krit.club logo

Living and Non-living Things - Differences between living and non-living things

Grade 3ICSE

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

🔑Concepts

•

Living things show movement. Animals move from place to place to find food and shelter, while plants show slow movements, such as a sunflower turning towards the Sun.

•

Living things grow over time. For example, a small seed grows into a large tree, and a human baby grows into an adult.

•

All living things need food and water to live and get energy. Green plants prepare their own food using sunlight, water, and CO2CO_2 (Carbon Dioxide).

•

Living things breathe to stay alive. Most animals take in O2O_2 (Oxygen) and give out CO2CO_2 (Carbon Dioxide).

•

Living things respond to changes in their environment. This is called sensitivity. For example, we move our hand away if we touch something hot.

•

Living things reproduce, which means they produce young ones of their own kind. Birds lay eggs, while humans give birth to babies.

•

Living things get rid of waste from their bodies through a process called excretion.

•

Non-living things do not breathe, eat, grow, move on their own, feel, or reproduce.

📐Formulae

Living Thing=Movement+Growth+Nutrition+Breathing+Reproduction\text{Living Thing} = \text{Movement} + \text{Growth} + \text{Nutrition} + \text{Breathing} + \text{Reproduction}

O2 (Oxygen consumed during breathing)O_2 \text{ (Oxygen consumed during breathing)}

CO2 (Carbon Dioxide released during breathing)CO_2 \text{ (Carbon Dioxide released during breathing)}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

A robot can move and talk. Why is it still classified as a non-living thing?

Solution:

A robot is a non-living thing because it does not satisfy all the characteristics of life.

Explanation:

While a robot moves, it does not move on its own (it needs a battery or electricity). It does not grow in size, it does not breathe O2O_2, and it cannot reproduce to create 'baby robots' naturally.

Problem 2:

Identify if a 'Seed' is living or non-living.

Solution:

A seed is a living thing (in a dormant state).

Explanation:

A seed may look like a non-living stone, but when given water, soil, and sunlight, it grows into a plant. Since it has the potential for growth and life processes, it is considered living.