Unit 1.3 Energy and Equilibria Flashcards
What does the first law of thermodynamics state (law of conservation of energy)?
states that energy in an isolated system can be transformed but cannot be created or destroyed.
The total amount of energy in an isolated system does not change but the energy may transform from one type to another.
How can the conservation of energy be modeled?
The conservation of energy can be modeled by energy transformations along food chains and energy production systems, such as the flow of energy from producers to consumers.
What does the second law of thermodynamics state?
The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a system increases over time, meaning the disorder of a system grows and energy available for work decreases.
What happens to energy efficiency in a food chain?
The second law of thermodynamics explains the inefficiency in food chains. Energy is lost at each trophic level due to processes like respiration, feces, and heat, reducing the energy available for the next level.
What is negative feedback in a system?
promotes stability in a system as it reverses the change and returns the system to the original state of equilibrium. GOOD
What is positive feedback in a system?
Positive feedback loops are destabilizing mechanisms that amplify changes and drive the system toward a tipping point, where a new equilibrium is adopted. BAD
What is system resilience?
Resilience refers to a system’s ability to resist changes and maintain stability, often supported by negative feedback and complex interactions that provide resistance to tipping points.
How do diversity and storage size affect system resilience?
Larger storages and greater diversity within systems contribute to resilience by allowing systems to better absorb changes and maintain stability despite disturbances
How can humans affect system resilience?
Humans can negatively impact system resilience by reducing storage’s and biodiversity, potentially causing systems to be more vulnerable to tipping points and instability.
What challenges do delays in feedback loops present?
Delays in feedback loops make it difficult to predict tipping points and add complexity to modeling systems, as changes take time to manifest and affect the equilibrium.
What are the implications of the laws of thermodynamics in ecological systems?
The laws of thermodynamics explain the energy transformations and limitations within ecological systems, highlighting the inefficiency of energy use and the need for continuous input from the Sun.
How is resilience evaluated in various systems?
Resilience is evaluated by examining how well a system can resist changes and recover from disturbances, considering factors like feedback mechanisms and system complexity.
What are the potential consequences of tipping points in systems?
Tipping points can lead to permanent changes in the system’s equilibrium, possibly resulting in irreversible alterations that affect the entire system’s functioning.
How does international energy use affect global ecological equilibrium?
The use of energy in one part of the globe can lead to tipping points or time lags that influence global ecological equilibrium, demonstrating interconnectedness across regions.
How do scientific laws differ from laws in human science subjects?
Scientific laws, like those in thermodynamics, are universal and based on natural phenomena, while human science laws, such as economics, are influenced by human behavior and may not be universally applicable.
