Using Google Earth to Investigate Plate Tectonics

HELPFUL PLATE BOUNDARYS - click down the bottom to move onto other types

A copy of the assignment can be found here

In this assignment you will explore data about:

- Bathymetry (shape of the ocean floor)

- Topography (shape of the continents)

- Age of the Ocean floor

- Volcanoes 

- Earthquakes 

to make decisions about what sort of plate boundaries are where.

The skills you will use during this assignment are comparable to those used by geologists and geo-physicists to understand the processes which shape the Earth  - if you enjoy the assignment and the unit - maybe there's a career in Earth Sciences for you!

HOW TO GET STARTED:

1. Download  Google Earth   on your device.
2. Download (and save to your device) the  Google Earth data files #1  and Data #2: EARTHQUAKES and Data #3 VOLCANOES
3. Open up both of the files in Google Earth. 

4. Begin following the instructions on Page 1 of your assignment.  Note how each section of the assignment starts with ‘In Google Earth’ to tell you what to do.

Other files you will need during the assignment:

A. Biodiversity of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 

Biodiversity of Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Video: Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Deep Sea Vents

ECO-MAR Project: Deep Sea Ecosystems around Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Study: Deep ocean turbulence has bigimpact on climate

Is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge an oceanic oasis?

St Helena: Biodiversity Hotspot

More Info: St. Helena Biodiversity WWF

B. Sumatra

Khan Academy (info) Tropical Rainforest Biomes

Why is there so much biodiversity in rainforests?

Sumatran Biodiversity: An explanation

WWF: Sumatra and Borneo rainforest

Video: Greenpeace: Sumatran deforestation

C. Himalayas

Watch: Himalayas: A Montage

Watch: India Collides with Asia

Human Evolution and the Collision of India & Asia
Himalayan Biodiversity

Wikipedia: Himalayas (go to 'biodiversity')

Notes from Class (Wednesday)

Historical Influence on Biodiversity: Plate Tectonics & Climate

When we look at the biodiversity of life today it is vital we look at it through the eyes of history - what historical influences have led to life on Earth as we know it today?

The movement of continents and the effect this has had on climate is obviously a big one.

The movement of continents has been vital for the evolution of biodiversity because:

• It facilitated the spread and separation of animals and plants around the globe.
• Changes the albedo and thermal properties of land and sea, in turn affecting climate.
• Creates and breaks super continents: Which influences albedo, currents, winds, rainfall and consequently climate.
• Creates volcanoes: Which influences CO2 levels of the atmosphere.
• Mountain formation: Influence on rainfall and moisture of surrounding regions.  It also creates a whole new biome.

100 Greatest Discovery: Earth's Core: Video

The Deepest Hole in the World: Video

Continental Drift 

The aim for this lesson is to get a general overview of plate tectonics so that you will have a good understanding of the theory before embarking on your assignment. 

Nuclear Power - A Debate

Here are a few links to get you started:

How Do Nuclear Reactors Work:
How Do Nuclear Reactors Work? 
BBC Nuclear Power Stations (more pictures)
Sexy Tyler the Chemist Explains Fission (video)

What are the Pros and Cons of Nuclear Reactors?

Is Nuclear Power Safe for the Environment?

Sydney Morning Herald: Nuclear Pros & Cons

5 Minute Debate: Is Nuclear the Solution to our Energy Needs (video)
3 Reasons Nuclear is Awesome (in a Nutshell video)

3 Reasons Nuclear is Terrible (in a Nutshell video)

Light & Plant Growth

Light is obviously a limiting factor on photosynthesis: without it plants cannot take up carbon dioxide to form energy.  

The three main attributes of light that concern plants are

1. The Quality: Including wavelength (colour) 

2. The Quantity: How much exposure they receive (intensity)

3.The Duration: How long each period of light exposure goes for

Activity 1: Photosynthesis and light availability 

Watch the video below and see how availability of light (winter vs summer) limits the photosynthetic activity of plants (darker shades of green). In turn, reflect on how this must impact the overall food web and ecosystem of an area. 

ACTIVITY 2: PLANT GROWTH AND LIGHT
Watch this video The Effect of Light on Plant Growth.
Dot point list (in your book) a quick summary of some of the ways that light impacts plant growth

ACTIVITY 3: PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND WAVELENGTH

Plant Growth and Wavelength Virtual Lab (requires Flash)

What to Do:
1.  Run the simulator using the different coloured wavelengths.
2.  Use the ruler (at the bottom of the sim) to measure the height of the plants
3.  Record your results using the table function (bottom left hand corner)
4.  When you've finished the table click 'Print' and then 'Save to PDF'

Questions: (In your book pls)

1. According to the simulator, which wavelength of light provides the best growing conditions?  What were the results which support this?

2.  Do your results support a) Your hypothesis and b) The video (Activity 2) findings?

Background Reading:

• Gowing Plants & Light (bbc video)
• Light & Plant Growth Arizona University (webpage)
• Effects of Wavelength (colour) on plant growth Heliospectra page (webpage)
• Effect of Colour on Plant Growth Michigan University (webpage)
• Effects of Colour on Plant Growth (webpage)

   

Assessment this Week:

Your assessment for the Physics Unit will Involve:

1) A 20 question multiple-choice test
2) A practical test, using the light boxes
3) A research assignment

You will have three lessons to complete the assessments Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday this week.


