1. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system -will be able to create a model of an ecosystem of their choice Ecosystems involve interrelationships among climate, geology, soil, vegetation, and animals. These components are linked together transfers of energy and or matter.

2. Two basic processes occur in an ecosystem: 1. The cycling of matter 2. A flow of energy Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

3. The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to ensure the continued existence of living organisms. Examples are the: Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

4. The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to ensure the continued existence of living organisms. Examples are the: Water Cycle Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system http://www.youtu be.com/watch?v= 0_c0ZzZfC8c

5. The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to ensure the continued existence of living organisms. Examples are the: Carbon Cycle Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=OByqdU hWERk

7. The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to ensure the continued existence of living organisms. Examples are the: Nitrogen Cycle Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system http://www.youtu be.com/watch?v= w03iO_Yu9Xw

8. The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to ensure the continued existence of living organisms. Examples are the: Phosphorus Cycle Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=Au0ZaqXy1wM

9. The flow of solar energy into the earth's systems. As radiant energy, it is used by plants for food production. As heat, it warms the planet and powers the weather system. Eventually, the energy is lost into space in the form of infrared radiation. Most of the energy needed to cycle matter through earth's systems comes from the sun. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

10. Thermodynamics is the study of the energy transformations that occur in a system. Laws of thermodynamics: 1.Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed. It follows the law of conservation of energy (physics) and it describes how the energy of the universe is constant. 2.Every transformation of energy results in a reduction of FREE ENERGY (usable energy). It follows the laws of ENTROPY where each transformation reduces the quality (usability) of the energy. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

11. Any conversion of energy is less than 100% efficient and therefore Some energy is wasted or lost. Usually this energy is lost in the form of heat. Only 25% of the energy stored in gasoline is transformed in the motion of a car, 75% is lost as heat. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

12. Pyramid of energy is always upright. It is so because at each transfer about 80 - 90% of the energy available at lower trophic level is used up to overcome its entropy and to perform metabolic activities. Only 10% of the energy is available to next trophic level (as per Lindemann's ten percent rule). Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

13. Negative Feedback =The way living systems maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis =The property of a system, that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition. Negative feedback systems include a sequence of events that will cause an effect that is in the opposite direction to the original stimulus and thereby brings the system back to its equilibrium position. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

14. Positive feedback systems include a sequence of events that will cause an effect that is in the same direction to the original stimulus and thereby brings the system further away from equilibrium. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

15. Predator Prey relationships are usually controlled by negative feedback where: Increase in Prey  Increase in Predator  Decrease in Prey  Decrease in Predator  Increase in Prey  and so on in a cyclical manner Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

16. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

17. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

18. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

19. Systems are defined by the source and ultimate destination of their matter and/or energy. Open system =A system in which both matter and energy are exchanged across boundaries of the system. Closed system =A system in which energy is exchanged across boundaries of the system, but matter is not. Isolated system =A system in which neither energy or matter is exchanged across boundaries of the system. No such system exists. Thermodynamics Students will be able to: -outline the concept and characteristics of a system -apply the systems concept to ecosystems -describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems -explain the nature of equilibria -define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and self-regulating mechanisms -define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system