Gycies of Matter Guide for | Reading ‘© What three major Processes make Up the water cycle? ‘© How is carbon dioxide used by producers? Mes recycled in ecosystems, Matter includes wate, oxygen, carban, nitrogen, and many other substances, Three of the most important cycles of matter are the water cycle, the carbon-oxygen cycle, and the niteagen cycle. ‘The water cyele is the contintious process by which water moves from Earth's. surfuce to the atmosphere and back. The processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation make up the water cycle, Evaporation is the process by which molecules of liquid water absorb energy and change to the gas ste, Water evaporates from Earth’s surface and forts water vapor, a gas, in the atmosphere. The process by which a yas changes to a liquid is called condensation. When water vapor in the atmosphere cools, it turns back into tiny droplets of liquid water, As more water vapor conder:ses, the drops grow larger and heavier. Eventually, che heavy drops fall back to Barth as a form of precipitation—rain, snov, sleet, or hail. Carbon is the building biock fo the matter that makes up the bodies of living things. Producers take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, In this pracess, the producers use carbon from the carbon dioxide to produce other carbon-containing molecules. These molecules include sugars ard starches, Consumers obtain energy frum these motecules by breaking them down into simpler molecules. ‘The consumers release water and carhon dioxide as waste products of the process, At the same time, producers release oxygen during photosynthesis. Other organisms take in oxygen from the atmosphere and use it in their life processes. Like carbonsnitrogen is #-necésvary building block in the matter that makes up living things, Most organisms cannot use nitrogen gas in the air, Nitrogen gas is called “free” nitrogen because itis nat combined with other kincls of atoms. Most organisms can use nitrogen only when it has been “fixed,” or combined with other clements to form nitrogen- containing compounds. The process of changing nitrogen gas into a usable form of nitrogen is called nitrogen fixation, Most nitrogen Sxation is performed by certain kinds of bacteria. Some of these bacteria live in bumps called madules on the roots of certain plants, Once the nitrogen has been fixed, it can be used by organisms to build proteins and other complex substances, Decomposers break down these complex compounds in animal wastes and dead organisms, Decomposition returns simple nitrogen compounds to the soil. Certain types of bacteria break down the nitrogen compounds completely. These bacteria release free nitrogen back into the air, anc the cycle starts again. 44 +E Teaching Resources Environmental Science uy "eH eontagCycles of Matt @ Understanding Main ideas Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper 1, What is the source of energy for the process of evaporation? 2. What happens to rainwater that falls on land? 3. How are oxygen and carbon cycled between plants and animals? 4, Why are nitrogen-fixing bacteria so important to other organisms? ¢ Building Vocabulary Answer the following questions in he spaces provided. Environmental Science Teaching Resources E¢ 45Name _. Class ait Cycles of Matter Guide for Reading ua © What three major processes make up the water cycle? How is carbon dioxide used by producers? 44.9 E Teaching Resources wees recyeléd "in ecosyetemiat Matter includes water, oxygen, LVL carbon, nitrogen, and many other substances, PHre@:of the most iinpornanteyclas Of matter are the Watereycle, the catbon-oxpgen cycle, and-the niteogen cycles, ‘The water eyele is the continuous process by which water moves from Barth's surfce to the atmosphere and back. The-processes. of. evaporation; condensation, and precipitation make up the water ‘eycle, Gvapoxation.is.the process by which molecules of fiquid-water absor® energy and change to the’gas'state. Water evaporates from Earth's surface and forces water vapor, a gas, in the atmosphere. The process by: ‘which: gas chaniges toa’ liquid! is called ‘condensation: When water vapor in the atmosphere cools, it turns back into tiny droplets of liquid water. As more water vapor conder.ses, the drops grow larger and heavier. Eventually, *hevbeawyedrops fall back to” Barth” as!a-form=ol precipitation=rain, snow, sleotyor hail Carbon is the building block fo: the matter that makes up the bodies of living things, Producers take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Iuethis pracess, the producers use carbon fram’ the carbon