Question

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY WILLIAM MARSH

1. Describe an example of an open system and a closed system on Earth. For the open system, describe the specific energy and matter that comes into and/or out of the system. For the closed system, describe why energy and matter stays within the system.

2. Using Figure 2.7 and Figure 2.16 in the textbook as a reference, describe any patterns you see on Earth that can be categorized based on latitude or longitude. In other words, look at the map on Figure 2.7 and describe any patterns you see from top to bottom (i.e., latitude) or left to right (i.e., longitude). Do you see more patterns by latitude or more by longitude or are they equal?

3. Describe how solar energy affects a process in each of these great systems: atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere (Example: solar energy causes water in the hydrosphere to evaporate).

Answer 1

Answer:

Perfect example of open system is living organisms. Living organisms constantly interact with environment. They consume food which comes from environment. This food gives energy. Again, when they die, their body decompose and the fertility of the soil increases, thus enriching the environment.

The Earth itself is a good example of closed system. It gets plenty energy from the solar radiation directly but exchange of matter with the outside is almost negligible.

According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can turn from one form into another but the amount of energy remains the same. This law works for closed system and so, energy cannot get exchanged with the surrounding universe or environment.