Name __________________________
Date ___________ Block ___
1. Define Environmental Science – the study of how the natural world works,
how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment. All
living & non-living things organisms interact with, unbiased
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Explain why people need the natural world – people rely on the natural world
for everything they need to survive. Natural resources – food, air, H2O,
sunlight, trees
2. Be able to define an environmentalist and the environment – know the
difference between the two. Environment – all the living & nonliving things
with which organisms interact (unbiased science, know about nature).
Environmentalist – a person who is concerned with the protection of the
environment (social movement).
3. What are fossil fuels and natural resources? Natural resources – fresh
water, forest products, soil, agricultural crops (formed over a long time).
Fossil fuels – oil, natural gas, coal (non-renewable because it takes a long
time to reproduce).
4. Be able to differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources
citing examples of each. Renewable – sunlight, wind energy, wave energy,
geothermal energy (replenishes quickly). Nonrenewable – fossil fuels (cannot
get quickly)
5. Explain what has happened with resource consumption in the last several
hundred years? Both human population & natural resource consumption have
risen dramatically
6. Explain the difference between a theory and a hypothesis. Be able to define
each separately. A theory is broader than a hypothesis, dealing with a wider
range of situations & observations. Hypothesis – a testable idea that
attempts to explain a scientific question.
7. Define ethics – the branch of philosophy that involves the study of the good
& the bad, and of the right & the wrong.
Anthropocentrism – human-centered view of our environment
Biocentrism – values all living things, non-human & human
Ecocentrism – judges actions in terms of their benefit or harm to
the entire ecological system, both living & nonliving & their relationships
among them.
8. Be able to state our concern for the ozone, UV rays, and CFC’s. CFC’s break
down in the upper atmosphere and react with ozone, destroying it in the
process. UV radiation breaks down CFC molecules releasing chlorine atoms.
Causes skin cancer – UV rays, CFC’s found in old spray cans, air conditioners
9. What is Science? A process of learning about the natural world and a
summary of what we have already learned
10. What does it mean to be an effective scientist? One who actively seeks
evidence that provides answers to scientific questions and are open to
results that change or even disprove a previously accepted idea
11. What is the scientific method? List the steps involved in this procedure.
Make sure to include definitions for quantitative data vs. qualitative, peer
review journals, independent vs. dependent variables, and a controlled
experiment.
Identify problem
Gather information
Hypothesis
Experiment
Conclusion
Communicate results
Qualitative – descriptive
Quantitative – numbers
Independent – cause (I can change)
Dependent – effect (gets its value from the independent variable)
Controlled experiment – testing (changing) 1 thing at a time
12. Describe an alternative method a scientist can use to gather evidence.
Observational studies, field studies, build a model
13. Define carbon footprint. Hint -- Recall video “The Human Footprint” for
ideas. Resources consumed & waste left behind