The idea behind the whole topic: A system is a set of parts that interact, or depend on each other, and together work as one whole.
Components
- The parts.
- In a woodland: the oak, beech and birch trees.
Interactions
- How the parts affect each other.
- Tall trees shade the seedlings below.
Functional whole
- Together they do what no part does alone.
- The woodland grows and stores carbon.
Systems can be ecological or societal. The same idea fits both.
Ecological systems
- A community of trees in a woodland.
- A pond.
Societal systems
- A school canteen: food in, meals and waste out.
- A city's bus network.
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To show that something is a system, name its features and give an example of each. For a community of trees in a woodland:
| Feature | In a woodland tree community |
|---|---|
| Components | Individual trees of different species |
| Interdependent, one whole | Trees compete for light; old trees shelter seedlings |
| Flows of matter and energy | Fallen leaves rot and return nutrients to the soil |
| Transformations | Photosynthesis turns light energy into glucose |
| Open to its surroundings | Takes in sunlight and rain; seeds blow in and out |
| Feedback | A tree dies, light reaches the floor, seedlings fill the gap |
Each feature has its own page later: Flows (1.2.2), transformations (1.2.4), open systems (1.2.5) and feedback (1.2.8). Here, one line each is enough.
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How this comes up: "Explain how X may be considered a system": features of a system, each with an example from X.
IB-style questionExplain[7 marks]
Explain how a community of grasses and wildflowers in a meadow may be considered a system.
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See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Stay with the community asked about: The question is about the plants. Insects, birds and soil animals belong to the whole meadow ecosystem, so they do not count here.