TOPIC 1.

2 –SYSTEMS AND MODELS Name:

Significant ideas:
 A systems approach can help in the study of complex environmental issues
 The use of systems and models simplifies interactions but may provide a more holistic view
without reducing issues to single processes
Covere Revise I’m
Objective Statement d the d in confiden
notes class t
A systems approach is a way of visualizing a
complex set of interactions which may be
ecological or social
These interactions produce the emergent
properties of a system
The concept of a system can be applied at a
range of scales
A system is compromised of storages and flows
The flows provide inputs and outputs of energy
and matter
The flows are processes that may either be
transfers (a change in location) or
transformations (a change in the chemical
nature, a change in state or a change in
energy)
In system diagrams, storages are usually
Knowledge represented as rectangular boxes and flows as
and arrows, with the direction of each arrow
Understandin indicating the direction of each flow.
g An open system exchanges both energy and
matter across its boundary while a closed
system exchanges only energy across its
boundary
An isolated system is a hypothetical concept in
which neither energy nor matter is exchanged
across the boundary
Ecosystems are open systems, closed systems
only exist experimentally, although the global
geochemical cycles approximate to closed
systems
A model is a simplified version of reality and
can be used to understand how a system
works and predict how it will respond to
change
A model inevitably involves some
approximation and therefore loss of accuracy
Construct a system diagram or model from a
Applications given set of information
and Skills Evaluate the use of models as a tool in a given
situation, for example, climate change
 predictions

A system is compromised of storages and flows

The flows provide inputs and outputs of energy and matter

Define a system in the space below:

Draw a diagram in the space below to show how a tree can be considered as a system

A systems approach is a way of visualizing a complex set of interactions which may be ecological
or social

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0h5CS-w778 and summarise the Gaia hypothesis

in your own words.

These interactions produce the emergent properties of a system

The concept of a system can be applied at a range of scales

Complete the table below using THREE examples of systems

 Behaviour of parts taken
Example of a system
separately
Bicycle Wheel spin in circles
Pedals move up and down
Behaviour of parts as a whole
system
Bicycle moves forward

The flows are processes that may either be transfers (a change in location) or transformations (a
change in the chemical nature, a change in state or a change in energy)

Differentiate between transfer and transformation

__________________ = when a flow of energy or matter does not involve a change of form
or state. There is normally a change of location.

__________________ = when a flow of energy or matter involves a change of state

Look at the processes below. Copy each one into the correct column of the following table,
depending on whether they are a transfer or a transformation.

Transfers Transformations

The movement of Matter to energy Energy to energy

material through living
organisms (carnivores
eating other animals)
The movement of
(burning fossil fuels) (Light converted to
heat by radiating
surfaces)
The movement of
energy (ocean
currents transferring Matter to matter
 In system diagrams, storages are usually represented as rectangular boxes and flows as arrows,
with the direction of each arrow indicating the direction of each flow.

Complete the sentences below and annotate the diagrams to show the storages and flows

Both energy and matter _____________ (inputs and outputs) through ecosystems but are also
_____________ (stock) within the ecosystem

Energy _____________ from one compartment to another but when one organism eats another
the energy is in the form of _____________ chemical energy: flesh

_____________ flows through a system in the form of ___________________ bonds within

_____________ compounds
_____________ cycles around the system as _____________

An open system exchanges both energy and matter across its boundary while a closed system
exchanges only energy across its boundary
An isolated system is a hypothetical concept in which neither energy nor matter is exchanged
across the boundary
Ecosystems are open systems, closed systems only exist experimentally, although the global
geochemical cycles approximate to closed systems

Annotate the diagrams below to differentiate between the three different types of system
A model is a simplified version of reality and can be used to understand how a system works
and predict how it will respond to change
A model inevitably involves some approximation and therefore loss of accuracy

Define a model

List some examples of models

Evaluate the use of models as a tool in a given situation, for example, climate change
predictions

Copy the statements into a table that compares the advantages and disadvantages
of modelling.

allow scientists to predict/simplify different models can show different

complex systems effects with the same data

rely on the expertise of the people
making them
any model is only as good as the data
that goes into it – and it’s not always
reliable
results can be shared with scientists
and public
inputs can be changed and outputs
examined without having to wait for
real events
different people may interpret them in
different ways
vested interests may hijack the
information and use it to a political
advantage

Advantages Disadvantages
 Construct a system diagram or model from a given set of information

Draw a systems diagram showing the inputs, outputs and storages for a leaf.