1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
Carbon is attached to oxygen and it exists in a form called carbon dioxide
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
They were formed from dead animals and plants thousands or millions of years ago. They decomposed and eventually it was compressed underground that formed fossil fuels.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
When people burn fossil fuels, it enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Also humans breath out carbon dioxide.
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
They soak up some carbon.
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gase so it traps heat to earth.
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
Weathering rocks from millions of years ago, they can wash off into the ocean adding carbon to the water.
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle? “Click to begin your journey”
The atmosphere
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
Only .04% is the atmosphere made of carbon
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
CO2 has increased in the atmosphere by 30%
.
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = Surface Ocean
What did you learn?
12. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
The deep ocean accounts for more than _____ % of the Earth’s carbon. How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
13. Next stop = _________________________________________ What did you learn?
14. Next stop = _________________________________________ What did you learn?
15. Next stop = _________________________________________ What did you learn?
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there? __Hundreds of years_____________
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon dioxide as they grow.
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
Nitrogen Cycle: Go to http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/nitrogencycle.html and
answer these questions.
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other
words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form? 19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Go to: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and answer these questions.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen? 21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen
(N2) found in the air. Why not? 22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the process of breaking up N2.
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated with the symbiotic relationship.)
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these questions.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the reading and links for help.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/index.htm. Answer the following questions. 1. Define "water cycle".
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water? 3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land
animals?
Click on http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/concepts.htm. Answer the following questions. 1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its __________ state to a
___________ state. 2. Why is evaporated water so clean?
3. Condensation occurs when a ____________ is changed into a __________.
4. Condensation is the opposite of ____________.
5. When the ________________ and ___________________ are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration:
7. Define percolation: Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/cycle.htm. Answer the following questions.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas? 3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
Carbon is attached to oxygen and it exists in a form called carbon dioxide
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
They were formed from dead animals and plants thousands or millions of years ago. They decomposed and eventually it was compressed underground that formed fossil fuels.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
When people burn fossil fuels, it enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Also humans breath out carbon dioxide.
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
They soak up some carbon.
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gase so it traps heat to earth.
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
Weathering rocks from millions of years ago, they can wash off into the ocean adding carbon to the water.
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle? “Click to begin your journey”
The atmosphere
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
Only .04% is the atmosphere made of carbon
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
CO2 has increased in the atmosphere by 30%
.
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = Surface Ocean
What did you learn?
12. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
The deep ocean accounts for more than _____ % of the Earth’s carbon. How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
13. Next stop = _________________________________________ What did you learn?
14. Next stop = _________________________________________ What did you learn?
15. Next stop = _________________________________________ What did you learn?
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there? __Hundreds of years_____________
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon dioxide as they grow.
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
Nitrogen Cycle: Go to http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/nitrogencycle.html and
answer these questions.
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other
words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form? 19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Go to: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and answer these questions.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen? 21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen
(N2) found in the air. Why not? 22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the process of breaking up N2.
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated with the symbiotic relationship.)
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these questions.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the reading and links for help.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/index.htm. Answer the following questions. 1. Define "water cycle".
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water? 3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land
animals?
Click on http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/concepts.htm. Answer the following questions. 1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its __________ state to a
___________ state. 2. Why is evaporated water so clean?
3. Condensation occurs when a ____________ is changed into a __________.
4. Condensation is the opposite of ____________.
5. When the ________________ and ___________________ are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration:
7. Define percolation: Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/cycle.htm. Answer the following questions.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas? 3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?