Systems, Cycles, Spheres

1. Systems, Cycles, Spheres An overview of how the earth works

2. Discussion Questions • What is a system? Include a working definition of the term system? • Why is our Planet Earth considered a system? • What are some systems or cycles taking place here on earth?

3. Closed System • Closed system: What do you think a closed system is? • Jar with a lid on it = Closed System • Contents of jar are stuck inside but heat, energy, light can still pass • Energy has the ability to enter or exit but matter cannot enter or leave. • Heat can pass in and out of the jar but more mass or less mass cannot occur due to the closed system

4. Closed System (Example) • If I were to tip the jar, the matter would still be in the jar therefore it is a closed system. • But if I put it by the window it would gain and loose energy. • Good example would be a car: if you were to stay in your car with the door locked the air inside would not mix with the air outside nor would the mass inside affect or be affected by the mass outside. Energy could be exchanged but the masses would stay the same.

5. Open System • Open System: this system freely shares it mass and energy with the surrounding area. • An open jar of water would allow the water to evaporate. If I were to put something into the jar matter/mass would be added to the system. • Example: Area of land. • It shares its sediment with the oceans because it creates runoff when precipitation is involved and it shares water with the ocean because of the precipitation landing on the land. (this is a small scale open system)

6. Exception to Rule • ***The Earth is considered a closed system: it really only shares energy with the surrounding areas (the sun). Mass does not really change ( leave or enter). Only some hydrogen is lost to space (in the form of heat) and sometimes we gain matter by comets or meteorites. ***

7. Activity • Brainstorm in your notes some examples of closed systems and open systems • Create a list on whiteboards so that you have something YOU understand to be able to relate it to the actual definition. • Write a few good examples on sticky notes and place them under respective categories

8. Discussion: • What is so unique about the Earth in our solar system versus the other planets? • Why about us makes us so unique? • Answer:

9. Earth’s 4 Spheres • Activity- • You will be assigned one of earth’s 4 spheres and will be required to do a small amount of reasearch on it. After researching for 5-10 mins, write you information under the respective categories at the front of the room. As a class, we will come together and add all of our information to the notes.

10. Atmosphere • Gaseous unit around the Earth. • Provides us with- • 1. Oxygen and Carbon dioxide • 2. Blocks certain radiation that is harmful • 3. Clouds

11. Hydrosphere • A. Contains all the water in the Earth’s system. • Examples are: lakes, rivers, oceans, seas, groundwater, precipitation, locked up ice in the poles and glaciers, and snow on the mountain tops. • Water Cycle

12. Geosphere • This is the Earth itself. • Rocks, mountains, beaches, landforms, volcanoes, ocean floor, rock layers, etc. • Everything that is a major feature on this planet is the geosphere: • Does not include any water • Includes the mantle and the core of the Earth • All rocks and minerals that we all know – or will know, come from the geosphere. • Houses, buildings, etc. are all built on the geosphere and some are even made out of the geosphere. • The geosphere is always changing due to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and plate tectonics.

13. Biosphere • All the interactions between the hydrosphere, geosphere, and the atmosphere allowed actual life to occur here on Earth. • All the living things on this planet make up the biosphere • From bacteria, to a tree, to an actual person.

14. Discussion • How have humans affected the four spheres? • How do the four spheres all interact?

15. Interaction Examples • Volcano: • geosphere – affect the atmosphere and the biosphere (ash into air and on land – covering plants, etc.) • Earthquake: • geosphere – affects the hydrosphere = tsunami and the biosphere • A forest of trees: • biosphere - affects atmosphere (draws in carbon dioxide and water) = hydrosphere, release oxygen and water vapor, can be eaten = biosphere. • Hurricane: • atmosphere - moves across hydrosphere, onto land – geosphere, and can harm nature and people = biosphere. • A Human Being: • biosphere - puts pollutants into the air = atmosphere, uses up our water supply = hydrosphere (pollutes water ways and oceans), and farm the land, fish the seas, etc = biosphere, and drills into the Earth’s crust – move away mountains for roads etc = geosphere.

16. System- Sphere- Cycle Relationship • Diagram:

17. Cycles • Definition- A set of events that repeats itself. • EXAMPLES: Water Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Rock Cycle. • The cycle will end where it started. Think of it as a merry-go-round. • Cycles occur in one or more spheres. The cycles in turn affect the sphere and therefore the “Earth System” as a whole. • MAINPOINT: ANY EVENT OR CYCLE THAT OCCURS IN ANY BRANCH OF SCIENCE AFFECTS EVERYTHING AROUND IT

18. Lesson Focus: • How do the Spheres and Cycles of Earth Science work together to create the intricate system known as the Earth System? • All cycles that occur on Earth affect one or more spheres which in turn affects the Earth as a system. Everything we do, somehow affects the Earth System.