Q1). Explain the carbon cycle?

Ans. Carbon cycle is the movement of carbon from environment to living things and then back
into the environment. The carbon cycle consists of different processes that transform carbon
from one form to another.
Carbon exists in the air largely as carbon dioxide. Plants use carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to
produce oxygen and glucose through the process of photosynthesis. The overall chemical equation
for the process of photosynthesis is as following:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light = C6H12O6 + 6O2
In this way, plants through photosynthesis convert, carbon in the form of carbon dioxide to
glucose. Human beings and animals eat plants and use it to produce energy, carbon dioxide and
water through the process of respiration. The overall chemical equation for the process of
photosynthesis is as following:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP)
In this way, animals and plants through respiration, convert carbon in the form of glucose to
carbon dioxide and then release it into the atmosphere by exhaling it. When organisms like
plants, humans and animals die, they decompose under anaerobic conditions and over a period of
millions of years, the carbon present in their bodies turn into fossil fuels like coal and oil. When
human beings burn fossil fuel in industries and vehicles, carbon is released into the atmosphere
as carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide also enters the atmosphere by volcanic eruptions.
Diagram of carbon cycle:
Q2). Explain the rock cycle?
Ans. The rock cycle describes the transition journey of rocks from one form to another. There are
three main types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. During the rock cycle, a rock
will take on all these three forms one by one. The forces that drive the rock cycle are tectonic
plates and water.
Due to movement of tectonic plates, rocks are frequently pulled under the surface of earth, where
the temperature increases dramatically as they go deeper and deeper. In addition to this, rocks
lying deep beneath the crust experience very high pressure as they are squeezed by tons of
overlying rocks that are pressing down from above. The heat and pressure together causes the
rocks to undergo fundamental changes in their structure and turn into metamorphic rocks. As the
metamorphic rocks continue to be pulled down by the movement of tectonic plates, they reach
very high temperatures and melt to form magma.
The magma either cools down beneath the earth’s surface and solidify to form intrusive igneous
rocks or comes to surface (lava) via volcanic eruptions and solidify to form extrusive igneous
rocks. In either case, metamorphic rocks are converted into igneous rocks.
When magma comes to surface, it spreads over a wide area and all type of rocks that come into
contact with the hot lava, undergo fundamental changes in their structure and turn into
metamorphic rocks as they are exposed to the high temperature.
Weathering and erosion effects all types of rocks on the surface of earth. They cause small pieces
of rock to break away from the rest of the rock. These small pieces are called sediments.
Sediments are carried by wind and water to rivers and valleys where they accumulate and cement
together to form new rocks. These type of rocks are called sedimentary rocks.
Diagram of rock cycle: