Carbon Cycle
1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
Carbon exists in the atmosphere through plants, animals, and to living
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
Fossil fuels are created by animals dying. These animals are then buried underground for millions of years and end up turning into fossil fuels.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
Fossil fuels are entered by respiration (breathing) and photosynthesis.
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
Oceans are involved in the carbon cycle by absorbing some of the carbon in the atmosphere.
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
Carbon is a greenhouse gas and traps heat. Without carbon, the Earth would be a frozen world (it sounds cool though).
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
When rocks weather over time, it helps add carbon over the surface waters, which end up in the ocean.
Carbon exists in the atmosphere through plants, animals, and to living
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
Fossil fuels are created by animals dying. These animals are then buried underground for millions of years and end up turning into fossil fuels.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
Fossil fuels are entered by respiration (breathing) and photosynthesis.
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
Oceans are involved in the carbon cycle by absorbing some of the carbon in the atmosphere.
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
Carbon is a greenhouse gas and traps heat. Without carbon, the Earth would be a frozen world (it sounds cool though).
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
When rocks weather over time, it helps add carbon over the surface waters, which end up in the ocean.
Carbon Cycling Game
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
“Click to begin your journey”
I am starting in the atmosphere within the carbon cycle.
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
0.04% of the atmosphere is made out of carbon dioxide.
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
The amount has increased by 30% during the past 150 years.
11. Next stop = Surface Ocean
What did you learn?
I learned that the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide than the land does.
12. Next stop = Deep Ocean
What did you learn?
I learned that carbon in the deep ocean normally stays there for hundreds of years.
The deep ocean accounts for more than 65% of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
The surface ocean absorbs 90 gigatons of carbon each year.
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil. (True)
13. Next stop = Land Plants
What did you learn?
I learned that plants can grow faster if there is more carbon on the planet.
14. Next stop = Soil
What did you learn?
I learned that soil stores about 3% of Earth's carbon.
15. Next stop = Marine Life
What did you learn?
I learned that marine life cannot survive without carbon.
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
Carbon normally stays there for 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. (False)
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere. (True)
“Click to begin your journey”
I am starting in the atmosphere within the carbon cycle.
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
0.04% of the atmosphere is made out of carbon dioxide.
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
The amount has increased by 30% during the past 150 years.
11. Next stop = Surface Ocean
What did you learn?
I learned that the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide than the land does.
12. Next stop = Deep Ocean
What did you learn?
I learned that carbon in the deep ocean normally stays there for hundreds of years.
The deep ocean accounts for more than 65% of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
The surface ocean absorbs 90 gigatons of carbon each year.
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil. (True)
13. Next stop = Land Plants
What did you learn?
I learned that plants can grow faster if there is more carbon on the planet.
14. Next stop = Soil
What did you learn?
I learned that soil stores about 3% of Earth's carbon.
15. Next stop = Marine Life
What did you learn?
I learned that marine life cannot survive without carbon.
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
Carbon normally stays there for 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. (False)
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere. (True)
Nitrogen Cycle
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?)
In order for nitrogen to react with oxygen you need high temperatures and pressures.
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
Two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen are nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?
Nitric acid forms when nitrogen dioxide may interact with water.
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Nitric acid is important because it can be used to make proteins and fertilizer.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
79% 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?
Plants don't use nitrogen in the air because they need nitrogen in its "fixed" form.
22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
Plants can use nitrogen if it is nirate ions, ammonium ions, and urea.
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
Animals get the nitrogen they need from plants or animals who have eaten plants.
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.
In order for nitrogen to react with oxygen you need high temperatures and pressures.
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
Two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen are nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?
Nitric acid forms when nitrogen dioxide may interact with water.
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Nitric acid is important because it can be used to make proteins and fertilizer.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
79% 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?
Plants don't use nitrogen in the air because they need nitrogen in its "fixed" form.
22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
Plants can use nitrogen if it is nirate ions, ammonium ions, and urea.
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
Animals get the nitrogen they need from plants or animals who have eaten plants.
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.)
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Nitrogen is needed by plants and animals because
Nitrogen is needed by plants and animals because
Water Cycle
1. Define "water cycle".
The water cycle is the process of how we get water to drink and the weather patterns for growing crops.
2. What fraction of the Earth's surface is covered in water?
Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is covered in water.
3. What percentage of all the Earth's water is in a form usable to humans and land animals?
1% of all the Earth's water is in a form usable to humans and land animals.
4. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its liquid state to a gaseous state.
5. Why is evaporated water so clean?
Evaporated water is clean because impurities in the water are left behind during the process of evaporation.
6. Condensation occurs when a gas is changed in to a liquid.
7. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation.
8. When the temperature and the atmospheric pressure are right, the small droplets of water in the clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
9. Define transpiration.
Transpiration is when water moves through leaves of plants in order to evaporate.
10. Define percolation.
Percolation is how a liquid slowly moves through a filter.
11. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
When water turns into a gas, it is called evaporation. When water evaporates, it turns back into a liquid (called condensation) and goes to the clouds. After a while, the clouds move toward land and begin precipitation, or rain. The water falls back in rivers and lakes, and the process begins again.
12. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas?
Temperature is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid or gas.
13. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
The amount on water on Earth is a constant amount.
The water cycle is the process of how we get water to drink and the weather patterns for growing crops.
2. What fraction of the Earth's surface is covered in water?
Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is covered in water.
3. What percentage of all the Earth's water is in a form usable to humans and land animals?
1% of all the Earth's water is in a form usable to humans and land animals.
4. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its liquid state to a gaseous state.
5. Why is evaporated water so clean?
Evaporated water is clean because impurities in the water are left behind during the process of evaporation.
6. Condensation occurs when a gas is changed in to a liquid.
7. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation.
8. When the temperature and the atmospheric pressure are right, the small droplets of water in the clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
9. Define transpiration.
Transpiration is when water moves through leaves of plants in order to evaporate.
10. Define percolation.
Percolation is how a liquid slowly moves through a filter.
11. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
When water turns into a gas, it is called evaporation. When water evaporates, it turns back into a liquid (called condensation) and goes to the clouds. After a while, the clouds move toward land and begin precipitation, or rain. The water falls back in rivers and lakes, and the process begins again.
12. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas?
Temperature is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid or gas.
13. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
The amount on water on Earth is a constant amount.