New Mexico SBA Science
Nature of Science
Physical Science
Life Science
Earth Science
Science and Society
Atoms
• Atoms are the
fundamental building
block of ordinary matter.
• They are smallest
identifiable unit of an
element.
• They are so small you
can’t even see them with
a microscope.
Ionic bonds
• Bonds are formed by the transfer of electrons.
The charges hold the atoms together.
Covalent bonds
Elements share valence electrons to form the bond
Transforming Energy
• Law of conservation of Energy: energy is
neither created nor destroyed only
transformed.
• Some energy transformation is not useful for
us.
– Example: Power lines transform energy into heat.
Published January 27, 2011 | By Amanda Kaufmann
Fossil Fuels
• Formed by decay of ancient plants and
animals
• When burned they produce carbon dioxide
and water
• Petroleum,
• Natural Gas, and coal
Natural Gas
• Composed mainly of Methane.
• Natural gas contains more energy per kilogram
than either petroleum or coal.
• Produces fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels
Coal
• Solid fossil fuel found underground
• One fourth of our energy comes from coal.
• Coal is formed from organic material
deposited in ancient swamps.
• Burning coal results in more pollutants
Generating Electricity
• Conduction: is a heat transfer when 2 objects
are touching (direct contact)
• There is NO transfer of matter
• Conduction works fastest with:
– Solids  Liquids  Gases
• The particles of liquids and gases are farther
apart than solids, therefore heat is not
transferred as quickly
• Convection: heat transfer that takes place in fluids
(liquids and gases)
• HOT AIR/WATER RISES
• Convection Currents: currents in liquids or gases, these
currents transfer thermal energy (caused by difference in
density)
• Ex. Pavement, beaker of hot water, ocean currents,
weather patterns, wind
• Radiation: is the transfer of thermal energy
(heat) by waves through space
• Radiation happens through air and empty
space
• Ex. Sun, wood burning stove, fireplace,
candles
• All objects radiate thermal energy
Earth’s Atmosphere
• The air is a mixture of gases, Nitrogen, Oxygen
and trace gases.
• Microorganisms produce the gases.
• The theory is that over time the atmosphere
developed into the air we now breath.
Moon Phases
Heating (energy in) the Atmosphere
Wind
• Winds are caused by differences in air
pressure
• Local Winds: are caused by unequal heating of
the earth’s surface in a small area.
http://www.vivoscuola.it/us/rsigpp3202/umidita/lezioni/form.htm
Cloud formation
Climates
• Two things determine a regions climate:
• Temperature and Precipitation
Temperature
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Latitude
Distance from large bodies of water
Ocean currents
altitude
Topographic Map
• A two-dimensional representation
of a portion of the threedimensional surface of the earth
• The following are general
characteristics of contour lines:1.
Contour lines do not cross each
other, divide or split. 2. Closely
spaced contour lines represent
steep slopes, conversely, contour
lines that are spaced far apart
represent gentle slopes. 3.
Contour lines trend up valleys and
form a "V" or a "U" where they
cross a stream.
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Precipitation
Latitude
Distribution of air pressure systems
Global winds
Mountain barriers
http://mycozynook.
com/102RGCh34OH.
htm
Conservation of energy – energy is neither created nor
destroyed; it just transfers into different forms.
Let us look at two forms of energy:
potential energy – stored energy
kinetic energy – energy of motion
When the cart is at the top,
it has lots of stored energy
because of gravity.
Let us look at two forms of energy:
potential energy – stored energy
kinetic energy – energy of motion
This moving cart is
representing kinetic
energy.
Chemical reactions are an example of potential energy. The
energy is stored in the bonds between the molecules. Once
the chemical reacts with another chemical, it gives off energy.
Food has stored energy for our muscles. This allows our
muscles to move and get stuff done.
C). Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of
plants.
1). Chloroplasts have two important
structures:
a). Thylakoids: Photosynthetic sacs that make
up the membrane that surrounds the
chloroplast.
b). Stroma: The fluid portion of the
chloroplast outside of the thylakoids.
Photosynthesis & Respiration
I). Photosynthesis and Respiration
A). Photosynthesis
1). Is a chemical reaction that uses energy from
the sun, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
and water to create sugars for energy for
themselves and animals that eat the sugars
and oxygen.
2). Chemical Reaction for Photosynthesis:
6CO2 + 6H2O Light C6H12O6 + 6O2
Carbon Dioxide
Oxygen
water
Sugars
B). Respiration
1). Is a chemical reaction that uses sugars created by
plants during photosynthesis, and oxygen to release
energy, water and carbon dioxide.
2). Chemical Reaction for Respiration:
6O2 + C6H12O6
6CO2 + 6H2O +
Energy
Oxygen
Glucose (Sugar)
Carbon Dioxide
Water
II). The Relationship between Photosynthesis
and Respiration.
A). Photosynthesis and respiration are basically the
opposite of each other.
B). Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere, and cellular respiration puts it back.
Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere
and cellular respiration uses that oxygen to release
energy from food.
Producers, consumers, decomposers
Natural Selection, how species change and
new species arise.
• Organisms create too many offspring because…
• There are limited resources (food, water, space), this
causes competition…
• In a species there are variations, they are not
identical…
• The organisms that have the “best” traits survive
• They reproduce, have babies..
– These babies are like their parents.
Differences from year to year can build up so that
eventually an organism is different from it’s ancestors.
A new species
Evidence of evolution
• Fossils, genetic similarities, physical similarities
like the bones in arm of mammals.
Peppered Moth
• Peppered moths have colors from
light to dark. Variations.
• The trees were light so dark moths
were easier to see by the predators.
• The industrial revolution stained the
trees dark, soot from burning coal.
Light moths were easier to see by the
predators.
• The population became dark with
few light moths.
• Today the trees are returning to their
light appearance and the population
is changing.
Roundup resistant weeds, natural selection
Roundup is a herbicide, plant killer. When it first
was used it killed all plants.
The company made corn resistant to roundup.
Spray a field, no weeds only corn.
Today there are plants that roundup does not kill,
these are new kinds of plants.
Variation in weeds.
Spray chemicals that kill weeds. Selection
Survival of resistant types, new plant
Artificial Selection, dairy cows
• Cattle were domesticated by man long ago.
• Some cows made more milk than other cows. Variation
• Man kept the “good” milk cow and used it to make more “good”
milk cows. Selection
• Different types of cattle created by artificial selection
Scientific Method
• You will need to design an experiment.
“Why is that plant bigger than the others?” The Problem
1. Create a possible solution. Hypothesis
That plant gets more water. If I gave the other plants more
water they would grow bigger. A Prediction
2. Design a test. The Experiment.
Get several plants, (must be the same kind of plant.)
Provide the same soil and water and temperature to every
plant.
Every plant is treated the same. The Controls
Provide some plants with more light than the other plants and
measure the growth.The Variable.
3. Measure the size of the plants. The Data
4. Determine if the amount of light made a difference in plant
growth. The Analysis
• An organism’sgenotype is the set of genes that it
carries. An organism’s phenotype is all of its
observable characteristics—which are influenced
both by its genotype and by the environment. So
in defining evolution, we are really concerned
with changes in the genotypes that make up a
population from generation to generation.
However, since an organism’s genotype generally
affects its phenotype, the phenotypes that make
up the population are also likely to change.