Name____________________________
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Science Review Sheet Final Exam Fall Semester 2013 – 2014
1.
All energy consumed by living organisms can be traced back to the radiant energy from the sun.
2. In photosynthesis, radiant energy from the sun changes to chemical energy in the plants.
3. As decomposition occurs in a compost bin, energy is given off in the form of heat.
4. What did we do in class to determine this type of energy produced through decomposition? We
checked the temperature everyday and saw an increase.
5. What kinds of organisms are necessary for decomposition and the production of the energy
released within the compost bin? Decomposer—bacteria/earthworms
6. What does it mean if a substance is organic? Living or once living
7. What kind of factors in an ecosystem would be considered organic? biotic
8. What does it mean if a substance is inorganic? Non-living
9. What kind of factors in an ecosystem would be considered inorganic? abiotic
10. How is a food chain different from a food web?
Food chain shows only one set of organisms within the ecosystem. A food web
shows all the organisms within the ecosystem.
11. Create a four organism food chain. Then draw your chain as a food pyramid.
_______________→_____________→______________→_______________
Answers vary, but must begin with a producer, then primary consumer, then
secondary consumer, and end with the top level or tertiary consumer.
12. What does the direction of the arrow in a food chain or food web tell us about the organisms?
The direction of the arrow shows what eats what. If it points to an organism, then
that organism eats what the arrow is coming from.
13. What is the relationship between biodiversity and sustainability of an ecosystem? As
biodiversity in an ecosystem increase, so does the level of sustainability.
14. What happens to the level of biodiversity in an ecosystem when there is a sudden increase in
human population? Any sudden increase in the human population will lower the level
of biodiversity within an ecosystem.
15. How would a volcanic eruption and resulting ash cloud effect the temperature on Earth and the
amount of sunlight reaching the surface? The ash cloud would block out the sunlight
making the overall temperature drop and get colder. The reduced amount of
sunlight would also slow down the plants ability to perform photosynthesis.
16. What processes could change the appearance of mountains, beaches, islands, or any natural
landform? Weathering and erosion, then deposition would drop the weathered and
eroded material in a new location.
17. Explain how the following areas might be most affected by weathering and erosion?
a. Beach: Wave erosion would continuously change the shape of the coastline as
sand is eroded away in some areas and deposited in new areas. Winds would
also changes some of the area resulting in the formation of sand dunes.
b. Desert: Mostly impacted by wind erosion creating changes in rocks due to
abrasion and the formation/destruction of sand dunes. This is the most
damaged ecosystem because of so little vegetation there are few roots to hold
the soil down.
c. Grassland/Prairie: Mostly impacted by erosion caused by flooding (moving
water). This can remove the top soil.
18. What happens to the sediment which is eroded away during a flood? The sediment that
erodes away during a flood usually ends up in a river where it will be deposited at
the point the river meets the ocean.
19. Why can’t some plants and animals survive when removed from their biome and placed in another
biome? When moved to another biome, plants and animals often are unable to adapt
quickly enough to the different abiotic and biotic factors in the new biome and will
not survive.
20. In what biome would plants benefit from having shallow roots? Why? The desert biome for
shallow roots because being close to the surface allows the plants to quickly absorb
the small amounts of rain the region receives annually.
21. In which biome/s would it be helpful to have deeper roots? The grasslands biome for deeper
roots because they help to keep the plant firmly rooted during times of high wind
and they allow for the absorption of ground water
22. Explain how geotropism affects the roots and stems of seedlings? The roots will grow down in
response to gravity (positive geotropism and the stems will grow upward against the
force of gravity (negative geotropism.
23. Explain how plants respond to light. What is this called? Plants will bend toward the light
and this is called phototropism.
24. What force must spacecraft overcome to reach an orbit around the Earth? gravity
25. List 4 ways in which a spacesuit allow astronauts to live and survive in space. Protection from
space dust and other debris, provide oxygen, regulate temperature, and allows a
place to tether or tie the astronaut to something for safety.
26. What percentage of oxygen would be necessary for us to survive in another planet’s atmosphere?
21% Less than this amount and we would be unable to survive.
27. List 3 main reasons life on Earth is possible. Life on Earth is possible because we have the
correct mixture of gases in our atmosphere, we are the right distance from the sun
so that we get neither too hot nor too cold, and we have liquid water.
28. How does leaking oil get into our groundwater? Leaking oil infiltrates the soil and then
percolates through the soil and into our groundwater causing pollution.
29. What is the source of pollution which causes rapid growth of algae and changes in fish in our
surface water? Nitrogen based fertilizers will run-off and enter surface water.
30. List 3 other types of pollution caused by human activity. Answers vary
31. What is the formula for work? Work = force x distance
32. What advantage does using a simple machine give us in terms of work? Simple machines
reduce the amount of force necessary to complete the job.
33. If you had to move a box into the back of a truck, what simple machine might you use to make the
work easier? An inclined plane (ramp)
34. Solve these work problems:
John uses 10 N of force to move a box 3 m
Work = 30 joules (J)
Sandra used an inclined plane to move a box 3 m and it took her 12 N of force.Work=36J
35. How do humans affect biodiversity and sustainability of an ecosystem when they move into that
ecosystem? By using up the resources (plants, animals, water,etc.) , humans decrease
the amount of biodiversity and, therefore, the level of sustainability of the
ecosystem.