Systems

Question 1

What is a system?

Answer 1

An ‘ecosystem’ describes the interrelationships between different components (living and non-living) within a particular environment e.g a forest or pond

Question 2

How does a systems approach help us understand?

Answer 2

It helps demonstrate how energy is transferred between components. Helping us see how physical and human factors affect our environment.

Question 3

Give examples of a inputs, outputs, stores and transfers within a drainage basin.

Answer 3

Input:precipitation
Output:runoff
Stores: trees, soil and puddles
Flows: Infiltration

Question 4

Give examples of inputs, outputs, transfers and stores in a carbon cycle woodland.

Answer 4

Input: precipitation with dissolved co2
Output: dissolved co2 within runoff
Stores: trees, soil and rocks
Transfers: burning or absorption

Question 5

What’s a closed system?

Answer 5

They have energy transfers both into and beyond the system boundary but not transfer of matter. E.g. Water or carbon cycle

Question 6

What’s an open system?

Answer 6

This when energy and matter can be transferred from the system and across the boundary into the surrounding environment. Most ecosystems are open. E.g. Drainage basin or woodland

Question 7

What’s feedback in systems?

Answer 7

When theres a balance in inputs and outputs, creating a state of dynamic equilibrium.
When anything changes e.g more inputs than outputs, changing the stores, it’s said to upset the equilibrium and this is called feedback.

Question 8

What’s positive feedback?

Answer 8

The increase of something, a sequence of events increasing change. It worsens the outputs of a system driving it in one direction promoting environmental instability.

Question 9

Give an example of positive feedback

Answer 9

Rising sea levels, destabilise the ice shelves increasing the rate of calving. Leading to an increase of melting, further causing the sea levels to rise.

Question 10

What’s negative feedback?

Answer 10

This is when something decreases, neutralising a systems effect promoting stability and creating a state of dynamic equilibrium.

Question 11

Give an example of negative feedback

Answer 11

Increase in surface temperature, increasing evaporation, leading to more clouds and clouds reflect the suns radiation resulting in a slight cooling of the surface temperature.