Apes ch 2
 A.P.E.S.
 Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems
 Chapter 2
 Key Concepts
 Science as a process for understanding
 Components and regulation of systems
 Matter: forms, quality, and how it changes; laws of matter
 Energy: forms, quality, and how it changes; laws of energy
 Nuclear changes and radioactivity
 Core Case Study: Carrying Out a Controlled Scientific Experiment
 F. Herbert Bormann, Gene Likens, et al.: Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in NH (U.S.)
 Compared the loss of water and nutrients from an uncut forest (control site) with one that had
been stripped (experimental site)
 The Effects of Deforestation on the Loss of Water and Soil Nutrients
 Environmental Science Has Some Limitations
 Particular hypotheses, theories, or laws have a high probability of being true while not being
absolute
 Bias can be minimized by scientists
 Statistical methods may be used to estimate very large or very small numbers
 Environmental phenomena involve interacting variables and complex interactions
 Scientific process is limited to the natural world
 Models and Behavior of Systems
 System: A set of components that function and interact in some regular manner.
 Inputs
 Flows (throughputs)
 Stores (storage areas)
 Outputs
 System Regulation
 Feedback loop: When an output of matter, energy, or information is feed back into the system
as an input and changes the system
 Positive Feedback: Causes the system to change in the same direction
 Negative Feedback: Causes a system to change in the opposite direction
 Time Delay: Time between input and response
 Synergy: Two or more processes interact to produce a greater effect than if left separate
 Matter: Forms, Structure, and Quality
 Elements
 Compounds
 Atoms
 Ions
 Molecules
 Atoms
 Subatomic Particles

Protons

Neutrons

Electrons
 Atomic Characteristics

Atomic number

Atomic mass

Ions

Isotopes
 Ions Important to the Study of Environmental Science
 Loss of NO3− from a Deforested Watershed
 Science Compounds Important to the Study of Environmental

 pH
 Measures acidity or alkalinity of water samples
 Scale 0 – 14
 Acids: 0 – 6.9

Neutral 7.0

Alkaline (Basic) 7.1 – 14

Chemical Bonds
 Chemical formulas

C6H12O6 + 6 O2
6 Co2 + 6 H2O
 Ionic bonds

NaCl
 Covalent bonds

H2O
 Organic Compounds
 Organic vs. inorganic compounds
 Hydrocarbons
 Chlorinated hydrocarbons
 Simple carbohydrates
 Complex carbohydrates
 Proteins
 Nucleic acids
 The Four States of Matter

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Plasma
 Matter Quality and Material Efficiency
 High-quality matter
 Low-quality matter
 Material efficiency
(resource productivity)
 Energy
 Definition: Capacity to do “work” and transfer heat
 Types:

Kinetic

Potential
 Radiation: Energy & Wavelength
 Electromagnetic Spectrum
 Transfer of Heat Energy
 Changes in Matter
 Physical
 Chemical
 The Law of Conservation of Matter
 Matter is not destroyed
 Matter only changes form
 There is no “throw away”
 Matter and Pollution
 Chemical nature of pollutants
 Concentration
 Persistence
 Degradable (non-persistent) pollutants
 Biodegradable pollutants
 Slowly degradable (persistent) pollutants
 Non-degradable pollutants
 Nuclear Changes
 Natural radioactive decay
 Radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes)
 Gamma rays
 Alpha particles
 Beta particles
 Half life (See Table 3-2 p. 49)
 Ionizing radiation
 Laws Governing Energy Changes
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
 Laws Governing Energy Changes
Second Law of Thermodynamics
 In every transformation, some energy is converted to heat
 You cannot break even in terms of energy quality
 Connections: Matter and Energy Laws and Environmental Problems
 High-throughput (waste) economy
 Matter-recycling economy
 Low-throughput economy
 Environmental Solutions: Low-Throughput Economy
 Learning from Nature