brigid brignell ba, bsc, grad cert multimedia · 2016-12-27 · extension: create your own animated...

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Change is a constant of life. The natural cycles that balance

and regulate our Earth and atmosphere provide the

necessary conditions for sustaining a diverse range of life

forms on the planet. But what actually occurs in these

cycles? The Cycles Collection looks at the critical role the

carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and water cycles play in the

life of plants, animals, bacteria and our planet. This motion-

graphics driven program simply yet clearly explains the key

stages and processes o f each cycle and why the cycles are

so important to all life on our planet. An ideal resource for

viewers seeking a scientific understanding of these cycles.

Duration of resource: 19 Minutes

Year of Production: 2013

Stock code: RLC13100000

Resource written by:

Brigid Brignell BA, BSc, Grad Cert Multimedia

The Cycles: Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus

2 © VEA Group Pty Ltd 2013

Reproducing these support notes You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website or ClickView for your reference.

Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.

For Teachers

Introduction The global nutrient cycles are necessary for life within the Earth’s biosphere. They provide us with a constant source of water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. These clips will help students understand that these necessary nutrients don’t just appear – they are recycled around the biosphere via sometimes incredibly slow processes. As they start to understand how these processes work, they can begin to look at how human activity can throw things out of balance and how this will affect life within the biosphere in the longer term. The water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles are the perfect place to start when looking at our delicate global ecosystem and how it creates the conditions necessary to sustain life on Earth.

Timeline 00:00:00:00 The Carbon Cycle 00:03:39:15 The Nitrogen Cycle 00:07:43:04 The Phosphorus Cycle 00:11:34:06 The Water Cycle Basic 00:15:00:04 The Water Cycle Advanced 00:19:19:18 End of program





The Carbon Cycle

Glossary 1. Build your own glossary by writing definitions for each of the following words.

a) Atmosphere: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) Biosphere: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

c) Decomposition: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

d) Excretion: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

e) Food chain: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





f) Fossil fuels: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

g) Glucose: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

h) Marine ecosystem: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

i) Oceanic respiration: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

j) Photosynthesis: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

k) Respiration: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





The carbon cycle diagram 2. Create an annotated diagram of the carbon cycle. You can use the diagram below or draw your own.

Extension: Create your own animated diagram of the carbon cycle using online software such as Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) or other animation software available to you.

http://scratch.mit.edu/





Check your understanding 3. List two ways that carbon is removed from the atmosphere in the carbon cycle. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. List two ways that carbon is returned to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Explain how photosynthesis forms part of the carbon cycle. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 6. The oceans play a key role in the carbon cycle. Research the ways that carbon is used in marine

ecosystems. Create a diagram of the carbon cycle that includes detail about the processes that take place in marine ecosystems.





The Nitrogen Cycle


a) Amino acid: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) Atmosphere: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

c) Carnivores: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

d) Denitrifying bacteria: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

e) Detritivores: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





f) DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

g) Food chain: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

h) Herbivores: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

i) Ion: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

j) Legumes: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

k) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





l) Omnivores:

____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

m) Protein: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

n) Water soluble: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





The nitrogen cycle diagram 2. Create an annotated diagram of the nitrogen cycle. You can use the diagram below or draw your own.

Extension: Create your own animated diagram of the nitrogen cycle using online software such as Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) or other animation software available to you.






Research questions 3. Explain why living organisms need nitrogen. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. a). How is nitrogen gas (N2) removed from the atmosphere? ____________________________________________________________________________________

b). How is nitrogen gas (N2) released back into the atmosphere? ____________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Research three ways human activity can affect the nitrogen cycle.





The Phosphorus Cycle


a) Apatite: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) Atmospheric (or gaseous) cycle: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

c) Cell membranes: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

d) Concentration: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

e) Crop: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





f) Decomposition: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

g) DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

h) Erosion: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

i) Excretion: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

j) Fertilizer: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

k) Guano: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





l) Sediment: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

m) Sedimentary cycle: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

n) Weathering: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





The phosphorus cycle diagram 2. Create an annotated diagram of the phosphorus cycle. You can use the diagram below or draw your

own.

