AP Environmental Science Notes

Licensing

  • A detailed breakdown of the resource's licensing can be found in Back Matter/Detailed Licensing.

Chapters Overview

  • 1.1: Flow of Energy
  • 1.2: Cycling of Matter
  • 1.3: The Solid Earth
  • 1.4: The Atmosphere
  • 1.5: The Biosphere
  • 1.6: History and Global Distribution
  • 1.7: Carrying Capacity
  • 1.8: Population Growth
  • 1.9: Water
  • 1.10: Minerals
  • 1.11: Soils
  • 1.12: Biological
  • 1.13: Non-renewable energy sources
  • 1.14: Renewable Energy Sources
  • 1.15: Land
  • 1.16: Air, Water and Soil
  • 1.17: Solid Waste
  • 1.18: Impact on Human Health
  • 1.19: First Order Effects
  • 1.20: Higher order interactions
  • 1.21: Economic Forces
  • 1.22: Cultural and Aesthetic Considerations
  • 1.23: Environmental Ethics
  • 1.24: Environmental Laws and Regulations
  • 1.25: Issues and Options

1.1: Flow of Energy

  • Introduction

    • Energy is the ability to do work.
    • Work is done when a force is applied to an object over a distance.
    • Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
    • The kinetic energy of an object is calculated as: E = \frac{1}{2}mv^2
    • Potential energy is stored energy that can be used later (e.g., compressed spring, water behind a dam).
    • Chemical energy is electrical potential energy stored in atoms.
    • Heat energy is a combination of potential and kinetic energy of particles.

  • Forms of Energy

    • Mechanical energy: puts something in motion (cars, elevators).
    • Chemical energy: stored in molecules and compounds (food, fuel).
    • Electrical energy: produced by unbalanced forces between electrons and protons, a