Transcript Science

Science. Matter. Energy.
Systems.
Chapter 2
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Important Definitions to
Review
Science – knowledge of how the world works
Technology – creation of new processes intended to improve
the quality of life
Law – certain phenomena always act in a predictable manner
Theory – rational explanation for numerous observations of a
certain phenomena – global warming due to greenhouse effect
Accuracy – measurement agrees with the accepted correct
value
Precision – measure of reproducibility
Inductive reasoning- using observations and facts to arrive at
generalizations
Deductive reasoning - using logic to arrive at a specific
conclusion
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Scientific method
identify question/problem
HYPOTHESIS – proposed to
explain observed patterns
Complete experiment and collect
data
Analysis and conclusions (results
tentative, reliable or unreliable)
Experiments subject to peer
review
identify biases
Identify limitations
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Systems
system: set of components that interact in some
regular way
Open system: systems the exchange both energy
and matter across their boundaries
 most environmental systems open
 Inputs - matter, energy, information
 Throughput - flow of input
 Output - matter, energy, information flowing out
Closed system: exchange energy but not matter
across their boundaries
 ex. water cycle
feedback loop: Change in one part of a system
influences another part of the system
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Positive feedback loop
causes a system to
change further in the
same direction. (farther
from normal)
 Exponential growth of
population – more
individuals lead to
increased number of
births
 Precipitation causes
erosion. Erosion causes
plants to die. More
precipitation causes
more erosion and more
vegetation death.
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Negative feedback loop
system to change in the opposite direction
from which it is moving (closer to normal)
Temperature regulation in humans – increased
temperature leads to decrease in temperature by
sweating
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Implications for the environment –
High waste society
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Implications for the environment
– Low waste society
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Complex systems
Time lags – change in a system leads to
other changes after a delay
lung cancer
Resistance to change – built in resistance –
political, economic
Synergy-when two or more processes
interact so that the combined effect is
greater
Can be beneficial or harmful
Chaos – unpredictable behavior in a
system
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Matter and Energy
Resources
Nature’s Building Blocks
anything that has mass
and takes up space
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Forms of matter
elements – single type of atoms
 110 elements
92 natural, 18 synthesized
table 2.1 (important elements)
compounds - 2 or more elements,
held together by chemical bonds
 table 2.3 (important compounds)

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Atomic Theory Definitions
atoms - smallest units of matter- protons (+),
neutrons (0), electrons (-)
 protons/neutrons in nucleus of atom
 atomic # = # of protons
 isotope: same atomic number but different mass
number (different form of the same element)
 Carbon-14; Uranium-235
ion - electrically charged atoms
 Table 2.2 (important ions)
molecules - combinations of atoms of the same or
different elements
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Some Important elements
composition by weight – only 8 elements
make up 98.5% of the Earth’s crust
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Organic Compounds
with 2 or more atoms of carbon
 hydrocarbons: carbon and hydrogen atoms
 methane CH4 (only exception to 2 C rule)
 Octane C8H18
 chlorinated hydrocarbons: carbon, hydrogen and
chlorine
 DDT C14H9Cl5
 Simple carbohydrates: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
 glucose C6H12O6
Also includes Polymers.
complex carbohydrates (made of simple sugars), nucleic acids
(made of nucleotides), proteins (made of amino acids) and
lipids
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Inorganic compounds
no carbon, not originating from a
living source
Earth’s crust – minerals, water
water, nitrous oxide, nitric oxide, sodium
chloride, ammonia
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Matter quality
Measure of how useful a matter
is for humans based on
availability and concentration
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Energy
capacity to do work and transfer heat
 Kinetic Energy -energy in action
 electromagnetic radiation (energy in waves
resulting from electrical/magnetic fields), heat
(energy in moving atoms)

Potential energy - stored energy that is potentially
available; may be changed to kinetic
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Electromagnetic radiation
different wave lengths
 Shorter wavelength= high energy
 disrupts cells with long term exposure
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Energy sources
99% of the energy that supports earth comes from
the sun
 without it earth’s temperature -240 C or -400 F
 allows for wind, hydro and biomass sources of
renewable energy
1% - commercial sources. Burning oil, coal and
natural gas.
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Energy quality
Measure of
how useful an
energy source
is in terms of
concentration
and ability to
perform useful
work
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Energy Changes
energy changes governed by 2 scientific laws
 law of conservation of energy (first law of
thermodynamics)
 no energy is created or destroyed as it changes
from one form to another
 energy input = energy output
 can lose energy quality (converted to a less
useful form)
 second law of thermodynamics
 as energy changes form we end up with a
lower quality or less usable energy source
(heat)
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Nuclear Changes
nuclei of certain isotopes spontaneously
change (radioisotopes) or made to change
into one or more different isotopes
Occurs with one of the following particles:
Alpha particles – fast moving (2 protons+2
neutrons)
Beta particles – high speed electrons
Gamma particles - high energy electromagnetic
radiation
radioactive decay, nuclear fission,
nuclear fusion
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Use….radioisotopes
Estimate age of rocks and fossils
Tracers in pollution detection and
medicine
Genetic control of insects
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Half – Life
(radioactive
decay)
time needed for
one-half of the
nuclei in a
radioisotope to
decay and emit
their radiation.
ranges from
fraction of a
second to
millions of years
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certain isotopes
(uranium-235)
split apart into
lighter nuclei +
neutrons when
struck by
neutrons
chain reaction
releases energy
Releases an
enormous
amount of energy
very quickly
Nuclear Fission
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Nuclear fusion
two isotopes (hydrogen) forced
together at extremely high
temperatures (100 million C)
Fuse to form a heavy nucleus and
release a tremendous amount of energy
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