Extension: Create your own animated diagram of the phosphorus cycle using online software such as Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) or other animation software available to you.






Research questions 3. Explain why living organisms need phosphorus. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Explain why the phosphate cycle is called a sedimentary cycle. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Use research to find out the following.

a) three sources that contribute to the level of phosphorus in waterways (4 lines) ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) the effect high concentrations of phosphates in waterways has on aquatic ecosystems ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





The Water Cycle (Basic)


a) Atmosphere: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) Condensation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

c) Evaporation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

d) Gas: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

e) Groundwater: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





f) Infiltration: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

g) Liquid: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

h) Percolation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

i) Precipitation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

j) Solid: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

k) States of matter: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





l) Surface run off: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

m) Transpiration: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

n) Vapor: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





The water cycle diagram 2. Create an annotated diagram of the water cycle. You can use the diagram below or draw your own.

Extension: Create your own animated diagram of the water cycle using online software such as Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) or other animation software available to you.






Check your understanding 3. What are the four main processes that take place during the water cycle?

a) ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) ____________________________________________________________________________________

c) ____________________________________________________________________________________

d) ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. For each of the processes in the previous question, name the changes of state of water (solid, liquid,

gas) that take place. If no change takes place, write ‘no change’.

a) water evaporates from the ocean surface:

_________________ _________________

b) water vapor condenses into clouds:

_________________ _________________

c) clouds cool enough to precipitate snow:

_________________ _________________

d) rainwater lands in a river and flows out into the ocean

_________________ _________________





5. Explain the difference between evaporation and transpiration. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Heating or cooling water can bring about a change in state. Using this knowledge, answer the

following questions.

a) Will the rate of evaporation from the ocean be greater on a hot day or a cold day? ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) Why do you think clouds form at high altitudes and not closer to the Earth’s surface? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





The Water Cycle (Advanced)


a) Condensation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) Evaporation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

c) Groundwater: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

d) Infiltration: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

e) Percolation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





f) Photosynthesis: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

g) Precipitation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

h) Sublimation: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

i) Surface run off: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

j) Transpiration: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

k) Vapor: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





Check your understanding 3. List three ways water is returned to the atmosphere during the water cycle. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Explain the difference between evaporation and transpiration. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Describe two different pathways water can take to get from being a droplet of rain back to being water

vapor in the atmosphere.

a) ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

b) ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





6. Respiration is the process plants and animals use to turn sugars (such as glucose) into the energy they need for growth, movement and other biological processes. It is the opposite to photosynthesis. Using this information (and additional research if necessary), briefly explain how these two processes work together to form part of the water cycle.

____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 7. The water cycle is affected by climate change. Suggest two ways the water cycle might be affected by

climate change and how humans would be affected. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________





Suggested Student Responses

The Carbon Cycle


a) Atmosphere: A layer of gas above the Earth’s surface

b) Biosphere:

The region of the Earth where life exists and thrives, extending about 6 km above the oceans and about 10 km below it; the biosphere operates as a closed system that contains only a finite amount of matter available for life

c) Decomposition:

The breaking down of plants and animals into simpler substances

d) Excretion: The removal of waste products from an organism

e) Food chain:

A sequence showing how each animal in an ecosystem gets its food and the flow of energy and other nutrients from organism to organism

f) Fossil fuels:

The remains of organic material (plants and animals) that over millions of years is compressed to form a source of energy, e.g. coal, gas, oil

g) Glucose:

A sugar found in plants, which is produced during photosynthesis and used as an energy source during cellular respiration

h) Marine ecosystem:

An ecosystem found in saltwater, e.g. an ocean, estuary, mangrove or salt marsh

i) Oceanic respiration: The exchange of carbon into and out of the ocean, mainly by absorbing/releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

j) Photosynthesis:

The process plants use to turn light energy, water and carbon dioxide into glucose; oxygen is also produced as part of this process

k) Respiration:

The set of chemical reactions that takes place inside the cells to produce energy, e.g. for growth or movement





The carbon cycle diagram 2. Create an annotated diagram of the carbon cycle. You can use the diagram below or draw your own.

