Chapter 2 Science Review

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• Chapter 2 Science Review

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Environmental Science

• Some areas of ES research are experimental and
  lab-based
• Most research is field-based, involving the study
  of highly complex FEEDBACK LOOPS
• ES research is characterized by
• A focus on CONNECTIONS INTERACTIONS
• LONG time periods
• SYNERGISTIC connections

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Experimental Design

• Problem
• Question to be answered
• Hypothesis
• Scientifically testable statement
• Independent or Manipulated Variable
• The one(s) being tested or changed

• Dependent or Responding Variable
• The one(s) being measured
• Control Group
• No M.V. (for comparison)
• Constants
• All other variables influencing the outcome

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Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning

• Inductive
• Moves from specific observations to broader
  generalizations and theories.

• Deductive
• Works from more general to more specific.

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Precision vs. Accuracy

• Accuracy
• The nearness of a measurement to an agreed
  standard (ex. how close to 1kg is a 1kg standard
  weight on a particular balance?)
• Precision
• The degree of reproducibility and consistency of
  a measuring device throughout multiple
  measurements

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Energy Matter

• Fixed amounts of each in the universe
• Can be converted interchangeably (e mc2)
• Earth is an open system regarding energy
• Earth is a closed system regarding matter
• Energy Mass Laws
• 1 Energy/Matter cannot be created or destroyed
• 2 Energy is always converted to lower quality
  forms whenever work is done

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High vs. Low Quality Matter

• High Quality Matter
• Concentrated, easy to extract

• Low Quality Matter
• Dispersed, difficult to extract

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Atomic Structure

• The nucleus is tiny and very dense
• The volume is almost entirely the electron cloud

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Nuclear Chemistry Review

• Three types of radiation
• Alpha (He nucleus)
• Beta (electrons)
• Gamma (EMR wave)
• Differences in penetration
• Alpha (sheet of paper)
• Beta (block of wood)
• Gamma (concrete wall)

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Fission and Fusion

• Fission
• 1 nucleus splits into fragments (chain reaction)
• Ex. Nuclear reactor

• Fusion
• 2 or more nuclei fuse together
• Ex. The Sun

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Energy Laws

• First Law
• Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only
  transformed or converted between different forms
• Ex. Solar energy to chemical energy during
  Photosynthesis
• During work, energy in ALWAYS equals energy
  out
• You cannot get something for nothing

• Second Law
• During work, some energy is degraded into lower
  quality forms
• High Quality (ex. Electricity, Nuclear Fission)
• Medium Quality (ex. Normal sunlight)
• Low Quality (ex. Geothermal heat)
• You always end up with less useable energy than
  you start with
• You cannot break even

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Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Types of Pollution

• Degradable
• Ex. Human sewage, organic matter
• Persistent
• Ex. DDT, certain plastics, laminates
• Non-degradable
• Ex. heavy metals, lead mercury