Submitted by: Pupul goel

Roll no. 092103101

Ques. What is environment? What are its components?

Ans. Word "environment” means the sum of all living and non-living things that surround an
organism, or group of organisms. Environment includes all elements, factors, and conditions that
have some impact on growth and development of certain organism. Environment includes both
biotic and abiotic factors that have influence on observed organism. Abiotic factors such as light,
temperature, water, atmospheric gases combine with biotic factors (all surrounding living
species). Environment often changes after some time and therefore many organisms have ability
to adapt to these changes. However tolerance range is not the same with all species and exposure
to environmental conditions at the limit of a certain organism's tolerance range represents
environmental stress.

The components of the environment are:

(i) abiotic components-non-living things
(ii) biotic components-living things

(i)ABIOTIC COMPONENTS:
it has four parts:
a) atmosphere b) hydrosphere c) lithosphere d)biosphere
(ii)BOITIC COMPONENTS:
it has three parts:
a) producer b) consumer c) de-composer

Atmosphere: it is a band of gases enveloping the Earth's surface. Ninety-nine percent of its mass
is concentrated within 20 miles of the earth's surface, and its two largest constituents (in the
lowest part) are nitrogen (about 78 percent) and oxygen (about 21 percent). The remaining one
percent includes mostly argon and minute amounts of carbon dioxide, helium, krypton, methane,
neon, sulfur dioxide, water vapor, and xenon. In meteorology, atmosphere is divided into seven
layers called regions (from the lowest to the highest): troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
chemosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, and exosphere.

Hydrosphere: Discontinuous layer of water at or near the Earth's surface. It includes all liquid
and frozen surface waters, groundwater held in soil and rock, and atmospheric water vapour.
Virtually all of these waters are in constant circulation through the hydrologic cycle. Although
the components of the hydrosphere are undergoing continuous change of state and location, the
total water budget remains in balance. The components of the hydrosphere have been seriously
affected by the water-polluting activities of modern society.
 Submitted by: Pupul goel
Roll no. 092103101
Lithosphere: The outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, approximately
100 km (62 mi.) thick.

Biosphere: The part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is
capable of supporting life.

Producer: One that produces, especially a person or organization that produces goods or
services for sale.

Consumer: An individual who buys products or services for personal use and not for
manufacture or resale. A consumer is someone who can make the decision whether or not to
purchase an item at the store, and someone who can be influenced by marketing and
advertisements. Any time someone goes to a store and purchases a toy, shirt, beverage, or
anything else, they are making that decision as a consumer.

De-composer: An organism, often a bacterium or fungus, that feeds on and breaks down dead
plant or animal matter, thus making organic nutrients available to the ecosystem.