Extension: Create your own animated diagram of the carbon cycle using online software such as Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) or other animation software available to you.






Check your understanding 3. List two ways that carbon is removed from the atmosphere in the carbon cycle.

Answers may include: photosynthesis, dissolving carbon dioxide into the oceans. 4. List two ways that carbon is returned to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle.

Answers may include: burning fossil fuels, animal/plant respiration. 5. Explain how photosynthesis forms part of the carbon cycle.

Green plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere when they photosynthesize. They convert sunlight, water and atmospheric carbon dioxide to oxygen and glucose. This carbon (in the form of glucose) is released back into the atmosphere via many possible pathways, for example via respiration.

6. The oceans play a key role in the carbon cycle. Research the ways that carbon is used in marine

ecosystems. Create a diagram of the carbon cycle that includes detail about the processes that take place in marine ecosystems. Answers vary but may include: CO2 dissolves in the ocean; organisms (e.g. phytoplankton) use the CO2 for photosynthesis and produce oxygen. This oxygen can be used for respiration by other marine organisms. This takes place in the upper ocean. In deeper waters, dissolved CO2 can also be used to form carbonic acid, which is turn is used to form the calcium carbonate which is used by marine organisms to create hard shells. Or the calcium carbonate can precipitate and form sediment, which over time can become limestone rock.





The Nitrogen Cycle


a) Amino acid: The basic subunits of proteins, e.g. cysteine

b) Atmosphere:

A layer of gas above the Earth’s surface

c) Carnivores: Consumers that only eat other animals

d) Denitrifying bacteria:

Bacteria: bacteria in the soil which convert nitrates to nitrogen gas, and release the nitrogen back into the atmosphere

e) Detritivores:

Organisms such as earthworms, maggots, fungi and dung beetles, which feed off decaying matter

f) DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid):

The molecules that contain the genetic information that describes an organism

g) Food chain: A sequence showing how each animal in an ecosystem gets its food and the flow of energy and other nutrients from organism to organism

h) Herbivores:

Consumers that eat only plants

i) Ion: An atom or group of atoms which have lost or gained electron/s, and so carry a charge (positive for lost electron/s, negative for gained electron/s)

j) Legumes:

The group of plants that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules; also the fruit or seeds of such plants, e.g. peas, beans, lentils

k) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria:

Bacteria which ‘fix’ nitrogen gas into more usable forms, e.g. ammonia, nitrates





l) Omnivores: Consumers that eat both plants and animals

m) Protein:

Large biological molecules, which are made up of amino acids, used for various functions in living organisms such as building cells and tissues or transporting molecules, e.g. hemoglobin

n) Water soluble:

Able to be dissolved in water





The nitrogen cycle diagram 2. Create an annotated diagram of the nitrogen cycle. You can use the diagram below or draw your own.

Extension: Create your own animated diagram of the nitrogen cycle using online software such as Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) or other animation software available to you.






Research questions 3. Explain why living organisms need nitrogen.

Nitrogen is necessary for the production of amino acids, which form the building blocks of the proteins they need to build cells and tissues (such as muscles, skin, blood and hair) or to transport other molecules around the body.

4. a). How is nitrogen gas (N2) removed from the atmosphere?

