Chapter 15 Our Environment (1) CLASS 10
Chapter 15 Our Environment (1) CLASS 10
Chapter 15 Our Environment (1) CLASS 10
9. What is Ozone Layer and How it is Getting Depleted? What are the
harmful effects of ozonr depletion?
Ozone (O3 ) is a molecule formed by three atoms of oxygen. While O2 ,
which we normally refer to as oxygen, is essential for all aerobic forms of
life. Ozone, is a deadly poison.At the higher levels of the atmosphere,
ozone performs an essential function. It shields the surface of the earth
from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. This radiation is highly
damaging to organisms, for example, it is known to cause skin cancer in
human beings. Ozone at the higher levels of the atmosphere is a product
of UV radiation acting on oxygen (O2 ) molecule. The higher energy UV
radiations split apart some molecular oxygen (O2 ) into free oxygen (O)
atoms. These atoms then combine with the molecular oxygen to form
ozone as shown—
O2 ---------------→ O + O
O + O2 ----------→ O3
13.In the following food chain, plants provide 500 J of energy to rats. How
much energy will be available to hawks from snakes?
Plants → Rats → Snakes → Hawks
In an ecosystem, only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level
to next, i.e. 10 percent law and rest is dissipated into the environment.
Therefore, if plants (being producers-1st trophic level)-transfer 500 J of
energy to rats (2nd trophic level) then rats would transfer 50 J of energy
to snakes (3rd trophic level) which in turn will transfer only 5 J of energy
to hawks (4th or last trophic level) in a food chain.
14.In the following food chain, 100 J of energy is available to the lion. How
much energy was available to the producers?
Plants → Deer → Lion
As per 10% law of flow of energy in an ecosystem only 10% of energy is
received by the next trophic level. Hence, in the given food chain : If 100
.J of energy is available to lion, the plants or producers have 10,000 J of
energy available to them.
15.In a food chain of frog, grass, insect and snake, assign trophic level to
frog.
In the given food chain, frog belongs to the third trophic level as shown
here :
16.The following organisms form a food chain. Which of these will have the
highest concentration of non-biodegradable chemicals? Name the
phenomenon associated with it. Insects, Hawk, Grass, Snake, Frog
Among the following organisms of the food chain, hawk being top
consumer is present at topmost trophic level, hence will have the highest
concentration of non-biodegradable chemicals due to a phenomenon
known as biomagnification.
17.(a) From the following group of organisms create a food chain which is
most advantageous for human beings in terms of energy.
Hawk, Rat, Cereal plant, Goat, Snake, Human being
(b) State the possible disadvantage if the cereal plant is growing in soil
rich in pesticides.
(a) A food chain which is most advantageous for human beings in terms
of energy is:
Cereal plant → Human being
(b) If the cereal plant is growing in soil rich in pesticides, these pesticides
are absorbed by growing plants along with water and minerals, when
animals eat these cereal plants, these poisonous chemical pesticides go
into their bodies through food. This increase in concentration of harmful
pesticides in the body of living organisms at each trophic level of a food
chain is called biological magnification. Pesticides are lethal to non-target
species also. The extensive use of pesticides in agriculture can change the
community of microorganisms living in soil.
Best alternatives can be use of stainless steel, glass and platinum. Silicone
storage containers. Cloth bags can be used in place of plastic bags. Use of
wooden cleaning brushes, kitchen utensils and cutting board, pottery and
other ceramics products, etc.
21.Give one example each from your daily life where the domestic waste can
be effectively reused and recycled.
Answer:
We can reuse plastic and glass jars of jams and pickles, etc, for the
purpose of storage of things like salt, sugar, tea, etc., whereas we can
recycle newspapers, plastic of some types, broken glass and metal wares
for making fresh paper, plastic, glass and metal objects.
22.a) Write two harmful effects of using plastic bags on the environment.
Suggest alternatives to the usage of plastic bags.
(b) List any two practices that can be followed to dispose off the waste
produced in our homes.
People should adopt the following changes in their habit to dispose off non-
biodegradable waste, so as to save the environment.