Systems & Spheres Notes

Systems A SYSTEM is an organized group of related objects or components that interact See pages 32-33 in text

Systems Closed System – Energy, but not matter can be exchanged with the surroundings Example: Earth, closed jar

Systems Open System – Both energy and matter are exchanged with the surroundings Examples: a lake, human body, open jar.

Earth’s Spheres The 4 spheres store all of the matter on Earth Matter = anything that has mass and takes up space

The Atmosphere “A” for Air The blanket of gases surrounding the Earth’s surface Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 1% other trace gases

The Hydrosphere “H” for H2O All of the Earth’s water, except, the water in the atmosphere 97% salt water – oceans 3% fresh water – lakes, rivers, frozen glaciers

The Geosphere “G” for Ground The mostly solid part of the Earth Rock and soil, Earth’s crust and tectonic plates Solid and molten interior of the Earth

The Biosphere “B” for body / bird / bush All the forms of life in the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere Extends to the deepest parts of the ocean and a few km above the Earth’s surface Contains all living organisms

Interactions among the Spheres Many birds (biosphere) fly through the air (atmosphere). While water (hydrosphere) often flows through the soil (geosphere). One change in one sphere results in a change in one or more spheres. Such changes that take place within an ecosystem are referred to as events.