Practice explaining how carbon moves through Earth's systems and how greenhouse gases affect Earth's temperature.
Read each problem carefully. Use complete sentences when explaining your thinking. Show your work in the space provided.
Tracing carbon movement and understanding how greenhouse gases warm Earth
Environmental Science - Grade 6-8
- 1
Describe two ways carbon moves from the atmosphere into living things.
- 2
A plant uses carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make sugar during photosynthesis. Explain how this process is part of the carbon cycle.
- 3
Explain what happens to carbon when a dead tree decomposes on a forest floor.
- 4
Name two human activities that add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and explain how each activity releases carbon.
- 5
A car burns gasoline on a trip. Identify the carbon reservoir the gasoline came from and the reservoir where much of the carbon goes after burning.
- 6
Explain the difference between carbon storage and carbon release in the carbon cycle.
- 7
The ocean absorbs a large amount of carbon dioxide from the air. Describe one way this helps the atmosphere and one possible problem it can cause in the ocean.
- 8
In your own words, explain the greenhouse effect.
- 9
List three greenhouse gases and identify the one most directly connected to burning fossil fuels.
- 10
Explain why some greenhouse effect is necessary for life on Earth, but too much greenhouse effect can be harmful.
- 11
A factory releases 500 units of carbon dioxide in one day. A nearby forest absorbs 120 units of carbon dioxide that day. Calculate the net amount of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere.
- 12
A student says, "Carbon dioxide is always bad because it causes warming." Write a more accurate statement about carbon dioxide.