Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

What does the image above represent?

The carbon cycle.

What does the image above repsent?

The nitrogen cycle.

How can carbon enter the atmosphere?

Carbon can enter the atmosphere through combustion and through cellular respiration.

How can Nitrogen enter the atmosphere in the nitrogen cycle?

Decomposers can break down nitrogen in organic material and release it into the atmosphere, in addition some bacteria also preform this action too.

What is photosynthesis?

The process of turning light energy and water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose.

What is cellular respiration?

The process of turning oxygen and glucose into carbon dioxide and water and ATP.

What does ATP stand for?

Adenosine Triphosphate

What is ATP?

ATP helps energy transfer between cells.

Bacteria and Fungi are examples of….

Decomposers

What happens if bacteria and fungi didn’t break down dead organisms?(in relation not the carbon and nitrogen cycles)

Then glucose and other compounds in organisms would never be released back into the cycle and all carbon and nitrogen would end up is dead organisms.

What are examples of fossil fuels?

Peat, Coal, Oil, and Natural Gasses

How are fossil fuels used in modern society?

They are combusted to release energy, which is harnessed and used to power tools.

In MD what is the primary source of electricity?

The combustion of natural gas.

How do humans release carbon into the air?

The combustion of fossil fuels, waste, and cellular respiration.

What does CO2 have to do with global warming?

CO2 is a greenhouse gas so it traps heat, and that warms the planet’s temperature since the heat can’t escape.