Cycles of Matter

Life Science(the best class ever)

What is a cycle?

Examples: BicycleMotorcycle

Where does matter come from?

The same matter has been around since Earth began.

Matter gets recycled

Water Cycle

Different phases of waterSolid iceLiquid waterGas steam (water vapor)

Water Cycle

Step 1Evaporation

Liquid water changes into steam (water vapor) Caused by heat Example: when you boil water, steam rises When the steam rises (goes up) it mixes with

colder air

Water Cycle

Step 2Condensation

Steam (gas) turns back into drops of water (liquid) When many drops group together in the sky, they

form clouds. Examples: water on the mirror after a shower, dew,

water on car windows in the morning

Water Cycle

Step 3Precipitation

Large drops of water fall as rain (or snow in winter) Step 4

Transpiration Water moves through living things

Water Cycle

GroundwaterWater that stays underground

Lakes, rivers, streams Runoff

Water that moves across the surface of the land

InfiltrationWater soaks (filters) into the ground

Nitrogen Cycle

Organisms need nitrogen to make proteins (muscles, hair, skin)

Plants fix nitrogen so we can use it.Special bacteria on plant roots fix nitrogen. It is called nitrogen fixing bacteria.

Plants use the nitrogen that we fix.

Nitrogen Cycle

Herbivores eat producers (plants). Omnivores and carnivores eat herbivores. Carnivores eat omnivores and carnivores. Animals and plants have nitrogen in them

from the food they have eaten. Animals and plants eventually die.

Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen from animals and plants goes back to the soil (dirt, ground) when something dies.

Decomposers break down the dead organism.

There is new nitrogen in the soil for plants to fix.

Carbon Cycle

Organisms give and take carbon and oxygen from air and water.Usually as oxygen gas (oxygen in water for

fish, oxygen in air for us to breathe) orAs carbon dioxide gas

Pop bubbles (makes you burp)

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle = movement of carbon through the ecosystem

2 main processesPhotosynthesisRespiration

Carbon Cycle

PhotosynthesisProducers, plantsH2O + CO2 + energy C6H12O6 + O2

Water + carbon dioxide + sun glucose (food) + oxygen

Carbon dioxide CO2 in, oxygen O2 out

Carbon Cycle

RespirationConsumers, animalsC6H12O6 + O2 H2O + CO2 + energyglucose (food) + oxygen Water + carbon dioxide + energy

Oxygen O2 in, carbon dioxide CO2 out

Breathe – on – your – fingers demo