Final Review

Question 1

What does renewable mean?

Answer 1

Can be replenished within a human lifetime

Question 2

What does nonrenewable mean?

Answer 2

A resource that replenishes extremely slowly

Question 3

What does sustainable mean?

Answer 3

Able to be maintained indefinitely

Question 4

What is unsustainable?

Answer 4

Unable to be maintained in definitely

Question 5

What is the difference between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable?

Answer 5

Biodegradable items are broken down by bacteria over time, while nonbiodegradable items are unable to be broken down.

Question 6

What are the effects of growing human population on Earth?

Answer 6

Depletion of resources and space, pollution and environmental degradation

Question 7

What are anthropocentric and ecocentric?

Answer 7

“Human-centered” and “environment-centered”

Question 8

What is meant by the “Tragedy of Commons”?

Answer 8

Short-term interest of individuals versus the long-term interests of civilization and the Earth itself

Question 9

How is environmental science an interdisciplinary field?

Answer 9

It includes concepts and ideas from multiple fields of study, such as sciences, sociology, philosophy, and politics

Question 10

Identify the components found in the atmosphere in order of highest concentration to lowest.

Answer 10

Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, trace gases

Question 11

What is the formula for cellular respiration?

Answer 11

C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + energy

Question 12

What is the formula for photosynthesis?

Answer 12

CO₂ + H₂O + energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂

Question 13

What is a molecule?

Answer 13

The smallest unit of an element of compound

Question 14

What is an organism?

Answer 14

An individual life form

Question 15

What is a population?

Answer 15

A group of organisms living in the same place at the same time

Question 16

What is a biological community?

Answer 16

Various species in a common location

Question 17

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 17

The biotic and abiotic factors in an environment

Question 18

What is the biosphere?

Answer 18

All living things on earth

Question 19

What are density dependent factors?

Answer 19

Factors whose effects of dependent on population (disease)

Question 20

What are density independent factor?

Answer 20

Factors with effects unrelated to population size (natural disasters)

Question 21

What significance does location on the windward or leeward side of a mountain hold?

Answer 21

The windward side receives more rain, while the leeward side doesn’t, causing it to be dry and desert-like

Question 22

Define salinity.

Answer 22

The saltiness of a body of water

Question 23

Define temperature.

Answer 23

The degree of heat present

Question 24

Define dissolved oxygen.

Answer 24

The amount of oxygen in a body of water

Question 25

Define euphotic zone.

Answer 25

Later in a body of water that receives enough light for photosynthesis

Question 26

What is the benthic zone?

Answer 26

Later in a body of water that doesn't receive enough light for photosynthesis

Question 27

What is turbidity?

Answer 27

The clarity of water

Question 28

Describe temperature, oxygen concentration, water velocity, nutrient level, and salinity for the source of a river.

Answer 28

Cold, oxygen-rich, low in nutrients, low in salinity, and fast-moving

Question 29

What's the difference between a swamp, marsh, and bog?

Answer 29

A swamp is a wetland with trees, a marsh is a wetland without, and a bog is a wetland characterized by plants that produce an acidic secretion

Question 30

What are the benefits to wetlands?

Answer 30

Biodiversity, flood control, and water pollution control

Question 31

Distinguish between coastal zone, benthic zone, open ocean, and tidal zone?

Answer 31

The coastal and tidal zones have lots of biodiversity and an abundance of sunlight, while the open ocean and benthic zones have less biodiversity.

Question 32

What is the current human population?

Answer 32

7 billion people

Question 33

Identify human population growth curves prior and post industrial revolution.

Answer 33

Before the industrial revolution, the growth curve was linear. After, it was exponential.

Question 34

What is the formula for doubling time?

Answer 34

70/current % growth rate

Question 35

Where is the majority of water found on earth?

Answer 35

Oceans

Question 36

What is the greatest source of freshwater on earth?

Answer 36

Glaciers

Question 37

What accounts for the greatest anthropogenic use of water?

Answer 37

Agricultural irrigation

Question 38

What are the goals of the "Clean Water Act"?

Answer 38

To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters

Question 39

What are the goals of the "Safe Drinking Water Act"?

Answer 39

To protect the quality of drinking water in the U.S.

Question 40

Why are CO₂, CH₄, H₂O, and NO significant?

Answer 40

They are greenhouse gases

Question 41

Why are chlorofluorocarbons significant?

Answer 41

They destroy ozone

Question 42

What are the effects of global warming on the hydrologic cycle?

Answer 42

Increased evaporation

Question 43

What is the link between acid rain and soil pH?

Answer 43

The more acid rain, the lower the soil pH

Question 44

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?

Answer 44

It is clean and its modules require little maintenance, but it doesn't work in cold, cloudy areas

Question 45

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Answer 45

It's environmentally friendly, but expensive and impacts aquatic life

Question 46

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind power?

Answer 46

It doesn't cause air pollution and creates jobs, but require lots of wind

Question 47

What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy?

Answer 47

Clean and requires no fuel, but can't be harnessed everywhere.

Question 48

What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power?

Answer 48

It's clean and sustainable, but have dangerous effects

Question 49

What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting ethanol into fuel?

Answer 49

Ethanol is renewable and produces less CO₂ when burned, and can be grown, produced, and distributed locally. It also provides jobs. On the other hand, it's not suitable for use in cold temperatures and can cause a food shortage.

Question 50

How is Brazil considered a leader when it comes to green cars?

Answer 50

Brazil has all its cars able to run on pure ethanol and give consumers the option to use ethanol. The first mass produced flex car was made in Brazil.

Question 51

If an engine was 20% efficient, where would the remaining energy go when the engine was in use?

Answer 51

It would be released as heat

Question 52

During what time period did most of the coal on earth form?

Answer 52

Carboniferous period; world was covered in swamps

Question 53

What makes up the majority of the mass of fossil fuels?

Answer 53

Carbon

Question 54

Explain the general workings of a power plant.

Answer 54

The energy source spins a turbine.

Question 55

What are oil, coal, and natural gas derived from?

Answer 55

Prehistoric plant fossils

Question 56

How are bacterial infections treated?

Answer 56

Antibiotics

Question 57

Determine the most → least toxic substance, given its LD50 value.

Answer 57

The lower the LD50, the more toxic the substance

Question 58

Why is veal paper in color than regular beef?

Answer 58

Because the calf from the veal was raised on a milk-based diet and lacks certain minerals (iron)

Question 59

Why is consumption of ground beef more dangerous than consumption of steak?

Answer 59

Ground beef comes from many different cows, and if when gets a disease, all the meat is infected. Steak comes from only one cow.