Y9 Science Earth

Additional keywords: Composition, abundant, nitrogen, carbon dioxide,
KS3 Science oxygen, photosynthesis, carbon cycle, carbon sink, greenhouse gas,
Earth – Resources respiration, decomposition, combustion. Global warming, greenhouse
effect, climate change, weather, climate
Composition of Earth’s atmosphere The Carbon Cycle The Greenhouse Effect
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Carbon is
recycled through natural processes – Carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, water
respiration, photosynthesis and vapour, nitrous oxides are greenhouse gases.
decomposition. Carbon is also recycled through
human activities, such as the combustion Combustion of fuels at power plants and in
(burning) of fuels. vehicles produces greenhouse gases. They are
also produced by mass farming, animals,
Earth’s early atmosphere was different to its volcanoes and deforestation.
atmosphere today. The most abundant gas in Earth’s
early atmosphere was carbon dioxide, because of The greenhouse effect is when thermal energy
volcanic activity and lack of life. The most abundant from the Sun is transferred to the thermal
gas in Earth’s atmosphere today is nitrogen, because energy store of gases in Earth’s atmosphere. It
it is vital for living things. Oxygen has also increased leads to global warming.
because plants photosynthesise and release oxygen
into the atmosphere.
Climate change Photosynthesis - process used by plants to

convert energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide
The weather includes the wind, sunshine and rain you and water into sugar and oxygen
see from day to day. The climate average weather
seen over years and decades. Respiration - Process that converts chemical
energy and oxygen into water, carbon dioxide
Some effects of climate change are; rising sea levels, and energy
rising average global temperature, glaciers are
retreating, and habitat loss. Decomposition - Process where organisms
breakdown into organic compounds
The key piece of evidence to suggest that humans are
causing climate change is a correlation between Combustion - Process where carbon dioxide is
increase in global average temperature and rise in released from fossil fuels
CO2 levels.
Additional keywords: Rock cycle, igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, ore,
KS3 Science – Earth – Resources mineral, native, extraction, displacement, reactivity series, electrolysis
The rock cycle Extracting metal using carbon Extracting metal using electrolysis
Igneous rocks are formed by magma leaving a volcano and • Extraction is the separation of a metal from a Electrolysis is using electricity to split up
cooling. Metamorphic rocks are formed by many years of metal compound compound into its elements. Electrolysis
• The more reactive a metal, the more difficult
extreme pressure and heat. Sedimentary rocks are formed by is needed for more reactive metals.
it is to separate it from its compound.
small pieces of sediment compacted into layers.
• Carbon displaces less reactive metals.
• There is only a certain quantity of any To decide which method of metal
resource on Earth, so the faster it is extracted, extraction is best, find the metal’s
the sooner it will run out position in the reactivity series. If it’s
above carbon, it is more reactive than
carbon, so electrolysis is used.
What is an ore? Recycling
Natural resources – Materials from the earth which act as raw Biodegradable – can be broken down
Sustainable – causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for
materials for making a variety of products. Mineral – Naturally
a long time
occurring rock containing sufficient mineral for extraction. Ore – Recycling – processing a material so that it can be used again
Naturally occurring rock containing sufficient minerals for Finite resources – resources that will run out
extraction.
Some metals, like gold, are very unreactive and are found as There is a finite amount of resources on Earth.
elements, in their native state. Metals such as zinc, lead and iron
Recycling reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials all of which create
are found combined with oxygen in compounds. These metals can
air and water pollution and use up energy. Recycling also reduces the need for deforestation and
be extracted using chemical reactions.
reduces global warming.

Y9 Science Earth

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Additional keywords: Composition, abundant, nitrogen, carbon dioxide,

Climate change Photosynthesis - process used by plants to

What is an ore? Recycling

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