dioxide to produce other earbon-containing molecules: ‘These molecules include sugars ard starches. Consumers obtain energy foomt these voletulés by breakisig thent dows nto simpler’molecules. ‘The Usristiiers release water and carbon dioxideas- waste products of the process. At the same time, \produdet release oxygen’ “during pliotospnthisise Other organisms take in oxygen from the atmosphere and use it in their life processes. Like carbon, nitrogen is &- necessary building block in the matter that makes up living things. Most organisms cannot use nitrogen gas in the air, Nitzagen gas.is called “free” niteoges: because itis uot combined with other kinds of atomssMost organisms can use nitrogen only when it has been’ “fixed,” ur-combined: with thier elements to’ form nitrogen ‘containing compounds, The process of hanging: nitrogen ‘gas into-a sible forsi06 nitrogen is: called nitrogen: fixation. Most nitrogen fixation is pecformed by certain kinds of bacteria. Same of.these-bacteria tiveierbiomps-called- modules on the coots of certein plants. Once the nitrogen has been fixed, it can be used by organisms to build proteins and other complex substances. Decomposers break down. these complex compounds.in.animal. wastes and..dead. organisms. Decomposition returns simple nitrogen compounds to the soil. Certain types of bacteria break down the nitrogen compourids completely. These bacteria release free nitrogen back into the air, and the cycle starts again, Environmental Science 20nd @© Premtice:tiail, ine Cycles of Matter % Understanding Main Ideas Answer the following questions on a separate sheet 4, What is the source of energy for the process 0 2. What happens to rainwater that falls on land? of paper Fevaporation? NEO -trerey >: How are oxygen and carbon cycled between plants and animal? Fowjqem ig & wast 4. Why ate nitrogen-ixing bacteria so important to other organisms? PACE o¢ S Te hs important for other or. FrOUmdwater, Surtare Tan-off Bi annette Prorney nthe sis ¢ Building Vocabulary hove. fited? nitrogen to ON On gee TON Palla Drottivs and other OF cet regowation. Answer the following questions it she spaces providedcss may te SU 5. Which cycte is shown in the diagram above? Water cy 6. Identify each process labeled in the diagram. a euapocaxton 6 BNO Roam e_precieimiion Environmental Science Weed to ere Ane in Onygen Sido cHhnces from plants and They exhale Coy, Sethe Slants can VA hie ag Yeacank fy Phoreynthesis b _2NG-poramon d.__Condencatior Teaching Resources E¢ 45Name Date Class _ The Water Cycle Guide tor Heading ‘@ How does Earth's water move ‘through the water cycle? © In what ways do living things: depend on the water cycle? ater on Barth is naturally recycled through the water cycle, The water cycle is the continnons process by which water moves through the living and nonliving parts of the environment. Water moves from bodies of water, land, and living things on Barth's surface to the atmosphere and-back to Earth’s surface. The sun is the source of e- ergy that drives the water cycle. “The water cycle has no beginning and no end. It includes three main processes: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Large'amounts of water evaporate constantly from oceans, lakes, and rivers, A significant amount of water vapor is given off through the leaves of plants in a process called transpiration, Once evaporation occurs, warm air carries the water molecules high into the atmosphere. Higher up, the air tends to be much colder. Cold air holds less water vapor than warm air, AS a result, water vapor condenses into droplets, which clump around dust particles, forming clends: Water droplets in a cloud grow larger and eventually become so heavy that they fall back to Barth, Water that falls o Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail is called precipitation. Most precipitation falls directly into the oceans, Some water that falls on land evaporates immediately. Some runs off the surface into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some sinks into the ground and becomes groundwater, Once groundwater reaches the surface, it can con- tinue through the cycle by evaporating again. Before returning to the atmosphere, some water also passes through living things. Precipitation is the source of ail fresh water on and below Earth's suz~ face. The water cycle renews the usable supply of fresh water on Earth, For millions of years, the total amount of water on Earth has remained fairly constant, In the world as a whole, the rates of evaporation and pre- cipitation are balanced, 24H Teaching Resources Earth's Waters