Energy and Biochemical Cycles

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AP Environmental Science › Energy and Biochemical Cycles

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which biogeochemical cycle is the only one without an atmospheric component?

The phosphorus cycle

The sulfur cycle

The nitrogen cycle

The carbon cycle

Explanation

All of the other cycles have at least one atmospheric component in their systems. The carbon cycle incorporates carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis portion of its cycle. The sulfur cycle incorporates gaseous sulfur dioxide when it is released by volcanic eruptions. The water cycle has the condensation of clouds in the atmosphere and the precipitation of those clouds as well. The nitrogen cycle incorporates atmospheric nitrogen gas before it is fixed by cyanobacteria. Only the phosphorus cycle does not have a phosphorus containing compound in the atmosphere that is essential for life on Earth.

2

Which biogeochemical cycle is the only one without an atmospheric component?

The phosphorus cycle

The sulfur cycle

The nitrogen cycle

The carbon cycle

Explanation

All of the other cycles have at least one atmospheric component in their systems. The carbon cycle incorporates carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis portion of its cycle. The sulfur cycle incorporates gaseous sulfur dioxide when it is released by volcanic eruptions. The water cycle has the condensation of clouds in the atmosphere and the precipitation of those clouds as well. The nitrogen cycle incorporates atmospheric nitrogen gas before it is fixed by cyanobacteria. Only the phosphorus cycle does not have a phosphorus containing compound in the atmosphere that is essential for life on Earth.

3

Which biogeochemical cycle is the only one without an atmospheric component?

The phosphorus cycle

The sulfur cycle

The nitrogen cycle

The carbon cycle

Explanation

All of the other cycles have at least one atmospheric component in their systems. The carbon cycle incorporates carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis portion of its cycle. The sulfur cycle incorporates gaseous sulfur dioxide when it is released by volcanic eruptions. The water cycle has the condensation of clouds in the atmosphere and the precipitation of those clouds as well. The nitrogen cycle incorporates atmospheric nitrogen gas before it is fixed by cyanobacteria. Only the phosphorus cycle does not have a phosphorus containing compound in the atmosphere that is essential for life on Earth.

4

Which answer choice a pair of terms that are the most similar in reference to the water cycle?

Transpiration and evaporation

Condensation and percolation

Precipitation and percolation

Precipitation and runoff

Explanation

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plants. Both terms can be defined as the conversion of liquid water on Earth into atmospheric water vapor. Condensation is the formation of clouds from water vapor. Precipitation is the release of water from clouds down towards the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow. Percolation is the seeping of water through the ground into groundwater sources like aquifers. Runoff is excess water on the superficial soil layers that cannot percolate into the ground.

5

Which answer choice a pair of terms that are the most similar in reference to the water cycle?

Transpiration and evaporation

Condensation and percolation

Precipitation and percolation

Precipitation and runoff

Explanation

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plants. Both terms can be defined as the conversion of liquid water on Earth into atmospheric water vapor. Condensation is the formation of clouds from water vapor. Precipitation is the release of water from clouds down towards the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow. Percolation is the seeping of water through the ground into groundwater sources like aquifers. Runoff is excess water on the superficial soil layers that cannot percolate into the ground.

6

Which answer choice a pair of terms that are the most similar in reference to the water cycle?

Transpiration and evaporation

Condensation and percolation

Precipitation and percolation

Precipitation and runoff

Explanation

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plants. Both terms can be defined as the conversion of liquid water on Earth into atmospheric water vapor. Condensation is the formation of clouds from water vapor. Precipitation is the release of water from clouds down towards the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow. Percolation is the seeping of water through the ground into groundwater sources like aquifers. Runoff is excess water on the superficial soil layers that cannot percolate into the ground.

7

In cellular respiration,

glucose is oxidized to produce energy and carbon dioxide

carbon dioxide is synthesized from water and carbon dioxide

oxygen is produced as a waste

organisms breathe oxygen in and carbon dioxide out

none of these

Explanation

In cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen are used to produce energy, as well as carbon dioxide and water as wastes. Cellular respiration is essentially the opposite of photosynthesis. Do not confuse cellular respiration with respiration (breathing), which is the physiological process of taking air in to receive oxygen, and breathing air out to expel excess carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration.

8

In cellular respiration,

glucose is oxidized to produce energy and carbon dioxide

carbon dioxide is synthesized from water and carbon dioxide

oxygen is produced as a waste

organisms breathe oxygen in and carbon dioxide out

none of these

Explanation

In cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen are used to produce energy, as well as carbon dioxide and water as wastes. Cellular respiration is essentially the opposite of photosynthesis. Do not confuse cellular respiration with respiration (breathing), which is the physiological process of taking air in to receive oxygen, and breathing air out to expel excess carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration.

9

In cellular respiration,

glucose is oxidized to produce energy and carbon dioxide

carbon dioxide is synthesized from water and carbon dioxide

oxygen is produced as a waste

organisms breathe oxygen in and carbon dioxide out

none of these

Explanation

In cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen are used to produce energy, as well as carbon dioxide and water as wastes. Cellular respiration is essentially the opposite of photosynthesis. Do not confuse cellular respiration with respiration (breathing), which is the physiological process of taking air in to receive oxygen, and breathing air out to expel excess carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration.

10

In deep sea vents, certain types of bacteria can produce glucose in a different way than photosynthesis. This process is called                     .

chemosynthesis

photosynthesis

nucleosynthesis

chemiosmosis

Explanation

Using energy from the bonds in, for example, hydrogen sulfide or methane, and carbon dioxide, deep sea bacteria can produce sugars identical to those produced in plants via photosynthesis. This is incredibly important for life in deep water where there is no light.

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