Systems In Action - Lesson 1 Notes

Types of Systems & System Components

Definition: A system that relies on physical parts (nuts, bolts, levers) to perform a function.
Can be natural or human-made.

Body Systems (Natural):
- Designed to perform specific functions within the body.
- Examples: respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system.
- Essential for survival and bodily functions.
Mechanical Systems (Human-made):
- Uses mechanical principles, forces, or movement.
- Example: A nail gun uses the mechanical energy of pressurized air to operate.
Optical Systems (Human-made):
- Uses the properties of light.
- Combination of lenses, mirrors, and prisms.
- Example: A camera uses light energy to take pictures.
Electrical Systems (Human-made):
- A device or system that provides electricity.
- Made up of equipment connected to a structure to provide a service (heat, electricity).
- Example: An electric circuit uses electrical energy to function.

Definition: A group of people or groups joined together to perform a specific task or function.
Can be natural or human-made.
Establish ways for people or organisms to interact and relate.

Natural Social Systems:
- Ant colonies
- Bee colonies
- Wolf packs
Human-made Social Systems:
- Health care
- Education
- Waste management
- Orchestras: where each performer has a specific part to play, but they function together to perform a symphony.
- Coyotes: have well-defined social order within each pack.

Example 1: Handheld Can Opener
- Holding and cutting subsystem
- Turning subsystem
Example 2: GPS
- Space subsystem: 24 orbiting satellites transmitting signals.
- Control subsystem: U.S. Air Force monitoring stations.
- User subsystem: Receivers (e.g., in vehicles, handheld devices) that process signals from at least three satellites to provide useful information.

Subsystems contain mechanisms.
Definition: A mechanism is the part of a subsystem that changes:
- One type of force into another
- One type of energy into another
- One type of motion into another
- One type of action into another
Force: A push or pull on an object that may result in a change in the object’s motion or shape.

Holding and cutting subsystem: Handles and cutting wheel.
- Squeezing the handles grips the can and pushes the cutting wheel into it.
Turning subsystem: Crank and turning wheel.
- Force applied to the crank is transferred to the toothed wheels, rotating the can.

The human body contains organ systems (digestive, circulatory).
The digestive system contains organs (mouth, stomach, intestines).
In the mouth, teeth act as a mechanism for cutting and grinding food into smaller pieces.

Industries: complex combinations of systems created by people working together.
Produce goods and services that people need or desire.
Combinations of physical and social systems.
Example: The communications industry includes all physical and social systems that produce books, newspapers, magazines, radio and television broadcasts, billboard advertisements, Internet websites, telephones, and telecommunications, such as GPS.

Industry	Some related physical systems (devices)	Some related social systems
Communications	computer, scanner, electrical circuits, video recorder, television, radio satellites, transmission antennas	advertising services, authors, animators, set design
Construction	power saw, air compressor, backhoe, crane	architectural design, land surveying, real estate sales office
Green	chainsaw, irrigation systems, greenhouse, lawnmower	landscape design, composting services, forest management
Service	hair stylist's chair, stethoscope, food mixer	health spas, walk-in clinics, ecotourism
Transportation	car hoist, diagnostic equipment, highway, gas pump, trucks, airplanes	small engine repair, auto body repair, aeronautical engineering, gas station

All systems (and subsystems) have inputs and outputs.
Inputs: All things that go into a system to make it work.
- Forces, energy, raw materials.
- Example: Input of a can opener includes the force your hand puts on the handles.
Outputs: All tasks or services that the system performs.
- Example: Output of a can opener is the turning and cutting of the can’s lid.

Bicycle:
- Input: Downward force applied to the pedals.
- Output: Forward motion.
Garden:
- Inputs: Water, sunlight, fertilizer, seeds, pruning.
- Outputs: Flowers, fruits, vegetables.

Input	Output
energy from the Sun (for photosynthesis)	leisure activity for the gardener
energy from insects to aid pollination	flowers, fruits and vegetables
energy from wind to aid pollination	return of nutrients to the soil
water to help plants grow	habitat for animals to live
compost, manure to act as fertilizer

Purpose: Keep Ontarians healthy and care for them when they become ill.
Subsystems: hospitals, doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics, medical laboratories, nursing and ambulance services.
Inputs: doctors, money, nurses, lab technicians, X-ray machines, maintenance workers, wheelchairs, computers, electricity.
Outputs: emergency operations, medicines, grief counseling, medical information to patients.

Side Effects: Undesired outputs of systems.
Example: Car
- Desired output: Motion
- Side effects: air pollution, traffic congestion, noise pollution, loss of natural habitat.
Systems Thinking:
- Thinking about how the parts of a system work together.
- Understanding how systems affect people, other organisms, and the environment.
- Helps people make better choices in how they use systems.
Systems thinking and better choices may reduce negative impacts, but might not eliminate them entirely.