Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14 th Edition Chapter 3 G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14 th Edition Chapter 3

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

Science, and Critical Thinking  Scientific data  Scientific (natural) laws  Consensus science  Scientific theories  Scientific hypotheses  Frontier science Ask a question Do experiments and collect data Formulate hypothesis to explain data Do more Experiments to test hypothesis Revise hypothesis if necessary Well-tested and accepted hypotheses become scientific theories Interpret data Well-tested and accepted patterns In data become scientific laws Fig. 3-2 p. 33

Models and Behavior of Systems  Inputs  Flows (throughputs)  Stores (storage areas)  Outputs

System Regulation  Positive Feedback  Negative Feedback  Time Delay  Synergy

Matter: Forms, Structure, and Quality  Elements  Compounds  Molecules  Ions  Atoms

Atoms Subatomic Particles  Protons  Neutrons  Electrons Atomic Characteristics  Atomic number  Ions  Atomic mass  Isotopes Atomic Particles. Atomic Mass.

Examples of Isotopes Fig. 3-5 p. 40 Isotopes.

pH  Measures acidity or alkalinity of water samples  Scale 0 – 14  Acids: 0 – 6.9  Neutral 7.0  Alkaline (Basic) 7.1 – 14  Measures acidity or alkalinity of water samples  Scale 0 – 14  Acids: 0 – 6.9  Neutral 7.0  Alkaline (Basic) 7.1 – 14

pH of some common items

Chemical Bonds  Chemical formulas  Ionic bonds  Covalent bonds Click to view animation.

Organic Compounds  Organic vs. inorganic compounds  Hydrocarbons  Chlorinated hydrocarbons  Nucleic acids  Simple carbohydrates  Complex carbohydrates  Proteins

Genetic Material  Nucleic acids  Genes  Genomes  Chromosomes Compare Fig. 3-7 p. 42

The Four States of Matter  Solid  Liquid  Gas  Plasma

Matter Quality and Material Efficiency Fig. 3-8 p. 43  High-quality matter  Low-quality matter  Material efficiency (resource productivity)

Energy  Definition: Capacity to do “work” and transfer heat  Types:  Kinetic  Potential  Radiation: Energy & Wavelength  Definition: Capacity to do “work” and transfer heat  Types:  Kinetic  Potential  Radiation: Energy & Wavelength Click to view animation.

Electromagnetic Spectrum Fig. 3-9 p. 44

Transfer of Heat Energy Fig p. 45 ConvectionConductionRadiation 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. As the water boils, heat from the hot stove burner and pan radiate into the surrounding air, even though air conducts very little heat. 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.

Energy: Quality  High-quality energy  Low-quality energy Fig p.46

Changes in Matter  Physical  Chemical  Physical  Chemical

Chemical Changes or Reactions Fig. In text p. 47

The Law of Conservation of Matter  Matter is not destroyed  Matter only changes form  There is no “throw away” Energy flow.

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

Nuclear Changes  Natural radioactive decay  Radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes)  Gamma rays  Alpha particles  Beta particles  Half life ( See Table 3-2 p. 49)  Ionizing radiation

Half-life Fig. 3-13, p. 49

Idea of Half Life (not the vdo game) Click to view animation.

Nuclear Reactions Fission Fig p. 50 Fusion Fig p. 50

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

Second Law of Thermodynamics  In every transformation, some energy is converted to heat  You cannot break even in terms of energy quality Solar energy Waste heat Waste heat Waste heat Waste heat Chemical energy (photosynthesis) Chemical energy (food) Mechanical energy (moving, thinking, living)

Connections: Matter and Energy Laws and Environmental Problems  High-throughput (waste) economy  Matter-recycling economy  Low-throughput economy Click to view animation.

Environmental Solutions: Low- Throughput Economy  Learning from Nature Fig p. 53