APES unit 0 BHS

Environmental Science

is interdisciplinary, meaning it integrates knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, sociology, economics, and political science, to understand and address environmental issues.

Tragedy of the Commons

is an economic theory that describes a situation where individuals, acting independently and rationally according to their own self-interest, deplete a shared limited resource even when it is not in anyone's long-term interest.

Examples of Tragedy of the Commons

Overfishing in international waters, air pollution from industrial emissions, deforestation of shared forests, and depletion of groundwater resources.

Easter Island Collapse

______ _______ ______ was primarily due to ecocide. This involved deforestation, soil erosion, and the overexploitation of resources, leading to a decline in food production, social unrest, and ultimately, the collapse of the society.

Observation

The act of gathering information directly through the senses or with the aid of instruments. It involves noting facts or occurrences.

Inference

A conclusion or interpretation drawn from observations and prior knowledge. It is an educated guess about what is happening or why it is happening.

Theme of The Lorax

is environmentalism and the dangers of unchecked industrialization and greed. It highlights the importance of protecting natural resources, the consequences of environmental destruction, and the responsibility of individuals to advocate for the environment.

Parts of the Scientific Method

1. Observation: Identifying a phenomenon. 2. Background research/ask a question. 3. Hypothesis: Formulating a testable explanation or prediction. 4. Experimentation: Designing and conducting tests to gather data. 5. Analysis: Interpreting the collected data. 6. Conclusion: Drawing conclusions based on the analysis and determining if the hypothesis is supported or rejected. 7. Submit for peer review.

Hypothesis

A testable statement proposing a relationship between variables or a potential explanation for an observation. It often takes the form of 'If [independent variable], then [dependent variable] will [expected outcome].' Example: If plants are exposed to more sunlight, then they will grow taller.

Null Hypothesis

A statement of no effect or no relationship between variables. It is the hypothesis that researchers try to disprove or reject. Example: There is no significant relationship between the amount of sunlight plants receive and their height.

Positive Feedback Loop

A system where the output of a process amplifies the input, leading to a snowball effect or acceleration of the process. Example: Population growth (more individuals lead to more births).

Negative Feedback Loop

A system where the output of a process inhibits or reduces the input, leading to stabilization or a return to equilibrium. Example: Regulation of body temperature (when body temperature rises, sweating cools the body down).

Metric System Conversions

involve converting units within the metric system (e.g., meters to kilometers, grams to milligrams). This is done by multiplying or dividing by powers of 10 based on the prefixes (kilo-, hecto-, deca-, deci-, centi-, milli-, micro-, nano-).

Dimensional Analysis

is a problem-solving technique that uses the relationships between different physical quantities and their units to convert units or check the consistency of equations. It involves multiplying by conversion factors to cancel out unwanted units and arrive at the desired units.