Carbon Cycle Diagram, Background Reading, and Questions Worksheets ... - Free Printable

Here are the answers to the Analysis Questions found on the worksheet.

1. Describe the journey that a carbon atom inside a fossil fuel will take to become a carbon atom inside a plant.
First, the fossil fuel (like coal or oil) is burned in a process called combustion. This releases the carbon into the air as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). Next, a plant takes in that carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through its leaves. Finally, the plant uses sunlight to turn that $CO_2$ into food through a process called photosynthesis, making the carbon atom part of the plant.

2. Describe the journey that a carbon atom from inside a volcano will take to become a carbon atom inside a fossil fuel.
When a volcano erupts, it releases carbon into the atmosphere as gas ($CO_2$). A plant absorbs this $CO_2$ during photosynthesis and becomes part of the plant's structure. When the plant dies, instead of rotting away completely, it gets buried under layers of dirt and rock. Over millions of years, heat and pressure turn those buried remains into fossil fuels.

3. List the processes that release carbon into the atmosphere.
* Cellular Respiration (animals and plants breathing out)
* Combustion (burning fossil fuels or wood)
* Decomposition (rotting organisms releasing gas)
* Volcanic Eruptions

4. List the processes that take carbon out of the atmosphere.
* Photosynthesis (plants using $CO_2$ to grow)
* Ocean Uptake (the ocean absorbing dissolved $CO_2$)

5. What do you think might happen to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere if we cut down forests to make room for more factories?
The amount of carbon dioxide would likely increase. This is because there would be fewer trees left to perform photosynthesis and remove the $CO_2$ from the air. At the same time, the new factories would likely burn fossil fuels, adding even more $CO_2$ back into the atmosphere.

Final Answer:
1. Fossil Fuel $\rightarrow$ Combustion $\rightarrow$ Atmosphere ($CO_2$) $\rightarrow$ Photosynthesis $\rightarrow$ Plant.
2. Volcano $\rightarrow$ Atmosphere ($CO_2$) $\rightarrow$ Photosynthesis $\rightarrow$ Plant $\rightarrow$ Death/Burial $\rightarrow$ Fossil Fuel.
3. Respiration, Combustion, Decomposition, Volcanic Eruptions.
4. Photosynthesis, Ocean Uptake.
5. The $CO_2$ levels would rise because fewer trees are removing it, and factories are adding more of it.