Natural Systems Part 2

Question 1

Is Earth an closed system? Why?

Answer 1

. Yes, Earth is a closed system

Reason:

. Energy is inputted into our system through solar energy from the sun. This is balanced by radiant energy lost by the Earth

. But no matter is input or output to space

Question 2

Name the five subsystems of Earth

Answer 2

. Atmosphere

. Lithosphere

. Biosphere

. Hydrosphere

. Cryosphere

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Question 3

Explain Atmosphere

Answer 3

. Atmosphere is the layer of gas between the Earth’s surface and space, held in place by gravity

Question 4

Explain Lithosphere

Answer 4

. Lithosphere is the outermost part of the Earth

. It includes the crust and upper parts of the mantle

Question 5

Explain Biosphere

Answer 5

. The part of the Earth’s system where living things are found

. It includes all living parts of Earth — plants, animals, birds, fungi, bacteria, etc.

Question 6

Explain Hydrosphere

Answer 6

. Includes all of the water on Earth

. It may be in liquid form (e.g. lakes and rivers), solid form (e.g. ice stored in the cryosphere), gas form (e.g. water vapour)

. It can also be saline (salty) or fresh

Question 7

Explain Cryosphere

Answer 7

. Includes all parts of the Earth system where it’s cold enough for water to freeze, e.g. glacial landscapes

Question 8

Are these subsystems interlinked? How?

Answer 8

. Yes, these subsystems are interlinked

. They are interlinked by cycles and processes that keep the Earth system as a whole running as normal (e.g. water and carbon cycle)

Question 9

Why is the Earth system called a cascading system?

Answer 9

. Matter and energy move between the sub-systems

. This means that the output of one cycle is the input of the next, then the output of that cycle is the input of the next, and so on….

. Changes that occur in one subsystem can affect what happens in the others

Question 10

Subsystems where water can be stored

Answer 10

. There’s four subsystems were water can be stored:

. Hydrosphere - total amount of water on the planet
. Lithosphere - water stored in crust and upper mantle
. Cryosphere - any water that is frozen
. Atmosphere - water vapour

Question 11

Define Subsystem

Answer 11

. a system that is part of a larger system (Earth)