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Our Environment - Waste production and their solutions

Grade 10CBSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

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Waste classification: Biodegradable waste consists of substances that are broken down by biological processes (e.g., food waste, paper). Non-biodegradable waste consists of substances that are not broken down by biological processes and persist in the environment (e.g., plastics, DDTDDT).

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Ecosystem components: Biotic components (living organisms like plants, animals) and Abiotic components (physical factors like temperature, rainfall, wind, soil, and minerals).

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Food Chain and Energy Flow: Energy flow is unidirectional. The 10%10\% Law states that only 10%10\% of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next higher level.

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Biological Magnification: The process by which harmful chemicals (like pesticides) enter the food chain and their concentration increases progressively at each trophic level. The highest concentration is found in the organisms at the top of the food chain (usually humans).

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Ozone Layer (O3O_3): A protective layer in the stratosphere that absorbs harmful Ultraviolet (UVUV) radiation from the sun. Ozone is formed by the action of UVUV rays on Oxygen (O2O_2) molecules.

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Ozone Depletion: Caused by synthetic chemicals like Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCsCFCs), used in refrigerants and fire extinguishers. The UNEPUNEP succeeded in forging an agreement to freeze CFCCFC production.

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Waste Disposal Methods: Includes Landfills (burying waste), Incineration (burning at high temperatures to reduce volume), Composting (organic waste to manure), and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPSTP).

📐Formulae

O2→UVO+OO_2 \xrightarrow{UV} O + O

O+O2→O3O + O_2 \rightarrow O_3

Energy at Trophic Level (n+1)=10100×Energy at Trophic Level (n)\text{Energy at Trophic Level } (n+1) = \frac{10}{100} \times \text{Energy at Trophic Level } (n)

💡Examples

Problem 1:

If 20,000 J20,000 \text{ J} of energy is available at the producer level (first trophic level) in an ecosystem, calculate the amount of energy available to the tertiary consumer.

Solution:

  1. Producers: 20,000 J20,000 \text{ J}.
  2. Primary Consumers (Herbivores): 10% of 20,000=2,000 J10\% \text{ of } 20,000 = 2,000 \text{ J}.
  3. Secondary Consumers: 10% of 2,000=200 J10\% \text{ of } 2,000 = 200 \text{ J}.
  4. Tertiary Consumers: 10% of 200=20 J10\% \text{ of } 200 = 20 \text{ J}.

Explanation:

According to the 10%10\% Law of Lindeman, only 10%10\% of the energy is transferred from one level to the next. The rest is lost as heat to the environment or used for life processes.

Problem 2:

In the following food chain, which organism will have the maximum concentration of pesticides: Grass →\rightarrow Grasshopper →\rightarrow Frog →\rightarrow Snake →\rightarrow Peacock?

Solution:

The Peacock will have the maximum concentration of pesticides.

Explanation:

This occurs due to Biological Magnification. Pesticides are non-biodegradable chemicals that get accumulated at each trophic level. Since the Peacock occupies the highest trophic level in this chain, it accumulates the maximum concentration of these toxins.