the Earths spheres and nutrient cycles

Question 1

what are the four earth spheres

Answer 1

geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere

Question 2

define geosphere

Answer 2

describes all the rocks, minerals and molten magma found in or on the earth and consist of theCrust, Mantle, Outer core and Inner core

Question 3

define hydrosphere

Answer 3

describes all the water on Earth including liquid water and vapour

Question 4

define atmosphere

Answer 4

describes the layer of gases surrounding the earth and is divided into Exosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere

Question 5

define biosphere

Answer 5

is composed of all organisms on the plant, including plants, animals and bacteria

Question 6

what are the different nutrient cycles

Answer 6

phosphorus, oxygen, nitrogen, water and carbon

Question 7

what is Phosphorus

Answer 7

phosphorus is a nutrient plants and animals need to grow strong and stay healthy making it an essential element for DNA, RNA and ATP

Question 8

where does phosphorus in organisms come from

Answer 8

the weathering of sedimentary rocks and soils, plants absorb the phosphorus and animals consume the plants

Question 9

how is phosphorus returned to the soil

Answer 9

through urine, faeces and decomposition

Question 10

define eutrophication

Answer 10

when too much phosphorus gets into likes, rivers or oceans usually from fertiliser, sewage or detergents

Question 11

what does eutrophication do to algae

Answer 11

it causes algae to grow very fast and turns into algae bloom

Question 12

what happens once algae dies

Answer 12

bacteria breaks down the dead algae in a process that uses oxygen taking it way from fish and other animals resulting in them dying

Question 13

what is the phosphorus cycle

Answer 13

it comes from rocks and soil, rain and weather breaks down the rocks and releases phosphorus into the soil where plants use it to grow, animals get it by eating the plants, when they die decomposers return phosphorus to the soil and some of it goes into waterways

Question 14

what is oxygen

Answer 14

a gas animals need to breathe

Question 15

define photosynthesis

Answer 15

when plants make oxygen using CO2, water and sunlight

Question 16

define cellular respiration

Answer 16

converts oxygen and glucose into ATP, CO2and water

Question 17

what oxygen cycle through

Answer 17

the biosphere and the atmosphere

Question 18

what is nitrogen essential for

Answer 18

all organisms as it is a part of proteins, DNA and RNA

Question 19

define nitrogen fixation

Answer 19

is a process that changes nitrogen gas into a usable form through lightning or special bacteria in the soil or plant roots

Question 20

what is the nitrogen cycle

Answer 20

once fixed nitrogen becomes nitrates or ammonium which plants absorb through their roots, animals get it by eating the plants, when plants and animals die the decomposers return nitrogen back to the soil and some bacteria change nitrogen back into a gas through denitrification sending it into the air again

Question 21

what is the water cycle

Answer 21

the way water moves through earth’s spheres again and again

Question 22

what is water essential for

Answer 22

photosynthesis and cellular respiration

Question 23

how does the water cycle connect all the earth’s spheres

Answer 23

atmosphere - hold water vapour and clouds, hydrosphere - all the water, geosphere - water flow across land and underground and biosphere - plants and animals use water and give it back