Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy

Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13th 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 • Energy: forms, quality, and how it changes; laws of energy • Nuclear changes and radioactivity

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 • Consensus science • Frontier science Fig. 3-2 p. 41

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

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

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

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

Examples of Atoms Fig. 3-4 p. 48

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

Organic Compounds • Organic vs. inorganic compounds • Hydrocarbons • Chlorinated hydrocarbons • Chlorofluorocarbons • Simple carbohydrates • Complex carbohydrates • Proteins

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

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

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

Energy: Forms • Kinetic energy • Potential energy • Heat Fig. 3-9 p. 52

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

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

Physical and Chemical Changes Fig. In text p. 54

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

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

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

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

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

Laws Governing Energy Changes Second Law of Thermodynamics • In every transformation, some energy is converted to heat • You cannot break even in terms of energy quality

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

Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy