z1.02 Pools & Fluxes

Last updated about 1 month ago

1 Asɛmmisa

What is a system?

A system is a group of parts that work together to make one whole thing.
Example: A car is a system made of engine, wheels, brakes, transmission, and chassis.

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Which of the following is NOT a system?

The carbon cycle (atmosphere, plants, soils)

A smartphone (hardware, OS, apps, network services)

A school (students, teachers, curriculum, administration)

A random collection of unrelated objects (like a cup, a pencil, and a sock) with no interactions

Environmental systems are tricky because they have many parts that interact in complex ways.

scientists simplify systems

Models are simplified versions of real systems.
They can be simple or complex.
Models help scientists:
- Study systems over large space or time scales,
- Understand how many parts interact,
- Test what might happen in different scenarios.