APES- Chapter #3- Guided Reading 1 APES- Chapter #3- Guided Reading Assignment The Big Picture: Systems

of Change Name: Period: Due Date:

Define the following and give examples of each: System: -a collection of components that work together to complete a function Ex. Carbon cycle. Open System -a system that exchanges energy and matter. Ex. The human body. Closed System -a system that exchanges only energy. Ex. The water cycle. Materially Closed System

Static System versus Dynamic System-a static system doesnt really change, same input and same output each time. However, a dynamic system will constantly be changing depending on the past incomes and outcomes. Steady-State System the input going into the system is equal to the output.

Why is the idea of equilibrium in systems somewhat misleading in regard to environmental questions? Is the establishment of a balance of nature ever possible? The equilibrium of an ecosystem is like a limit, we can get extremely close to it but we wont ever really get there. Systems and needs are always changing and the impact of humans is always there so finding a sort of exact equilibrium would be difficult. The world will always change and no matter how hard humans try to not effect nature, we will still be affecting nature therefore, I believe that it isnt really possible to get to an exact balance of nature because even if we got there, something in the system would have changed. Why is the concept of the ecosystem so important in the study of environmental science? Should we be worried about disturbing ecosystems? Under what circumstances should we worry or not worry? The concept of ecosystems are important in the study of environmental science because ecosystems have a balance scale that needs to maintain balanced and thats hard to do because the whole scale can be tipped of with so much as a little touch. Its important to be concerned about disturbing the environment because it is so easy to do so. We should always be conscious and aware no matter what the circumstances, we should know or have a roughly good idea of what affects will be taking place after our actions.

Define: Average Residence Time (How is it calculated?) The average residence time is the average amount of time a particle will stay in a system. It is calculated by dividing the possible maximum that the system could hold the substance by the rate the substance moves through the system. Discuss the difference between positive and negative feedback loops. Give an example of each. Positive feedback means that the input being applied to a system is amplified as the loop continues and it keeps increasing and the greater the impact. Negative feedback means that once something is being a applied to a system the initial effect to stop or slow down. An example of positive feedback would be when a microphone is placed too close to the speakers and amplifies the sound the speakers are already making to make an even louder noise. An example of negative feedback would be when the numbers of prey decrease therefore making the predator starve and die off.

Lag Time The amount of delayed time than expected for a certain event to occur. Exponential Growth (What is the main idea- is it good or bad?) Exponential growth is when a function is increasing at an increasing rate. This is most likely not a good thing. Doubling Time Doubling time simply means the amount of time that is needed for something to have increased in size, volume,amount,ect. Overshoot and Collapse (draw and label the graph)

Why does overshoot occur, and what could be done to anticipate and avoid it? Overshoot and collapse is when the initial response is greater than the long term outcome. Not much can be done to prevent overshoot and collapse however, regulating input would

probably be a good idea. Discuss the idea of Environmental Unity. Environmental unity means thats if one tries to change one thing, then itll always cause a sort of domino effect and will manage to change something else. It is impossible to only change one thing.

Discuss the idea of uniformitarianism

Uniformitarianism is the assumption that the natural laws that exist and are true now have always existed since the beginning of time and will always exist in all parts of the universe.

What is the Gaia Hypothesis?

It is a theory stated by lames lovelock that states that the living organisms and the inorganic systems that interact with them make up a system in its self that basically is planet earth.