1. Energy Drives the Earth System
Radioactive decay at core is released into the mantle, fueling volcanos, driving plate movement
(Integrated science C/D year)

2. Energy Flow Drives the Earth System
UV, visible, IR from sun penetrate the atmosphere, warming oceans & land, converted by plants into organic fuel
Intro video

3. Energy takes various forms
MECHANICAL

4. Energy is used to do work
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy.
Bioluminescence may be generated by symbiotic organisms carried within a larger organism.
the pigment luciferin is oxidised by the enzyme luciferase.
(The terms luciferin and luciferase are generic terms rather than the names of particular chemicals. Lots of different substances can act like luciferins and luciferases, depending on the species of the bioluminescent life form.
Ninety percent of deep-sea marine life is estimated to produce bioluminescence in one form or another.
TED bioluminescence

5. Chemical Reactions Transform Energy
Endergonic rxn
Energy input
building molecules stores energy as calories
Exergonic rxn
Energy is released
breaking down molecules releases heat, ATP
Light a match, melt some ice

6. The energy into a rxn = the energy at completion
The universe is a closed system regarding both energy and matter
The energy into a rxn = the energy at completion

7. Energy form is not constant
Energy is transformed at every step

8. Ex: Photosynthesis Energy in energy out Matter in Matter out
Both matter and energy are conserved
Both matter and energy are transformed

9. heat heat heat heat transformed into sugars by plants (photosynthesis)
sugars transformed to ATP by organisms (respiration)
heat
heat
heat
Heat at every step!
Nuclear fusion in the sun produces radiant energy

10. One transformation you can count on!
heat
heat
heat
Always some energy transformed into heat
Heat is a dead end; lost to atmosphere, little use
Therefore, although energy is conserved, the system needs the constant input from the sun
Heat at every step!

12. The Ins & Outs of Solar Energy

13. The Ins & Outs of Solar Energy
99%
30%
20%
50%

14. Is > than the amount of energy
The amount of that hits of Earths surface
in hour
Is > than the amount of energy
used by
in a year.
The amount of sunlight
1 m3

15. Solar Energy Varies by Wavelength
reflected
absorbed
reflected
We hear radio waves in the atmosphere because we generate them!
EM Song!

16. terrestrial radiation
solar radiation
terrestrial radiation
• shorter wavelength
0.4 – 1.5μm visible
• absorbed by land, water
heats the earth
• radiated from earth
• longer wavelength
4-25μm infrared (heat)
• absorbed by greenhouse gases
heats the troposphere
CH4
H20

17. Long IR waves are absorbed/re-reradiated around the troposphere, keeping heat in

18. The sun heats the earth, the earth heats the air
absorbed solar radiation terrestrial radiation
0.4 – 1.5μm μm

19. Thus, the troposphere acts as a blanket,
keeping the earth comfortably warm

20. Just like in a greenhouse…
…or in your car

21. Mars • 0.01x of the density of Earth’s atmosphere
Venus • 90x density of Earth’s atmosphere
Both are >95% Co2
-63C (-81 F)
Too cold!
496° C (873° F)
Too hot!