Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy

1. Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13th Edition Chapter 3 Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College

2. Key Concepts • Science as a process for understanding • Components and regulation of systems • Matter: forms, quality, and how it changes; laws of matter • Energy: forms, quality, and how it changes; laws of energy • Nuclear changes and radioactivity

3. Science, and Critical Thinking Ask a question Do experiments and collect data Interpret data Well-tested and accepted patterns In data become scientific laws Formulate hypothesis to explain data Do more Experiments to test hypothesis Revise hypothesis if necessary Well-tested and accepted hypotheses become scientific theories • Scientific data • Scientific hypotheses • Scientific (natural) laws • Scientific theories Fig. 3-2 p. 41

4. Models and Behavior of Systems • Inputs • Flows (throughputs) • Stores (storage areas) • Outputs

5. System Regulation • Homeostasis • Positive Feedback • Negative Feedback • Time Delay • Synergy Fig. 3-3 p. 46

6. Matter: Forms, Structure, and Quality • Elements • Compounds • Molecules • Mixtures

7. Atoms Subatomic Particles • Protons • Neutrons • Electrons Atomic Characteristics • Atomic number • Ions • Atomic mass • Isotopes

8. Examples of Atoms Fig. 3-4 p. 48

9. Chemical Bonds • Chemical formulas • Ionic bonds • Covalent bonds • Hydrogen bonds

10. Organic Compounds • Organic vs. inorganic compounds • Hydrocarbons • Simple carbohydrates • Complex carbohydrates • Proteins and enzymes

11. Genetic Material • Genes • Nucleic acids • Gene mutations • Chromosomes Fig. 3-6 p. 50

12. The Four States of Matter • Solid • Liquid • Gas • Plasma Fig. 3-7 p. 50

13. Matter Quality and Material Efficiency • High-quality matter • Low-quality matter • Entropy • Material efficiency(resource productivity) Fig. 3-8 p. 51

14. Energy Forms and Energy Conversions Potential energy Position Chemical Kinetic energy – list types Energy Conversions

15. Electromagnetic Spectrum

16. Transfer of Heat Energy Convection Conduction Radiation Heat from a stove burner causes atoms or molecules in the pan’s bottom to vibrate faster. The vibrating atoms or molecules then collide with nearby atoms or molecules, causing them to vibrate faster. Eventually, molecules or atoms in the pan’s handle are vibrating so fast it becomes too hot to touch. Heating water in the bottom of a pan causes some of the water to vaporize into bubbles. Because they are lighter than the surrounding water, they rise. Water then sinks from the top to replace the rising bubbles.This up and down movement (convection) eventually heats all of the water. As the water boils, heat from the hot stove burner and pan radiate into the surrounding air, even though air conducts very little heat. Fig. 3-11 p. 553

17. Energy: Quality • High-quality energy • Low-quality energy Fig. 3-12 p. 53

18. Physical and Chemical Changes Fig. In text p. 54

19. The Law of Conservation of Matter • Matter is not consumed • Matter only changes form • There is no “away”

20. Matter and Pollution • Chemical nature of pollutants • Concentration • Persistence • Degradable (nonpersistent) pollutants • Biodegradable pollutants • Slowly degradable (persistent) pollutants • Nondegradable pollutants

21. Nuclear Changes Fig. 3-13 p. 56 • Natural radioactive decay • Radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes) • Gamma rays • Alpha particles • Beta particles • Half life (See Table 3-2 p. 56) • Ionizing radiation

22. Nuclear Reactions Fission Fusion Fig. 3-17 p. 58 Fig. 3-16 p. 57

23. Laws Governing Energy Changes First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy) • Energy is neither created nor destroyed • Energy only changes form • You can’t get something for nothing ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT

24. Laws Governing Energy Changes Second Law of Thermodynamics • In every transformation, some energy is converted to heat • You cannot even break even in terms of energy quality when energy is converted • Efficiency – define and examples

25. Connections: Matter and Energy Laws and Environmental Problems • High-throughput (waste) economy • Matter-recycling economy • Low-throughputeconomy Fig. 3-20 p. 60; see Fig. 3-21 p. 61