IB ESS Exam Notes ACTUAL UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
System An assemblage of parts and their relationship forming a functioning entirely or
whole
Open System Exchanges matter AND energy
Closed System Exchanges ONLY energy
Isolated System DOES NOT exchange matter or energy. Theoretical.
1st Law of Thermodyamics Energy is neither created nor destroyed. IT ONLY CHANGES FORMS.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics The entropy of a closed system increases.
When energy is transformed into work, some energy is always lost as waste
and/or heat
Steady-State Equilibrium In open systems.
Continuous inputs and outputs of energy and matter.
The system as a whole remains in a constant state.
There are no long term changes.
Static Equilibrium There is no change over time.
When the state of equilibrium is distributed, the system adapts a new equilibrium.
Stable Equilibrium The system returns to the same equilibrium after a disturbance.
Unstable Equilibrium The system returns to a new equilibrium after a disturbance.
Positive Feedback Results in a FURTHER DECREASE OF OUTPUT.
The system is destabilized and pushed into a new state of equilibrium.
Negative Feedback Tends to stabilize systems in the event of a disturbance.
Transfers- Literal movement. Movement of material through living organisms.
Movement of material in non-living processes.
The movement of energy.
, Transformations- Changing from one thing to another. Matter to matter.
Energy to energy.
Matter to energy.
Energy to matter.
The Gaia Hypothesis The Earth is a living organism/system.
Biotic Factors Living components
Abiotic Factors Non-living physical and chemical components
Species A particular type of organism
Population A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same
time and are capable of interbreeding.
Habitat The environment where a species normally lives.
Ecological Niche The role of an organism.
Community A group of populations living and interacting with each other in a common
habitat.
Ecosystem A community of independent organism (biotic factors) and the physical
environment (abiotic factors) which they inhabit.
Biome A collection of ecosystems sharing common climatic conditions.
Respiration The process of breaking down food to release energy.
Respiration Formula C6H12O6 + O2 -> CO2 + H2O + ATP
Photosynthesis The process in which producers make their own glucose and produce water and
carbon dioxide.
Photosynthesis Formula CO2 + H20 -> C6H12O6 + O2
Biomass The living mass of an organism(s).
It's dry mass.
Gross Primary Productivity The total gain in energy/biomass per unit area per unit time BY PRODUCERS.
Gross Secondary Productivity The total gain in energy/biomass per unit area per time BY CONSUMERS.
Net Productivity The same thing as Gross Productivity, but after losses from respiration.
System An assemblage of parts and their relationship forming a functioning entirely or
whole
Open System Exchanges matter AND energy
Closed System Exchanges ONLY energy
Isolated System DOES NOT exchange matter or energy. Theoretical.
1st Law of Thermodyamics Energy is neither created nor destroyed. IT ONLY CHANGES FORMS.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics The entropy of a closed system increases.
When energy is transformed into work, some energy is always lost as waste
and/or heat
Steady-State Equilibrium In open systems.
Continuous inputs and outputs of energy and matter.
The system as a whole remains in a constant state.
There are no long term changes.
Static Equilibrium There is no change over time.
When the state of equilibrium is distributed, the system adapts a new equilibrium.
Stable Equilibrium The system returns to the same equilibrium after a disturbance.
Unstable Equilibrium The system returns to a new equilibrium after a disturbance.
Positive Feedback Results in a FURTHER DECREASE OF OUTPUT.
The system is destabilized and pushed into a new state of equilibrium.
Negative Feedback Tends to stabilize systems in the event of a disturbance.
Transfers- Literal movement. Movement of material through living organisms.
Movement of material in non-living processes.
The movement of energy.
, Transformations- Changing from one thing to another. Matter to matter.
Energy to energy.
Matter to energy.
Energy to matter.
The Gaia Hypothesis The Earth is a living organism/system.
Biotic Factors Living components
Abiotic Factors Non-living physical and chemical components
Species A particular type of organism
Population A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same
time and are capable of interbreeding.
Habitat The environment where a species normally lives.
Ecological Niche The role of an organism.
Community A group of populations living and interacting with each other in a common
habitat.
Ecosystem A community of independent organism (biotic factors) and the physical
environment (abiotic factors) which they inhabit.
Biome A collection of ecosystems sharing common climatic conditions.
Respiration The process of breaking down food to release energy.
Respiration Formula C6H12O6 + O2 -> CO2 + H2O + ATP
Photosynthesis The process in which producers make their own glucose and produce water and
carbon dioxide.
Photosynthesis Formula CO2 + H20 -> C6H12O6 + O2
Biomass The living mass of an organism(s).
It's dry mass.
Gross Primary Productivity The total gain in energy/biomass per unit area per unit time BY PRODUCERS.
Gross Secondary Productivity The total gain in energy/biomass per unit area per time BY CONSUMERS.
Net Productivity The same thing as Gross Productivity, but after losses from respiration.
