This Power Point presentation was presented at the NSTA regional conference in Seattle, December 9, 2011 Images without permission for distribution have been removed, with italicized notes of what was shown. Feel free to add in your own creative systems!

What is a System? Created by : Ken Brager (Amistad Elementary, formerly of Highlands Middle School, Kennewick, WA) Martha Mather (Highlands Middle School, Kennewick, WA) Vicky Smoot (Horse Heaven Hills Middle School, Kennewick, WA)

Today’s Purpose 1. What is a system? 2.Can students identify systems around them? Our purpose today is to answer the questions:

What is a system?

This is a system

So, what makes a system a system?

What is our definition of a system? Two or more individual parts that work together to perform a single function (job) and combine to form a whole.

What was that again? Two or moreindividual parts that work together to perform a single function And combine to form a whole.

Let us look at a sprinkler system A sprinkler system has many parts. Some parts are above ground. Working sprinklers on grass

Some parts are below ground. Underground view of sprinkler system

Some parts control what happens. Sprinkler control valves and control box

Sometimes parts do not always work right. Two photos of malfunctioning sprinklers—showing bubbling/spraying high

Some sprinkler systems are simple (have few parts). Labeled diagram of sprinkler Soda bottle drip system.

Some are much more complex. Full diagram of sprinkler system in a field—complex set up

… to water plants. But all sprinkler systems have the same purpose … Up close picture of grass

Remember our definition of a system? Two or more individual parts that work together to perform a single function and combine to form a whole.

Let’s look at the parts, the whole, and the purpose

Is this a system?

Yes! The skateboard has separate parts that combine to form a whole to perform a single function

Yes! Has two or more parts that work together to perform a single function.

System?

Yes! It has ____________ that work together to ____________ And combine to ____________

Why is knowing about systems important? Human beings live in a universe made up of systems. Your body is made up of systems Your lives are affected by systems You buy systems You sleep on systems You eat systems Everything you do involves systemsEverything you do involves systems.

Are there systems in this room? Classroom Management System Computer System Heating and Cooling System The Pencil Sharpener The Clock The plumbing system And lots more. With your team list at least four systems that are in this room.

Inputs and Outputs Every system has an INPUT and OUTPUT. Its OUTPUT is the function (job) that it does or the result of its job. What is its INPUT?

Inputs can be…. ENERGY—in some form. MATTER—some kind of “stuff” so it can do its job INFORMATION

Practice with these systems: Find the Parts, the Input, and the Output

Practice Find the PARTS, the INPUT, and THE OUTPUT

Practice Find the PARTS, the INPUT, and THE OUTPUT

Systems Continued Inputs, Outputs, Boundaries and Subsystems

What we know: A system is two or more individual parts working together for a common function (purpose) that combine to form a whole.

Inputs and Outputs Systems have inputs - things that get put in to make the system function. Systems have outputs – what they do, and sometimes other things.

Inputs In order to carry out their purpose, systems need an input of some kind of energy. Sometimes they need other inputs of matter (stuff) or information too. OUR DEFINITIION: An input is something that enters the system. It can be matter (stuff), information, or energy

Forms of Energy Input There are lots of kinds of energy. Some common kinds are: Electrical Thermal (heat) Mechanical (movement) Nuclear Chemical (food is one example; a battery is another) Sound Light

What kind of energy input is needed by these systems?

Output Outputs from a system can include what they do, energy, information, and any other matter (stuff) that comes out. OUR DEFINITION: An output is something that leaves the system. It can be matter (stuff), information, or energy

What kind of energy output is produced by these systems?

Outputs can become inputs. Sometimes the output from one system can become the input for another system.

Practice Name the inputs and outputs for a dairy cow.

Practice Name the inputs and outputs for broccoli.

Practice Name the inputs and outputs for a toaster.

Boundary The boundary is the outside border of the system. Depending on where we draw the boundary, we can look at a system or a subsystem as a system.

Sometimes systems are too large to study so they are broken down into smaller subsystems.

A subsystem is a system within a system

Subsystems Cooling system of an engine.

Why? Because we look at things systematically to understand them. Sometimes we look at the larger system, and sometimes we look at the smaller system that is a subsystem of the larger system.

Systems can be Open or Closed Open systems allow matter, energy and information to enter and leave. Closed systems don’t allow matter to enter and leave, but energy and information can still enter and leave. Example: The water cycle of the earth will not gain more water (matter) however, it will gain sunlight (energy).

Systems can be Open or Closed Closed systems can become open systems when a gap or hole is created in the actual physical boundary. Example: When you open a bottle of water by taking off the lid, a gap or hole is created in the physical boundary.

Closed can become open; open can become closed. Plants are open systems. Photosynthesis helps them grow by taking in energy from the sun and matter from their surroundings. They create matter in the form of oxygen. When planted in a closed bottle, a plant becomes part of a closed system where matter can’t enter or leave, but energy, in the form of light and heat, can.

Systems Can Change Systems can change when their boundary changes. Boundaries can sometimes change, like when the boundaries of a lake change due to rising water levels.

Systems and Boundaries Boundaries can be drawn to fit what needs to be studied. Scientists may decide to study a single tree rather than the whole forest. They would change the boundaries of the system to fit that study. We can change boundaries when studying different parts of a system.