Interpreting Decomposition and Decay Data Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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In decomposition data, what does the term "rate of decay" mean?

It means how fast something rots or breaks down over time, often measured as mass lost per day.

A table shows the mass of apple pieces each day for 10 days. What is the dependent variable in this decomposition experiment?

The dependent variable is the mass of the apple pieces, because it is what is measured as time passes.

A graph shows that leaves lose mass faster at 25 °C than at 5 °C. What does this suggest about temperature and decay rate?

It suggests that a higher temperature (up to a point) makes decay happen faster.

In a table, very dry soil shows 5% mass loss, damp soil shows 35% mass loss, and waterlogged soil shows 10% mass loss. What can you conclude about water content and decay?

Decay is fastest in damp soil; too little or too much water slows down decomposition.

Data show that food waste in a jar with holes in the lid loses more mass than in a sealed jar with no air. What does this tell you about oxygen and decay?

It tells you that more oxygen makes aerobic decay faster than in low-oxygen conditions.

A sample of leaves starts at 100 g and after two weeks it is 60 g. Using the data, what percentage of the mass has been lost?

The mass lost is 40 g, so the percentage loss is (40 ÷ 100) × 100 = 40%.

A table shows decay rates at different temperatures: 10 °C = 5 g/day, 20 °C = 10 g/day, 30 °C = 15 g/day, 40 °C = 7 g/day. At which temperature is decay fastest?

Decay is fastest at 30 °C, because the rate is highest there (15 g per day).

Why do scientists repeat decomposition experiments and calculate a mean (average) from the data?

Repeats and a mean make the results more reliable and reduce the effect of any unusual values.

When looking at a decay graph, what is an anomalous result?

It is a result that does not fit the general pattern shown by the other data points.

You are using data to study the effect of temperature on decay. Why must the type and starting mass of material be kept the same for all temperatures?

They must be the same so that any differences in the data are due to temperature only, making it a fair test.

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