Science

What is a system?

A combination of elements (parts, people, steps) that interact to accomplish a specific function.

What is a physical system?

A system made of material objects. Examples: A bicycle, a can opener, or a car engine.

What is a social system?

A system made of people or organizations. Examples: A sports team, a healthcare system, or a school.

What is an industry?

A combination of systems (physical and social) working together to produce goods and services.

How do physical and social systems interact in the transportation sector?

Vehicles and roads (physical) + service stations and repair shops (social).

How do physical and social systems interact in the agriculture sector?

Farm equipment and fertilizers (physical) + supermarkets and produce markets (social).

What are the inputs and outputs of a bicycle system?

Inputs: Muscle force from the legs, rider's energy. Outputs: Movement (speed), heat.

What are the inputs and outputs of an agricultural system?

Inputs: Water (rain), sunlight, seeds, farmer's labor, fertilizers. Outputs: Vegetables (pumpkins), food products for the grocery store.

What is feedback in a system?

Information about the system's output that allows manufacturers or operators to adjust the inputs for the next cycle.

Give an example of feedback in a clothing manufacturing system.

If sales of a sweater are high (output), the company uses this information to produce more during the next cycle (input).

Give an example of feedback in an agricultural system.

If a harvest is poor due to a lack of water, the farmer will decide to water the crops more the following year.

What is a mechanism?

A part of a sub-system that transforms one type of force or action into another.

What are the six types of simple machines?

Screw, inclined plane, lever, pulley, wheel and axle, wedge.

What is the role of an inclined plane?

Used to push an object up a ramp to move it to a new location with less effort.

What is the role of a lever?

Used to move heavy loads by applying force to the opposite end.

What is the role of a wedge?

Used to separate or block objects by concentrating force onto a sharp edge.

What is the role of a wheel and axle?

Allows objects to turn and move more easily (e.g., an office chair).

What is the role of a screw?

Used to hold two objects together by turning (e.g., a door hinge).

What is the role of a pulley?

Allows someone to lift something by pulling on a rope, which changes the direction of the force.

What is a sub-system?

A smaller system that is part of a larger system and performs a specific task.

What sub-systems make up a bicycle?

The chain, sprockets (gears), and pedals, which work together to transform human energy into movement.

What is the primary benefit of technology in systems?

Technological systems increase productivity by performing tasks faster or with greater precision than humans alone.

What happens if one component of a system fails?

The entire system can fail or lose its overall efficiency due to component interaction.