Question

refer to the information on the previous page to complete this chart. think of an example of how the energy in each sphere affects the matter.
identify which of the follow

Answer:

To complete the chart, we analyze the interaction of matter and energy for each sphere:

Geo - sphere

The geosphere consists of rocks, soil, and the crust. It gets energy from the sun (solar energy) and the Earth’s interior (geothermal energy). Solar energy drives processes like weathering (e.g., sun’s heat causes thermal expansion and contraction of rocks, leading to physical weathering). Geothermal energy drives plate tectonics, which can cause the formation of mountains or volcanic activity, altering the rock - based matter of the geosphere. An example of interaction: Solar energy heats rocks, causing them to expand and contract, leading to physical weathering and breaking down rocks into smaller particles like soil. Geothermal energy from the Earth’s interior can melt rock into magma, which then cools and solidifies to form new rock, changing the composition and structure of the geosphere’s matter.

Hydro - sphere

The hydrosphere includes oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. It gets energy from the sun (solar energy) and the Earth’s interior (geothermal energy). Solar energy drives the water cycle: it heats water in oceans, lakes, etc., causing evaporation. The water vapor then rises, cools, and condenses to form clouds, which eventually lead to precipitation. Geothermal energy can heat water underground, forming hot springs or contributing to ocean floor hydrothermal vents, which can affect the temperature and chemistry of the water in the hydrosphere. An example of interaction: Solar energy causes evaporation of water from the ocean surface. This water vapor moves through the atmosphere and eventually falls as rain into rivers, which then flow back to the ocean, transporting nutrients and sediments and shaping the landscape (e.g., eroding riverbeds). Geothermal energy can heat water in hydrothermal vents, which can support unique ecosystems and also release minerals into the surrounding water, changing its chemical composition.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is made up of air, clouds, and precipitation. It gets energy from the sun. Solar energy heats the air, causing convection currents (which drive wind patterns). It also provides the energy for the water cycle (as mentioned above, heating water to create water vapor that forms clouds). The sun’s energy also drives the movement of air masses, which can lead to weather phenomena like storms. An example of interaction: Solar energy heats the air near the equator more than at the poles. This temperature difference creates convection currents, which are the basis for global wind patterns. The sun’s energy also causes water to evaporate from the Earth’s surface, forming water vapor that rises and cools to form clouds (part of the atmosphere’s matter), which then produce precipitation, redistributing water back to the Earth’s surface.

Bio - sphere

The biosphere contains all living organisms (plants, animals, bacteria, etc.). It gets energy from the sun (solar energy, used in photosynthesis by plants) and the Earth’s interior (e.g., in deep - sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems, organisms use chemical energy from the Earth’s interior). Solar energy is captured by plants through photosynthesis, where they convert carbon dioxide and water (matter from the atmosphere and hydrosphere) into glucose (a form of stored energy) and oxygen. This energy is then transferred through the food chain as animals eat plants or other animals. Energy from the Earth’s interior supports organisms in hydrothermal vent communities, where bacteria use chemicals like hydrogen sulfide (from the vent) to produce energy through chemosynthesis, and other organisms feed on these bacteria. An example of interaction: Plants in the biosphere use solar energy to perform photosynthesis. They take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the hydrosphere and convert them into glucose (stored energy) and oxygen. This process not only provides energy for the plant but also releases oxygen into the atmosphere, changing the composition of the atmosphere’s matter. Animals then consume the plants (or other animals) to obtain the energy stored in the plant’s matter, and in the process, they respire, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, completing a cycle of matter and energy transfer.

If we were to fill in the "How does this matter and energy interact?" column for each sphere in the chart:

• Geo - sphere: Solar energy causes thermal weathering of rocks (expansion/contraction), and geothermal energy drives plate tectonics, altering rock - based matter (e.g., forming new rocks or mountains).
• Hydro - sphere: Solar energy drives the water cycle (evaporation, precipitation), moving water and transporting nutrients; geothermal energy heats water (e.g., hot springs), changing water chemistry.
• Atmosphere: Solar energy heats air, creating wind/convection, and drives water cycle processes (cloud formation/precipitation).
• Biosphere: Solar energy is used in photosynthesis (plants convert matter - CO₂, H₂O - into energy - rich glucose); geothermal energy supports chemosynthetic life (e.g., in hydrothermal vents).