Environmental Science Chapter 1 Quiz

Environmental Science Key Concepts

• Garrett Hardin identified the primary challenge in solving environmental issues as the conflict between short-term interests and long-term environmental health.
• Developed countries are characterized by a smaller percentage of the population involved in agriculture compared to developing countries.
• Most environmental issues in developed nations stem from excessive consumption of natural resources.

Ecological Concepts

• Ecological Footprint: Measures the environmental impact of individuals or communities, quantified by the land required to support their natural resource use.
• Sustainability: Refers to maintaining ecosystem health over time, ensuring resources are available for future generations.
• Ecology: The scientific study of interactions among living organisms and their environments.

Scientific Disciplines

• Physics: Focuses on the principles governing matter and energy interactions.
• Chemistry: Examines chemicals and their interactions within the environment.
• Earth Science: Studies non-living systems of the Earth and the planet in its entirety.
• Social Sciences: Investigates human population dynamics and societal factors.

Economic and Resource Concepts

• Law of Supply and Demand: Economic principle stating that higher demand leads to increased value of goods and services.
• The Earth is viewed as a closed system, meaning it cannot efficiently dispose of waste nor adopt new resources.
• Natural Resource: Materials from the environment used by humans, including water, minerals, and forests.

Country Classifications

• The United Nations categorizes nations as either developing or developed based on economic and social metrics.
• Examples of developed countries include the United States and Japan, which typically exhibit higher incomes and slower population growth.
• Developing countries are marked by lower incomes and faster population growth rates.

Environmental Impact and Challenges

• Pollution is defined as harmful changes to the environment due to waste, chemicals, noise, or radiation.
• Hunter-gatherers historically altered their environments negatively through overhunting practices.
• Agricultural communities arose as populations concentrated in smaller areas during the agricultural revolution, placing greater pressure on natural resources.

Resource Sustainability

• Renewable resources include materials like paper, soil, and organic products, while non-renewable resources encompass finite materials like coins and fossil fuels.
• Factors leading to the depletion of resources such as air and water include pollution from industrial activities.

Biodiversity and Environmental Metrics

• The global decline in biodiversity poses risks to human survival, as we rely on various organisms for essential resources like food and oxygen.
• Pollution is categorized into biodegradable and non-degradable types, impacting ecosystems differently.

Societal Factors and Environmental Choices

• Key metrics to compare developed and developing nations involve life expectancy, population growth rates, and energy utilization.
• The unequal distribution of wealth significantly influences environmental issues and the spectrum of societal choices available.

Test your knowledge on key concepts from Chapter 1 of Environmental Science. This quiz includes important terms and definitions related to environmental problems and the differences between developed and developing countries. Challenge yourself and see how well you understand the fundamental issues in environmental science.