Science Final 8-2

What are natural resources?

Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.

What is a renewable resource?

Renewable resources can be replenished fairly quickly.

What is a nonrenewable resource?

Nonrenewable resources take a long time to replenish their resources.

How do people use resources?

We use them as food/fuel source, recreation, for fun (beach, amusement parks, etc.), electricity/energy.

What impacts do we have on our natural environment?

We can pollute the earth by using all of our resources (air, water, etc.), deforestation, species extinction (taking their resources that they need for our own benefits.), the greenhouse effect/climate change.

What is the greenhouse effect?

Gasses get trapped in the environment and it keeps the earth at a certain temperature. Examples of them are carbon dioxide and methane.

What are the positive and negative effects of the greenhouse effect?

Positive: it regulates temperature.
Negative: too many are being trapped so it affects the temperature.

What is the difference between energy, energy resources, and energy sources?

Energy can't be held, It's not matter and you have the ability to do work.
Energy resources are a matter and it serves as a source of energy.
Energy sources are made from resources.
(Examples are in notebook on #61)

How does population growth affect people's needs?

The birth rate and the death rate are equal. When the population growth increases, the birth rate is going up rather than death dates.

How do humans interfere with ecosystems?

Too many people can affect the ecosystem by taking up more space and use of resources on earth.

What is overpopulation?

there is too many species living in the same area

What are the results of overpopulation and how can we handle it?

Result: scarcity of resources. Solution: use more sustainable resources instead of one time use items.
Result: pollution solution: recycling, littering fines, laws.

What is an endangered species?

In danger of being extinct

What is biodiversity?

variety and variability of all living organisms and the different ecological complexes in which they exist

How do we protect endangered species?

create National parks, reserves. protect their environment.

How can we prevent overuse of land?

conserving certain areas, National parks. Permits

How did agriculture affect our society and how has it changed?

We used to be hunters and gatherers before we developed agriculture. Agriculture changed the way resources and food were produced, food was more available and they could settle, make communities, and trade.

Benefits and risks of agricultural technology

We crossbred to get the best crops possible, the quality and quantities of the food increased.

What is bioengineering?

Designing technologies to help make tasks easier

What is biomechanics?

Study of mechanical laws related to movement

What is assistive technology?

Used to improve a function; allow someone to perform a task with ease

Benefits of Assistive Technology

-increase food production
-increase food quality
-new crops resistant to pests and disease

Risks of Assistive Technology

- fertilizers mix with water carry into rivers & produce algae
-algae kill fish
-destroys habitats
-genes introduced many spread to other species/properties & upset the system

Questions designers need to think about (prosthetics)

What is the Cost
What are the risks?
Are the risks worth the benefits?
How will it solve the problem?
What is important to me, the consumer?