Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy
Review Session
Brian Kaestner
Good accuracy
and good precision
Poor accuracy
and poor precision
Poor accuracy
and good precision
Fig. 3.3, p. 46
Matter Quality and Material Efficiency
 High-quality matter
 Low-quality matter
 Entropy
High Quality
Low Quality
Solid
Gas
Salt
Solution of salt in water
Coal
 Material efficiency
(resource productivity)
Coal-fired power
plant emissions
Gasoline
Aluminum can
Automobile emissions
Aluminum ore
Fig. 3.9, p. 57
The Law of Conservation of Matter
Matter is not consumed
Matter only changes form
There is no “away”
Matter and Pollution
 Chemical nature of pollutants
 Concentration
 Persistence
 Degradable (nonpersistent) pollutants
 Biodegradable pollutants
 Slowly degradable (persistent) pollutants
 Nondegradable pollutants
Energy: Forms
Kinetic energy Potential energy
Heat
Sun
High energy, short
wavelength
Low energy, long
wavelength
Nonionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation
Cosmic
rays
Gamma
rays
10-14
Wavelength
in meters
(not to scale)
X rays
10-12
Visible
Far
Near
ultraviolet ultraviolet waves
waves
waves
10-8
10-7
10-6
Near
infrared
waves
10-5
Far
infrared
waves
microwaves
10-3
TV
waves
10-2 10-1
Radio
waves
1
Fig. 3.10, p. 58
Energy: Quality
High-quality
energy
Low-quality
energy
Electricity
Very high temperature
heat (greater than 2,500°C)
Nuclear fission (uranium)
Nuclear fusion (deuterium)
Concentrated sunlight
High-velocity wind
Very high
Very high-temperature heat
(greater than 2,500°C)
for industrial processes
and producing electricity to
run electrical devices
(lights, motors)
High
Mechanical motion (to move
vehicles and other things)
High-temperature heat
(1,000–2,500°C) for
industrial processes and
producing electricity
Normal sunlight
Moderate-velocity wind
High-velocity water flow
Concentrated
geothermal energy
Moderate-temperature heat
(100–1,000°C)
Wood and crop wastes
Moderate
Moderate-temperature heat
(100–1,000°C) for industrial
processes, cooking,
producing steam,
electricity, and hot water
Dispersed geothermal energy
Low-temperature heat
(100°C or lower)
Low
High-temperature heat
(1,000–2,500°C)
Hydrogen gas
Natural gas
Gasoline
Coal
Food
Source of Energy
Relative Energy Quality
(usefulness)
Low-temperature heat
(100°C or less) for
space heating
Energy tasks
Fig. 3.11, p. 59
The First Ironclad Law of Energy
First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy)
 Energy is neither created nor destroyed
 Energy only changes form
 You can’t get something for nothing
ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT
The Second Ironclad Law of Energy
Second Law of Thermodynamics
 In every transformation, some energy is
converted to heat
 You cannot break even in terms of
energy quality
Nuclear Changes
Natural radioactive decay
Radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes)
Gamma rays
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Half life
Ionizing radiation
Sheet
of paper
Block
of wood
Concrete
wall
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Fig. 3.12, p. 62
Nuclear Reactions
Fission
Fusion
235
92 U
n
92
Kr
36
Fuel
235
92 U
n
Reaction Conditions
D-T Fusion
Neutron
+
n
235
U
92
92
36 Kr
n
Hydrogen-2 or
deuterium nucleus
n
141Ba
56
92 Kr
36
n
+
n
Hydrogen-3 or
tritium nucleus
n
n
235
92 U
n
141
56 Ba
141Ba
56
92 Kr
n
36
235
92 U
+
+
100 million ˚C
Hydrogen-2 or
deuterium nucleus
n
235
92 U
+
+ Proton
+
Hydrogen-2 or
deuterium nucleus
Neutron
Fig. 3.17, p. 64
+
+
+
+
Helium-3
nucleus
+
235
92 U
Energy
Helium-4
nucleus
D-D Fusion
n
141 Ba
56
Fig. 3.16, p. 64
Products
+
1 billion ˚C
Energy
Neutron
(photosynthesis)
Waste
heat
Mechanical
energy
Chemical
energy
(food)
Chemical
energy
Solar
energy
Waste
heat
(moving,
thinking,
living)
Waste
heat
Waste
heat
Fig. 3.18, p. 66
Connections: Matter and Energy Laws
and Environmental Problems
 High-throughput (waste) economy
 Matter-recycling economy
 Low-throughput economy
Inputs
(from environment)
System
Throughputs
Output
(intro environment)
Low-quality
heat
energy
High-quality
energy
Unsustainable
high-waste
economy
Matter
Waste
matter
and
pollution
Fig. 3.19, p. 66
See Fig. 3.20, p. 67
Inputs
(from environment)
High-quality
energy
Matter
System
Throughputs
Outputs
(from environment)
Low-quality
energy
(heat)
Sustainable
low-waste
economy
Pollution
prevention
by
reducing
matter
throughput
Pollution
control
by
cleaning
up some
pollutants
Recycle
and
reuse
Matter
output
Waste
matter
and
pollution
Matter
Feedback
Energy Feedback
Fig. 3.20, p. 67