1.1: Systems

Question 1

What’s an isolated system?

Answer 1

Have no interactions with anything outside the system boundary.
No input or output of energy or matter
Rare in nature - usually lab experiments.

Question 2

What is a closed system?

Answer 2

These have transfers of energy (NOT matter) into and beyond the system boundary.

Question 3

What’s an open system?

Answer 3

Where energy and matter are transferred across the boundary into surrounding environment.
Eg most ecosystems.

Question 4

What’s a dynamic equilibrium?

Answer 4

There’s a balance between inputs and outputs - so the stores stay the same.

Question 5

What’s positive feedback?

Answer 5

Where the effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock on effects.

Question 6

What’s negative feedback?

Answer 6

Where the effects of an action are nullified by its subsequent knock on effects.

Question 7

At a global level, the Earth has 4 major subsystems which are…

Answer 7

Atmosphere,
Lithosphere,
Hydrosphere,
Biosphere

Question 8

What is a cascading system?

Answer 8

Each of the 4 major subsections are considered to be an open system that forms part of a chain (cascading).