without any corresponding change in output

Answer 16

. Dynamic Equilibrium is upset

. This is called feedback

Question 17

Name two types of feedback

Answer 17

. Positive feedback

. Negative feedback

Question 18

Explain positive feedback

Answer 18

.where the effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock-on or secondary effects

. The system increases the effects of the change, moving the system even further from its previous state

Question 19

Explain negative feedback

Answer 19

.where the effects of an action are nullified by its subsequent knock-on effects

. the system decreases the effects of the change, keeping the system closer to its previous state

Question 20

Is there a difference between dynamic equilibrium and equilibrium?

Answer 20

Yes, equilibrium is when the inputs and outputs are perfectly balanced, which flows and processes continuing to happen in the same way at all times

Dynamic equilibrium has lots of small variations in the inputs and outputs of the system (e.g. amount of precipitation entering a drainage basin system constantly varies.) The variations are small, so the inputs and outputs remain balanced on average.

Question 21

Example of positive and negative feedback

Answer 21

. Refer to CGP book