1. This Power Point presentation was presented at the NSTA regional conference in Seattle, December 9, 2011
Images without permission for distribution have been removed, with italicized notes of what was shown. Feel free to add in your own creative systems!

2. Open and Closed Systems: It’s a MATTER of inputs and outputs
Skateboard from first and
second PowerPoints repeated
Functioning sprinkler from first and second PowerPoints continued
Open and Closed Systems: It’s a MATTER of inputs and outputs
Created by: Martha Mather (Highlands Middle School, Kennewick, WA)
Vicky Smoot (Horse Heaven Hills Middle School, Kennewick, WA)
Ken Brager (Amistad Elementary, formerly of Highlands Middle School, Kennewick, WA)
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

3. What we know:
A system is two or more individual parts working together for a common function (purpose) that combine to form a whole
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

4. We know about inputs and outputs
inputs—things that get put in to make the system function (not a part of the system). outputs—stuff that gets put out of a system, sometimes what they do, and sometimes other things (not a part of the system).
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

5. Reminder: Inputs
In order to carry out their purpose, systems need an input of some kind of
Energy
Matter
Information.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

6. Remember: Forms of Energy Input
There are lots of kinds of energy. Some common kinds are:
Electrical Sound
Thermal (heat) Light
Mechanical
Nuclear
Chemical (food is one example; a battery is another)
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

7. Reminder: Outputs Outputs from a system can include Energy Matter
Information.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

8. Remember: outputs can become inputs
Sometimes the output from one system can become the input for another system.
Repeated image from second
PowerPoint of dog with ears
blown back by fan.
Repeated from second PowerPoint—image of woman listening to iPod through headphones.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

9. That Brings Us to Open and Closed Systems
We can describe systems as being open or closed.
Closed Coke can.
First, verify with students that these meet the definition of a system.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

10. Open Systems
An open system is a system in which both matter and energy can enter and leave. Information can also enter and leave.
What kinds of energy are inputs and outputs for this system?
What kinds of matter are inputs and outputs?
First, verify with students that these meet the definition of a system.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

11. Closed Systems
In a closed system, matter cannot enter and leave. Only energy and information can.
What kinds of energy can enter and leave this system?
Why can matter not enter or leave?
Repeated image of
closed Coke can
Heat can enter and leave, so could mechanical energy through rolling, light bounces off the can and we can see it.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

12. How can systems change?
When their boundary changes, they can become open or closed.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

13. Boundaries can change
Boundaries can physically change, like when part of a forest is cut down
We can change boundaries when we want to think about just part of a system.
For example, a doctor might consider your whole body system to see if you are healthy overall, or just look at your throat if you have a sore throat.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

14. Changing Boundaries Example
Next three slides are skateboarder example from second PowerPoint.
Consider the system made of the guy riding the skateboard.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

15. Changing Boundaries Example
Maybe we only want to study the human.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

16. Changing Boundaries Example
Maybe we only want to study a problem with the skateboard. The man and the skateboard didn’t change, only the way we think about it, what we focus on, has changed.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

17. Physical Boundary Change
Picture of forest.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

18. Physical Boundary Change
Picture of forest with road through it.
The forest ecosystem has been divided by adding the road as a physical boundary.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

19. Closed can become open; open can become closed
Example:
Side by side photos of repeated Coke can and open Coke can.
The closed system becomes open when an opening is created in the actual physical boundary.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

20. Closed can become open; open can become closed
Plants are open systems. They have parts to help them survive. They take in light energy, plus matter (water and carbon dioxide and minerals) and give out matter (oxygen, new growth, leaves, fruit).
Picture of water plant Elodea used in ecosystem in a bottle.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

21. Closed can become open; open can become closed
But if we expand our boundary to include the whole mini ecosystem that the plant is a part of, we are looking at a closed system. No matter can leave or enter the bottle ecosystem, though light and heat energy can.
Completed ecosystem in a bottle from science kit.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

22. Stump a friend
Take a minute and think of an example of a system that is open or closed. Why do you think it is open or closed?
Now, ask your friend about your system. Do they agree or disagree? How can you decide who is correct?
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

23. Why use systems? Because the universe is complex and gigantic.
So, scientists break things into smaller units they call “systems”. That way, they don’t have to try to study everything at once. They can look at it system by system—or systematically.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

24. Solar system image repeated from second PowerPoint.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

25. Repeated image of Earth from space from PowerPoint 2.
Mather, Smoot, & Brager 2011

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