T-CAP Review by : Jeremy chumney

1. T-CAP Reviewby : Jeremy chumney

2. Inquiry/techs • The benefits of technology include: keeping people healthier with advances in medication, making task easier and quicker by using computers to solve complicated problems, and decreasing the impact of the outside climate on the human body using devices such as air conditioning.

3. Life Science

4. Space • The inner planets, also known as the terrestrial planets, are small, dense, and made of rock. Their orbits are close to the Sun. Mercury is a little larger than the Moon, but has no atmosphere. Its surface is extremely hot in the sunlight (but cold in the shade) and is heavily cratered. Venus is about the size of the Earth. Venus has a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid, and the surface is hot enough to melt lead. When Venus is closest to Earth, it is about 25 million miles away from Earth. Earth is mostly covered by water, has a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, and is the only planet known to have life. Mars is about 7 times smaller than Earth. Mars has a thin atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide. The Martian surface is extremely cold (below the freezing point of water). Scientists believe that Mars may once have been warm enough for liquid water and possibly life. When Mars is closest to Earth, it is about 35 million miles away from Earth.

5. Space • Spiral Galaxy - these galaxies are relatively flat and have a bulge in the middle. These galaxies have arms that spiral out from the center. Our Milky Way galaxy is a spiral galaxy, and the Sun, our closest Elliptical Galaxy - these galaxies look like a round or flattened ball and contain little gas and dust between the stars. These are often described as taking on the shape of a football. Below is a picture of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1132.tar, is one of the stars in it. Below is a picture of the spiral galaxy M81. • Barred Spiral Galaxy - these galaxies are shaped like spiral galaxies, except for the fact that the arms begin spiraling out from a straight line of stars instead of from the center. Below is a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672.

6. Weather • Cumulus clouds are tall and puffy. When sunlight hits these clouds, they are bright white. They are known as "fair-weather clouds." • In stratus clouds, water droplets collect at low altitudes into flat shapes like pancakes. The "pancakes" can be thick or thin. They often bring drizzling rain. • In cirrus clouds, water droplets collect to form thin curves with no clear shape. Cirrus clouds are found high in the sky (at about 18,000 feet or above). These feathery clouds are often seen on bright, sunny days. • The cumulonimbus clouds can't hold all their water droplets. These drops can become so heavy that they fall as rain, snow, or hail. These clouds look tall, puffy, and gray. They may bring thunder and lightning. In fact, rain storms most often come from cumulonimbus clouds.

7. Weather • Meteorologists are scientists who study weather, and they use several different types of tools to measure different characteristics of weather. For example, a thermometer is used to measure temperature. A rain gauge is a tool used for measuring the amount of rain that falls in a given period of time. An anemometer is used to measure wind speed and a wind vane is used to measure wind direction. A barometer is used to measure air pressure. • Thermometer • A thermometer is used to measure temperature in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius. • Snow Gauge • A snow gauge is used to measure the amount of snow that falls in a given period of time. • Anemometer • An anemometer is used to measure wind speed in one area. • Wind Vane • A wind vane is a tool used for measuring wind direction. • Rain Gauge • .. A rain gauge is a piece of equipment designed to measure the amount of rain that falls in a given period of time. • Barometer • . • . A barometer is used to measure air pressure.

8. Energy Transformation • Mechanical energy is the energy that an object has due to its motion or its position. It can be further classified as kinetic energy, or energy of motion, and potential energy, or stored energy of position. Mechanical energy is present in: a moving car • a book on a desk • a ball that is thrown

9. Weather • air mass body of air with similar temperature and moisture throughout • barometric pressure • or • air pressure weight of the air above a certain point. High pressure air is denser than low pressure air. Air in areas of high pressure will move into areas of lower pressure. So, winds usually blow from higher pressure areas into lower pressure areas. • anemometer tool used to measure wind speed • barometer tool used to measure air pressure, or barometric pressure • cold front the leading edge of a cold air mass • dew point the temperature at which water vapor in the air begins to condense into liquid water • relative humidity a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air • lightning electricity caused by friction between water droplets and ice crystals within a cloud • flooding high water levels caused by heavy rainfall over a short time • front the boundary between two unlike air masses • hurricane tropical system of rain and winds which circles around a center of low pressure and has sustained winds of at least 74 mph • precipitation any form of water coming from the atmosphere to the earth's surface • rain gauge tool used to measure precipitation • temperature the degree of hotness or coldness • thermometer tool used to measure temperature • thunder sound produced when lightning severely heats the air around it and causes the air to expand instantly • thunderstorm a storm with lightning • tornado violently rotating column of air between a cloud and the earth • warm front the leading edge of a warm air mass • wind air moving over the surface of the earth

10. Weather • A front is the area in which two types of air masses meet. • Cold fronts form when cold air masses move under warm air masses and push the warm air up. Cold fronts tend to push the warm air up suddenly and form vertical cumulonimbus clouds. This is why thunderstorms and heavy rain usually accompany cold fronts. • Warm fronts form when warm air masses move over cold air masses. The warm air gradually replaces the cold air and forms stratus clouds. This is why a continuous drizzly rain usually accompanies warm fronts. • Occluded fronts form when warm air masses are stuck between two colder air masses. Cooler temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow usually accompany occluded fronts. • Stationary fronts form when cold air masses meet warm air masses but neither air mass has enough force to lift the warm air up. Many days of cloudy, wet weather usually accompany stationary fronts.

11. Electricity • Electrical energy, also referred to as electricity, is used to run many different machines and tools. For example, electricity is used to power: • • computers • heaters • • hair dryers • lights • • refrigerators • stereos

12. Electricity • Conductors are materials that allow electricity to easily flow through them. Insulators are materials that stop the flow of electricity. • The following materials are electrical conductors: • •metals • •water* • *Although very pure water such as distilled water is an insulator, most water, such as lake water, rain water, or tap water, does conduct electricity. • Wire is made of metal, which is a conductor. • The following materials are electrical insulators: • •wood • •plastic • •cloth • •rubber • The coating on the outside of electrical cords is made of plastic or rubber, which are insulators.

13. circuits • A circuit is a closed path through which electricity flows. • Circuits that include a light bulb transform electrical energy into light and heat energy. • A circuit, such as the one shown above, must have an energy source, a load, and a means to carry the electricity through the circuit (usually wires). Each of these parts is discussed below: • 1.Energy source—Every circuit must have a source of electrical energy, such as a battery, which pushes the electric current around the circuit. The symbol for the energy source in a circuit diagram is: • 2.Wire—Every circuit must have a material that connects the parts of the circuit together and carries electric current. Often, this material is metal wire wrapped in a coating of plastic or rubber. The symbol for the wire in a circuit diagram is: • 3.Load—The load, or receiver, such as a light bulb or appliance, changes electrical energy to another kind of energy like light, heat, motion, or sound. The symbol for the receiver in a circuit diagram is: • 4.Switch—Circuits usually have switches. If closed, the switch completes the circuit and allows current to flow. But if the switch is open, it prevents current from flowing. Sometimes, the switch is not shown in circuit diagrams. However, there is a symbol that represents the switch. It is: