What is the difference between an open and a closed system?

An open system is like a window that is open. It lets things go in and out freely. A closed system is like a jar with a lid on it. Things cannot go in or out.

Think about your body. Your body is an open system because you breathe in air and eat food to get energy. Your body also gets rid of waste through sweat and bathroom breaks. This is like the window that lets things go in and out.

But, let's say you have a cut. Now, your body is a closed system around the cut. This is like the jar with a lid on it. Your body is working hard to heal the cut and does not want any germs or dirt to get in.

Another example is the Earth. The Earth is an open system because it gets energy from the sun and things can come into the atmosphere, like meteoroids. But the Earth is also closed in some ways. For example, the water on Earth is in a continuous cycle of evaporation, precipitation, and runoff. This means that we can't get new water from outside the Earth.

In summary, an open system lets things go in and out freely while a closed system does not allow things to go in or out. The concept can be applied to our bodies, the Earth, and many other things in our daily lives.