Man was created in order to live in harmony with nature. No wonder she surrounds us everywhere. Plants, animals, surface and groundwaters are far from all the components of nature. Scientists conventionally divided it into two classes - living and inanimate nature.
To determine what of the environment belongs to the first class, and what to the second, a number of certain signs will help. For example, living organisms can grow and develop. Moreover, their size and shape may vary. Living organisms also carry genetic information and reproduce their own kind.
Inanimate nature is a combination of matter (which can be liquid, solid or gaseous) and fields. These components (matter and field) must necessarily have energy. Another distinctive feature of inanimate nature is the presence of several structural levels. Structural levels should be understood as a combination of elementary particles, atoms and other chemical elements.
Unlike living, inanimate nature does not undergo age, temperature or other changes. The basic principle of inanimate nature is least action. Systems of inanimate nature are constantly striving to find the most stable state. Moreover, each body takes a form in which energy costs will be minimal.
We must not forget that animate and inanimate nature are in a fairly close relationship, which is studied by a science such as ecology. An example of such a relationship is the effect of the sun on living organisms. Scientists have proven that it serves not only as a source of nutrition for living organisms, but also performs the function of warming, which is important enough for plants, land, air.
Interestingly, every living organism is under the direct influence of inanimate factors. They are called abiotic in science. They are nothing more than a combination of climatic conditions that affect the environment. It is important to note that this influence can be both positive and negative. A vivid example of the destructive power of nature is drought or excessive rainfall.
Let us consider in more detail how inanimate nature can affect living organisms. One of the most influential abiotic factors is temperature, humidity and light. Many chemical processes in a living organism depend on temperature. This is especially true for plants and animals that are not able to maintain a constant body temperature. Severe frosts and cold are the main and most unpredictable “enemies” of living organisms.
But it is interesting that inanimate nature in winter (even at very low air temperatures) does not die, but only slightly transformed. For example, at this time of the year the sun goes down and takes the lowest position in the sky.
The role of moisture for terrestrial organisms is difficult to overestimate. It is enough to note that its lack often causes a decrease in vital activity. On this basis, maintaining a certain level of water in the body is a key task for all living things.
A sufficiently important factor of inanimate nature is light, without which many plants (especially photophilous) simply die. In addition, light helps in the implementation of processes that are important for life. Thanks to the action of ultraviolet rays, a living organism receives the necessary vitamin D.
We should not forget about the negative phenomena that occur in inanimate nature. These include the thaw, snowfall, blizzard. They not only adversely affect all living things around, but can also cause serious negative consequences.