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

b). How is nitrogen gas (N2) released back into the atmosphere? Denitrifying bacteria

5. Research three ways human activity can affect the nitrogen cycle.

Answers will vary but may include: By adding fertilizers to the soil to improve crop yields Removing nitrogen gas from the atmosphere to create synthetic fertilizers By burning fossil fuels containing nitrogen, which contributes to acid rain production





The Phosphorus Cycle


a) Apatite: A group of calcium-phosphorus containing minerals

b) Atmospheric (or gaseous) cycle:

A cycle that moves nutrients through the air, soil, water and living organisms

c) Cell membranes: The membrane that surrounds a cell, enclosing its contents and controlling the movement of substances into and out of the cell

d) Concentration:

The amount of solute (e.g. salt) dissolved in an amount of solvent (e.g. water)

e) Crop: A plant that is usually grown on a large scale for food, clothing and other human purposes, e.g. wheat, cotton

f) Decomposition:

The breaking down of plants and animals into simpler substances

g) DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): The molecules that contain the genetic information that describes an organism

h) Erosion:

The moving of broken down rock (e.g. soil) to another location

i) Excretion: The elimination of waste products from an organism

j) Fertilizer:

Nutrients that are added to soil to promote the growth of plants

k) Guano: Huge volumes of seabird excrement

l) Sediment:

The solid fragments of rock that are created by weathering and deposited by water, wind etc. during erosion

m) Sedimentary cycle:

A nutrient cycle that consists of rocks weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition (forming sediments again)

n) Weathering:

The process of breaking down rocks by wind, rain, ice and sunlight





The phosphorus cycle diagram 2. Create an annotated diagram of the phosphorus cycle. You can use the diagram below or draw your

own.

Extension: Create your own animated diagram of the phosphorus cycle using online software such as Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) or other animation software available to you.






Research questions 3. Explain why living organisms need phosphorus.

Phosphate ions are vital components in the fats of cell membranes. They also occur in DNA, and are crucial to the production of energy in living cells.

4. Explain why the phosphate cycle is called a sedimentary cycle.

Because it has no atmospheric component. It only moves through water, soils and sediments. 5. Use research to find out the following.

a) three sources that contribute to the level of phosphorus in waterways (4 lines) Answers will vary but may include any three of the following (or others as appropriate): run off from fertilization of farming land, human and animal wastes, naturally weathering/erosion of phosphorus-containing rocks, phosphorus containing cleaning products such as laundry power/liquid, industrial effluents.

b) the effect high concentrations of phosphates in waterways has on aquatic ecosystems

High levels cause eutrophication. Water plants use the high concentrations of phosphorus as a fertilizer, which promotes growth beyond the usual levels. This can choke a waterway with plant life (often aquatic weeds) and stop water from penetrating to lower levels of the waterway. It can also result in algal blooms, decreased oxygen levels in the water and loss of species diversity.





The Water Cycle (Basic)


a) Atmosphere: A layer of gas above the Earth’s surface

b) Condensation:

The process of changing a gas into a liquid

c) Evaporation: The process of changing a liquid into a gas

d) Gas:

A substance with no fixed shape, which freely moves around to completely fill a container and is easily compressed (e.g. steam)

e) Groundwater:

Water located underneath the Earth’s surface

f) Infiltration: The movement of water down through the soil

g) Liquid:

A substance with no definite shape, which flows to take on the shape of a container and is not easily compressed (e.g. water)

h) Percolation:

The filtration of water down through soil and porous rocks

i) Precipitation: The result of water vapors condensing in the atmosphere and falling to Earth; includes drizzle, rain, sleet, snow and hail

j) Solid:

Substance which has a fixed shape, does not flow and cannot be compressed (e.g. ice)

k) States of matter: The three main explanations for how particles are arranged within a substance (e.g. solid, liquid, gas)

l) Surface run off:

Water that moves over the Earth’s surface, e.g. rivers and streams

m) Transpiration: The process where water moves through a plant and evaporates from the leaves

n) Vapor:

A substance in the gaseous state





Check your understanding 3. What are the four main processes that take place during the water cycle?

a) evaporation

b) condensation

c) precipitation

d) surface run off (transportation) 4. For each of the processes in the previous question, name the changes of state of water (solid, liquid,

gas) that take place. If no change takes place, write ‘no change’.

a) water evaporates from the ocean surface: Liquid gas

b) water vapor condenses into clouds:

Gas liquid

c) clouds cool enough to precipitate snow: Liquid solid

d) rainwater lands in a river and flows out into the ocean

Liquid liquid, i.e. no change 5. Explain the difference between evaporation and transpiration.

