Ap Environmental Study Guide
Steps of the Scientific Method
Observe and Question
Form testable hypothesis/prediction
Collect data/conduct experiment to test prediction
Interpret results
If hypothesis is accepted then disseminate findings, if not make new hypothesis
Repeat
Understand the Gaia Hypothesis
That living matter on the earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life. The planet, or rather the biosphere, is thus likened to a vast self-regulating organism- James Lovelock
Understand concept of an ecological footprint and how to calculate it
Ecological footprint is a measure of how much that person consumes, expressed in area of land. The output from the total amount of land required to support a persons lifestyle is their footprint.
We can calculate the footprint by the food we eat, the water and energy we use, and the activities we perform that contribute to climate change.
Sustainable vs. Unsustainable
Sustainable: conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
Unsustainable: upsetting the ecological balance by depleting natural resources
Why do we value the environment
Utilitarian: Survival and Economic
Ecological: Individual, Species, Systems
Aesthetic
Recreational
Inspirational
Creative
Moral
Basic Metric Conversions
Open verse Closed Systems
Open: Exchanges of matter or energy occurs across system boundaries
Earth is an open system with respect to energy. Solar radiation enters the earth system, and energy leaves it in the form of heat and reflected light.
Closed: No exchanges of matter and energy occur across system boundaries.
Earth is essentially a closed system in respect to matter because very little matter enters or leaves the earths systems.
Inputs: Additions to a given system
Outputs: Losses from a given system
Accuracy vs Precision
Accuracy: Refers to how close a measures value is to the actual or true value.
Precision: How close to one another the
Observe and Question
Form testable hypothesis/prediction
Collect data/conduct experiment to test prediction
Interpret results
If hypothesis is accepted then disseminate findings, if not make new hypothesis
Repeat
Understand the Gaia Hypothesis
That living matter on the earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life. The planet, or rather the biosphere, is thus likened to a vast self-regulating organism- James Lovelock
Understand concept of an ecological footprint and how to calculate it
Ecological footprint is a measure of how much that person consumes, expressed in area of land. The output from the total amount of land required to support a persons lifestyle is their footprint.
We can calculate the footprint by the food we eat, the water and energy we use, and the activities we perform that contribute to climate change.
Sustainable vs. Unsustainable
Sustainable: conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
Unsustainable: upsetting the ecological balance by depleting natural resources
Why do we value the environment
Utilitarian: Survival and Economic
Ecological: Individual, Species, Systems
Aesthetic
Recreational
Inspirational
Creative
Moral
Basic Metric Conversions
Open verse Closed Systems
Open: Exchanges of matter or energy occurs across system boundaries
Earth is an open system with respect to energy. Solar radiation enters the earth system, and energy leaves it in the form of heat and reflected light.
Closed: No exchanges of matter and energy occur across system boundaries.
Earth is essentially a closed system in respect to matter because very little matter enters or leaves the earths systems.
Inputs: Additions to a given system
Outputs: Losses from a given system
Accuracy vs Precision
Accuracy: Refers to how close a measures value is to the actual or true value.
Precision: How close to one another the