Transcript THE CARBON CYCLE

THE CARBON
CYCLE
Remember: Write down everything in white

The carbon cycle
 The carbon cycle is essential for life on
Earth. Carbon is found in all living
things, and in their dead bodies and
wastes.
 Carbon is also found in the atmosphere
as carbon dioxide (CO2).
Plants
 Plants use carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere when they
photosynthesise to make glucose to
provide them with energy.
Animals
 Animals and other consumer
organisms obtain the carbon they need
from the food they eat.
Carbon returning to the
atmosphere
 Respiration releases carbon back into
the atmosphere and hydrosphere
as carbon dioxide, where it again
becomes available for photosynthesis.
Carbon in the soil
 Organisms release carbon into the soil
in wastes such as faeces, urine and
fallen leaves.
 These wastes are used as food by
decomposer organisms.
 As the decomposer organisms respire,
carbon is released into the
atmosphere, water and soil.
The cycle
 However, there is not an endless
supply of carbon. Carbon is
recycled through the soil, through
living things and the atmosphere
in the carbon cycle
ACTIVITY
 Go onto the website www.misslennox.weebly.com
and click on year 10- Earth Science.
 Go to the link 1. The carbon cycle activity
 If this doesn’t work type into google “kids news
room climate change movies carbon cycle” and
select the first option.
 Use the animation to create a labelled diagram of
the carbon cycle. You may also wish to use the
picture in your textbook in Chapter 6 page 178