Define the following and give examples of each: System: a set of parts that functions together as a whole.

o Example: when computer chips (parts) put together enables the computer (whole) to function Open system: a system that contains energy or materials moving in and/or out o Example: carbon dioxide gets absorb by plants, then get fixed into oxygen and released back into the atmosphere Closed system: a system that does not contains any energy or materials moving in and/or out o Example: the dome in The Simpsons Movie Materially closed system: similar to a closed system, but information can be transmitted through the systems boundaries. o Example: earth Static system VS Dynamic system o Static system: a system that stays and remains constant Example: fake flowers o Dynamic system: a system that changes as time pass Example: real flowers

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 idea of equilibrium in systems is somewhat misleading because the environment will never stay completely the same. The environment changes due to human activities or natural disasters. The establishment of a balance of nature is possible, but it will not last forever because nothing last forever. 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 the ecosystem is so important in the study of environmental science because people can use that information to improve their environment. Define: Average Residence Time (How is it calculated?) It is the amount of time that a particle spend in particular system and it is calculated by dividing the total volume of stored water by the average rate of transfer through the system. Discuss the difference between positive and negative feedback loops. Give an example of each. Negative feedback: An increase in output that leads to a later decrease in output o Example: the temperature goes up (output increase); going into a location with shade (output decrease later)

Positive feedback: an increase in output which leads to further increase of output o Example: wild fire in the forest, they start out with small, then slowly increases in size

DefineFlow: an amount transferred Flux: the rate of transfer per minute Lag time: the delayed time between a cause and appearance of thee effects Exponential growth (what is the main idea- is it good or bad?): Exponential growth is good and bad. It is beneficial when youre measuring something that is increasing at a rapid rate, but when the exponential growth is too much for the capacity to handle, it will cause the growth and capacity to be decline. Doubling time: the time needed for quantity measured to double Overshoot and collapse (draw and label the graph): this occurs when the exponential growth exceed the capacity, causing both to collapse

Why does overshoot occur, and what could be done to anticipate and avoid it? Overshoot occurs when the capacity is less than the growth. To avoid this situation, one must limit the exponential growth to keep it balance with the amount that the capacity can handle. Discuss the idea of Environmental Unity The idea of environmental unity is if when one thing change in the environment, then it would cause another factor to change and eventually the whole entire environment will change due to that one thing. In reality, that statement is false because not everything is going to change due to one same change. Take humans death for example, when one person dies, it might affect their close ones emotionally, but not a random strangers emotion. Discuss the idea of uniformitarianism Uniformitarianism is the idea that all geological and biological process that occurs in the present, also occurred in the past, and vice versa. With uniformitarianism people are able to research about the past using information in the present and can possibly use that information to predict future events. What is the Gaia Hypothesis? The Gaia Hypothesis is a hypothesis that life manipulates the environment for the maintenance of life.