Mohammad Younes
Environmental SS SL 11B
Mrs. Marlowe
Topic 1 Worksheet
1. How does the system approach differ from that of conventional science?

It is different in that systems are better as a whole rather than the sum of its
parts.
2. Draw table comparing and contrasting open, close, and isolated systems.
Comparisons should be in the terms of the exchange of mater and energy
with their surroundings. Give examples for each
Type of
System
Exchange in
Energy
Exchange in
Matter
Example
Open System
Yes
Yes
A Rhinoceros
Closed
System
Yes
No
The Earth
Isolated
System
No
No
The Universe
3. Summarize the first and second laws of thermodynamics. What do they tell us
about how energy moves through a system
 The first law of thermodynamics is that energy is neither created nor destroyed.
The second law of thermodynamics is in an isolated system, as time increases
entropy will increase which is the dissipation of energy in a system that will
lead to the inability to do work and cause disorder.
4. What is the difference between a steady-state equilibrium and a static
equilibrium? Which type refers to an ecological system?
 The difference is that a steady-state equilibrium has continuous inputs and
outputs, whereas static equilibrium does not have any inputs or outputs. Steadystate equilibrium refers to an ecological system because such a system requires
inputs and outputs in order to function.
5. When would a system not return to the original equilibrium, but establish a new
one? Give an example and explain why this is the case.
 A system that is an unstable equilibrium and faces a disturbance will not return to
the original equilibrium and establish a new one. An example of this would be
photosynthesis in plants, as long as there is sunlight, plants can perform the
process of photosynthesis, however when night time comes, plants must adopt a
new equilibrium to produce food, this equilibrium is known as respiration.
6. What is the difference between negative and positive feedback? What
Mohammad Younes
Environmental SS SL 11B
Mrs. Marlowe
characteristic is common to both mechanisms?
 Negative feedback is a reaction that tends to return to its original state whereas
positive feedback is a reaction that tends to never return to its original state.
What they have in common is that they both take place when there is a
disturbance.
7. Give an environmental example of positive feedback. Draw a diagram to explain
the interrelationships within the feedback loop. Now do one for a negative
feedback.
Sea water
crashing
against rock
cliff
Rock Cliff
begins to
corrode
Corrosion
continues and
causes deep
holes in the cliff
Predator
Population
increases
Prey
Population
decreases
Prey
Population
increases
Predator
population
decreases
The cliff loses
balance and
plumits into the
water
8. What does a transfer within a system mean? How does this differ from the
transformation process?

A transfer in a system means that the energy or energy changes in position;
in contrast, transformation is the formation of a new product or the change
of state.
Mohammad Younes
Environmental SS SL 11B
Mrs. Marlowe
9. Draw a systems diagram showing the inputs, outputs, and storages of a tree.
Storages
-Energy
-Sugar
-Oxygen
Outputs
-Oxygen
Tree
Inputs
- Sunlight
-Carbon
Dioxide
- Water
-Minerals from
soil
10.Draw a table listing the strengths and weaknesses of models.
Strengths
Models help predict changes in a
system
Models can be made anytime without
waiting for the events to take place
on earth
Results can be shown
Weaknesses
Results may not always be accurate
The model is only as good as the data
that goes in it
Different models may show different
results using the same data
Rely on the expertise of its makers