Unit 3: Matter

1
Unit 3 Matter Energy Flow on Earth

• Objective
• E2.2f - Explain how elements exist in different
  compounds and states as they move from one
  reservoir to another.
• E2.4d - Describe the life cycle of a product,
  including the resources, production, packaging,
  transportation, disposal, and pollution.

2
Element Movement

• Earth elements move within and between the
  lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and
  biosphere as part of biogeochemical cycles.
• On Earth, we have four main biogeochemical
  cycles
• The Carbon cycle
• The Nitrogen cycle
• The Oxygen cycle
• The Phosphorus cycle
• Energy is not the only thing that flows through
  ecosystems. Important nutrients that are vital
  to life move through communities and are
  constantly being recycled.

3
Impact of Human Activities
Think of all the materials that go into the
building of a single automobile. Millions of
automobiles are produced each year all around the
world. Once an automobile is built it must be
transported to a dealer where you can buy
it. Eventually your new car will be an old car
that no one wants to own.
4
Impact of Human Activities
Eventually your one-time new car will end up in
an automotive junk yard or salvage yard. Many
car components, including tires, may end up piled
up someplace, or even squeezed down to a rough
pile of scrap metal. More materials are being
recycled, but some may still cause pollution
problems. Old used oil and other automotive
fluids may leak into the ground, batteries may
leak, tires might catch fire and pollute the
air. A variety of hazards must be monitored for
each car left sitting in the junk yard or salvage
yard.