Carbon Cycle Tracer - Follow the Carbon Atom

🌍 Carbon Cycle Tracer

How to Use This Simulation

Adjust the controls to change simulation variables
Click Start to run Carbon Cycle Tracer - Follow the Carbon Atom
Observe the results in the display area
Click Reset to try different settings
Complete the Predict-Observe-Explain section below

Keyboard: Space/Enter = start/pause · R = reset · Esc = pause

Follow a carbon atom as it moves through Earth's systems - atoms are NEVER created or destroyed!

How to Use This Simulation

Click on any location where your carbon atom can travel next. Watch the carbon atom move and see the chemical process that carries it there. Track your journey and prove that carbon is always conserved!

Carbon Atoms

Journey Steps

☁️ ATMOSPHERE
CO₂ Gas

🌿 PLANTS
Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆)

🐄 ANIMALS
Body Tissues

🌊 OCEAN
Dissolved CO₂

⛽ FOSSIL FUELS
Coal/Oil/Gas

🏭 COMBUSTION
Burning Fuels

📍 Current Location: Atmosphere

Your carbon atom is floating in the atmosphere as part of a CO₂ (carbon dioxide) molecule. From here, it can be absorbed by plants during photosynthesis or dissolve into the ocean.

📜 YOUR CARBON ATOM'S JOURNEY

Record Your Observations

As you explore Carbon Cycle Tracer Follow the Carbon Atom, record what you notice:

Starting conditions: What are the initial settings?
Changes: What happens when you adjust the variables?
Patterns: Do you notice any patterns or relationships?
Evidence: What specific data supports your observations?

Predict • Observe • Explain

Predict

Before running the simulation, predict: what do you think will happen to Carbon Cycle Tracer Follow the Carbon Atom when you change the variables?

Observe

Run the simulation with different settings. Record the patterns and relationships you see.

Explain

Compare your observations with your prediction. Use scientific vocabulary to explain why Carbon Cycle Tracer Follow the Carbon Atom behaves this way.

Key Concepts

Variables

Changing one variable while controlling others helps us isolate cause and effect in Carbon Cycle Tracer - Follow the Carbon Atom.

Patterns

Look for repeatable patterns in the data — they reveal the underlying scientific principles.

Models

This simulation is a model — a simplified representation that helps us understand Carbon Cycle Tracer - Follow the Carbon Atom.

🌍 Carbon Cycle Tracer

How to Use This Simulation

📍 Current Location: Atmosphere

📜 YOUR CARBON ATOM'S JOURNEY

📋 Record Your Observations

Predict • Observe • Explain

Predict

Observe

Explain

Key Concepts

Record Your Observations