Untitled Flashcards Set

Question 1:
Identify the three pieces used to evaluate sustainability. Which do you believe is the most important when evaluating sustainability? Why?
Answer:
The three pieces used to evaluate sustainability are:

1. Environmental

2. Economic

3. Equality (Social)

I believe environmental sustainability is the most important, especially for the future. If the environment is not healthy, the economy and society will struggle too. The environment supports everything we need to survive.

Question 2:
Explain why environmental science is considered interdisciplinary and give an example to illustrate your point.
Answer:
Environmental science is called interdisciplinary because it uses ideas from different subjects like biology, chemistry, and economics. To solve environmental problems, we need to know how they affect nature, people, and the economy. For example, to stop pollution, we need to understand how it harms animals (biology), how it affects the air (chemistry), and how it costs money (economics). All these subjects help us find solutions.

Question 3:
Explain how laws are different than scientific theories.
Answer:
a) Laws are rules that describe what happens in nature, like how gravity works. They are proven to always happen in the same way. Scientific theories are ideas that explain why things happen. Theories can change if new evidence is found.

b) Your idea that redheads have more fun is just an opinion. A scientific theory is based on lots of evidence and research, and it's tested over and over. It helps explain something in nature, like how the Earth moves around the Sun.

Question 4:
How is subjectivity in science policed to keep bias from influencing experimental conclusions?
Answer:
In science, subjectivity is controlled by making sure experiments are peer-reviewed and replicated. Peer review means that other scientists check the results and methods of an experiment to make sure it’s done correctly. Replication means doing the same experiment many times to confirm the results are consistent and not based on personal opinions or bias.

Question 5:
List and briefly explain one way each of how human activities are impacting biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water.
Answer:

1. Carbon Cycle – Burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) releases extra carbon dioxide into the air, which traps heat and leads to global warming.

2. Nitrogen Cycle – Using too much fertilizer adds excess nitrogen to the soil, which can wash into rivers and lakes, causing pollution and harming fish.

3. Phosphorus Cycle – Farm runoff carries too much phosphorus from fertilizers into water bodies, leading to harmful algae growth that can kill fish and make water unsafe.

4. Water Cycle – Deforestation (cutting down too many trees) reduces the amount of water that goes back into the air through evaporation, changing rainfall patterns and making some places drier.

Question 6:
Explain how it is that trophic levels top out at the quaternary level.
Answer:
Trophic levels top out at the quaternary level because as energy moves up the food chain, a lot of it is lost as heat or used by organisms to stay alive. Only about 10% of the energy is passed to the next level. So, there isn't enough energy left to support more levels, which is why we usually see no more than 4 or 5 levels in a food chain.

Question 7:
How sustainable actions can support economic growth?
Answer:
Sustainable actions, such as using renewable energy and reducing waste, help protect the environment, which in turn supports long-term economic growth. For example, investing in clean energy creates jobs, reduces costs in the long run, and helps stabilize the economy.

Question 8:
How sustainability impacts people and communities.
Answer:
Sustainability impacts people and communities by ensuring that resources are available for future generations. When we use resources wisely, it can improve the quality of life, create healthier environments, and promote social equity. This leads to stronger, more resilient communities.