Evaporation is when liquid water on the Earth’s surface (e.g. in lakes, rivers or oceans) turns into a gas or water vapor and returns to the atmosphere. Transpiration is when water as a gas (water vapor) leaves the surface of a plant and returns to the atmosphere.

6. Heating or cooling water can bring about a change in state. Using this knowledge, answer the

following questions.

a) Will the rate of evaporation from the ocean be greater on a hot day or a cold day? On a hot day

b) Why do you think clouds form at high altitudes and not closer to the Earth’s surface?

Because the temperature in the atmosphere decreases the higher you go. So gaseous water cools as it rises higher. As it rises higher and cools, it is losing heat energy which causes the gas to condense into a liquid and forms clouds.





The Water Cycle (Advanced)


a) Condensation: The process of changing a gas into a liquid

b) Evaporation:

The process of changing a liquid into a gas

c) Groundwater: Water located underneath the Earth’s surface

d) Infiltration:

The movement of water down through the soil

e) Percolation: The filtration of water down through soil and porous rocks

f) Photosynthesis:

The process plants use to turn light energy, water and carbon dioxide into an energy source (glucose); oxygen is also produced as part of this process

g) Precipitation:

The result of water vapors condensing in the atmosphere and falling under gravity to Earth; includes drizzle, rain, sleet, snow and hail

h) Sublimation:

The process of turning a solid into a gas, without passing through the liquid state

i) Surface run off: Water that moves over the Earth’s surface, e.g. rivers and streams

j) Transpiration:

The process where water moves through a plant and evaporates from the leaves (or other parts of the plant) via openings called stomata

k) Vapor:

A substance in the gaseous state





Check your understanding 3. List three ways water is returned to the atmosphere during the water cycle.

Evaporation, transpiration, sublimation. 4. Explain the difference between evaporation and transpiration.

Evaporation is when liquid water on the Earth’s surface (e.g. in lakes, rivers or oceans) turns into a gas or water vapor and returns to the atmosphere. Transpiration is when water as a gas (water vapor) leaves the surface of a plant and returns to the atmosphere.

5. Describe two different pathways water can take to get from being a droplet of rain back to being water

vapor in the atmosphere. Answers will vary but may include:

a) Precipitation percolation to the groundwater taken up by the roots of plants

transpiration (evaporating from the leaves of plants) water vapor b) Precipitation surface run off into a river river flows out into ocean evaporation at the

surface of the ocean water vapor 6. Respiration is the process plants and animals use to turn sugars (such as glucose) into the energy

they need for growth, movement and other biological processes. It is the opposite to photosynthesis. Using this information (and additional research if necessary), briefly explain how these two processes work together to form part of the water cycle. Respiration is the reverse of photosynthesis. Plants (such as grass) create sugars by photosynthesis; this process consumes the water a plant takes up through its root system. An animal (e.g. a cow) eats the plant. The animal uses the sugars in the plant to provide the energy needed for movement, i.e. the animal respires. Respiration releases water back into the atmosphere.

7. The water cycle is affected by climate change. Suggest two ways the water cycle might be affected by

climate change and how humans would be affected. Answers will vary but may include: Increased temperatures will increase the rate of evaporation creating more moisture in the air. This can mean higher rain intensity, including greater likelihood of flooding of populated areas. Higher temperatures and increased evaporation can also lead to drought in some areas, which can affect farming and the availability of food.

brigid brignell ba, bsc, grad cert multimedia · 2016-12-27 · extension: create your own animated...

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