Final answer:
The lithosphere is Earth's crust, the hydrosphere includes all water, the atmosphere is the layer of gases around Earth, and the biosphere is where life exists. The sun, gravity, and nutrient cycles are critical in sustaining life. Matter is recycled, while energy flows through the biosphere and is lost at each food chain level.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distinguishing among Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere
The lithosphere refers to the outermost layer of the Earth's crust and includes the land. The hydrosphere encompasses all areas containing water on, under, and over the Earth's surface. The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the planet. The biosphere is the part of Earth where life exists, overlapping the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, extending from 11,000 meters below sea level to 15,000 meters above sea level.
Sustaining Life on Earth
Life on Earth is sustained by the sun, which provides energy for photosynthesis, gravity, which helps in the movement of air and water, and the nutrient cycles, such as the water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles that recycle essential elements through the biosphere. These cycles maintain the necessary balance for life processes.
Flow of Matter vs Flow of Energy
Matter flows through the biosphere in nutrient cycles and is recycled within ecosystems. Energy flows from the sun through the food web, starting at producers and moving up to consumers and decomposers, with energy being lost at each transfer in the form of heat, pursuant to the second law of thermodynamics.