extra page in summative for science
TRANSCRIPT
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Stars vs. Planets
The basic difference between a star and a planet is that a star emits light produced by a nuclear
reaction in its core, whereas a planet only shines by reflected light. Not all objects in the
universe that don't produce their own light are planets however. It's a gray area, as we'll see.
StarA self-luminous object that shines through the
release of energy produced by nuclear reactions
at its core.
Planet
A planet is a spherical ball of rock
and/or gas that orbits a star.
Difference between Rotation and Revolution
Rotation is the movement of the Earth on its axis. It makes us experience night and day. It takes
about 24 hours to complete one rotation.
Revolution is the trip the Earth takes in its orbit around the sun. It takes a year to complete one
revolution.
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Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen is the major component of earth's atmosphere. It enters the food chain by means of
nitrogen-fixing bacteria and algae in the soil. This nitrogen which has been 'fixed' is now
available for plants to absorb. These types of bacteria form a symbiotic relationship with
legumes--these types of plants are very useful because the nitrogen fixation enriches the soil
and acts as a 'natural' fertilizer. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria form nitrates out of theatmospheric nitrogen which can be taken up and dissolved in soil water by the roots of plants.
Then, the nitrates are incorporated by the plants to form proteins, which can then be spread
through the food chain. When organisms excrete wastes, nitrogen is released into the
environment. Also, whenever an organism dies, decomposers break down the corpse into
nitrogen in the form of ammonia. This nitrogen can then be used again by nitrifying bacteria to
fix nitrogen for the plants.
Human Impact
Humans contribute by using nitrogen-containing fertilizers in agriculture. Under conditions in
which agricultural plants have access to as much water as they require, their productivity is
usually constrained by the rate at which they can obtain nitrogen in available forms, particularly
nitrate, and sometimes ammonium. Under such conditions, farmers attempt to increase the
availability of these nutrients, usually by applying fertilizers.
Carbon Cycle
All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and even rocks.
Because the Earth is a dynamic place, carbon does not stay still. It is on the move!
In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to some oxygen in a gas called carbon dioxide.
Plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to make their own food and grow. The carbon becomes
part of the plant. Plants that die and are buried may turn into fossil fuels made of carbon like
coal and oil over millions of years. When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quicklyenters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Human Impact
Humans impact the carbon cycle during the combustion of any type of fossil fuel, which may
include oil, coal, or natural gas. Fossil Fuels were formed very long ago from plant or animal
remains that were buried, compressed, and transformed into oil, coal, or natural gas. The
carbon is said to be "fixed" in place and is essentially locked out of the natural carbon cycle.
Humans intervene during by burning the fossil fuels. During combustion in the presence of air
(oxygen), carbon dioxide and water molecules are released into the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis is the process where green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to
make food and oxygen.Cellular respiration is what cells do to break up sugars into a form that
the cell can use as energy.
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Water Cycle
When water falls back to earth as
precipitation, it may fall back in the
oceans, lakes or rivers or it may end
up on land. When it ends up on
land, it will either soak into theearth and become part of the
ground water that plants and
animals use to drink or it may run
over the soil and collect in the
oceans, lakes or rivers where the
cycle starts all over again.
Evaporation:
Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into
vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lake or ocean and goes into the air.
Transpiration:
Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water out of their leaves. Transpiration gives
evaporation a bit of a hand in getting the water vapor back up into the air.
Condensation:
Water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into liquid, forming clouds. This is called
condensation.
Precipitation:
Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore.
The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow.