You make a terrarium for your school’s science fair by putting some soil into a glass container and adding small plants. You moisten the soil with water and add a slug. You cover the terrarium with clear plastic that has vent holes. Then, you place the terrarium in a sunlit window.
Explain how the soil, plants, slug, sunlight, and plastic affect the air inside your terrarium.
1 answer
The soil, plants, and slug will all contribute to the air inside the terrarium by releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. The sunlight will help the plants to photosynthesize, which will also contribute to the oxygen levels in the terrarium. The plastic will help to keep the air inside the terrarium warm and humid, which will be beneficial for the plants and slug. The vent holes will allow for some air exchange, which will help to keep the oxygen levels balanced.