A ppt with more information can be found here: Wave Theory Slideshow

Lenses Assignment: Monday & Tuesday

VISUAL PATHWAYS
When we see the world, we not only see things upside down (because our  eye lenses are convex) but also we see DOUBLE (because we have two eyes).  How does our brain make these two, upside-down, images into one right-way-up image?

This woman is almost as dreamy as SEXY TYLER (the chemistry guy), and she will explain how our eyes and brain work together to make sense of the world (over a very long 11 minutes I'm sorry not sorry)

The Visual Pathway 
If you are finding this too long and you don't find yourself loving this woman as much as I do, then you can try Crash Course but urgh he is so annoying and fast and not at all as tender and loving as Visual Pathway woman.  


ISAAC NEWTONS THEORY OF LIGHT
It was Isaac Newton who first theorised that white light was in fact derived from tiny particles, the size of which dictated the different colours Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.

Learn about Newton's Corpuscular Theory here

On your worksheet, write down some dot points about how Newton was sort of right, sort of wrong....

GEOMETRIC OPTICS 
Investigate the way that convex lenses change rays
pHET Geometric Optics (needs Flash)

Algae Ball Inquiry

Aim: To investigate how photosynthesis and respiration rates change with changing light conditions in algae Scenedesmus quadricauda.

CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE ASSIGNMENT Including the picture with pH readings 

Interpreting Results: Make up a table like below

	Dark conditions	Indirect Light Conditions	Direct Light conditions
pH readings
Average pH reading

If there ends up being a big difference between Wednesday's results (below) and Thursday's results then perhaps two tables would be best.

Wednesday's Results 
Algae Ball Results 3pm Wednesdaya 26th September

Thursday's Lesson:

You should aim to do your results section today:

      1.  A table of results (as above), it may need to include photographs. 

      2.  A written summary of what was found (not discussion though, just stating exactly what was       found)

      3.  A graph or graphs

Need more advice on writing your report?
Check out 'Inquiry Resources' on the tab above

Carbonic Acid

We know that pH is a measure of H+ ions (for acids) 

or OH- ions (for bases).

So how does adding CO2 to a water-based liquid, manage to change its pH?

What is carbonic acid, and what does it do?

1. Carbonic Acid: How does it work?
2. Bozeman Science: Ocean Acidification video
3. Wikipedia: Carbonic Acid (way too much detail, but a good overview)

What happens when acids react with calcium carbonates?

1. Naked Scientist Website

Chemistry Test Prep

The Powerpoint from class can be found here > ETE Chemistry Powerpoint


What am I Getting Tested On?

a.       Reading the periodic table and, from this, being able to draw a basic atom model with P,N, E

b.       Properties of metals, non-metals, metalloids (basics only!)

c.       Essential plant nutrients: only need to know the role of one plant nutrient (you have already done this and it’s on the mini-posters you made)

d.       Chemical Reactions:

-          Reading equations. Identifying products and reactants

-          Conservation of mass theory

-          Balancing chemical equations

-          Octet rule: What is it? How does it inform the reaction (and reactivity) of different elements?  

-          We have looked in depth at three chemical reactions: Corrosion, Photosynthesis and Respiration.   Just know products and reactants.

Where Can I Get Help?

a. Look over your notes from class, and old blog posts.
b. Go to a mini-tutorial from Mrs Frampton
c. Have a go at the practice test (see Mrs Frampton)

Chemistry & Photosynthesis

What am I expected to know in the Chemistry Unit?

Chemistry Fundamentals
1. Read the periodic table to determine the protons, electrons and neutrons of an atom
2. Read chemical equations and identify how the molecules are made and how many atoms there are in the products (and reactants).
3. Link your understanding of the point above (2) to the theory of conservation of mass.  This means that mass is neither created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
4. Balance chemical equations
5. Identify when chemical reactions have occured, and identify corrosion, photosyntheis, and respiration reactions.

Chemical Reactions: Photosynthesis
1. Know the purpose of photosynthesis, its products and reactants (in words not the formula)
2. Know the site of where photosynthesis occurs in the leaf (cell and organelle)
3. Know why photosynthesis is important for the ecosystem

- - - - -

Photosynthesis Overview
1. Get an overview of how photosynthesis occurs within most leaves.  Look over the two links below:
Photosynthesis video
BBC Bitesize (notes and interactive)


2. Now you've watched that, take a quick mini-quiz to see what you know!

- - - - -

EXTENSION (Monday)
1.Get a more detailed idea about photosynthesis:
Photosynthesis Overview: Bozeman Photosynthesis

2. Learn about florescence: When plants receive too much light they fluoresce.  Human eyes can't see this (like we can't see UV or infrared) but we can see it from space using special equipment. Generally speaking, the more fluorescence the more photosynthesis is occurring.
NASA: flourescence from space

Watch the photosynthesis from space time lapse
Photosynthesis from Space Time-Lapse

Watch it through a few times to grasp what is going on.  
Remember there are two things to watch: Carbon adsorption (photosynthesis) on land and in the ocean.

Notice how the great mountain ridges of the Himalayas and South American andes are consistently lighter in colour: why would this be?

Why would areas of Northern Australia, Northern Africa and Northern Asia appear black?

Chemistry in the Ecosystem

What will we be learning in the Chemistry unit?

-Understanding atomic structure and the periodic table in (more) depth
-Relating this to our understanding of soil and plant nutrition

-Ions, anions and chemical bonding & how this impacts how plants take up nutrients

-Elemental classification: metals, non-metals and metalloids

-Chemical reactions: Photosynthesis and Respiration

-pH. What it means and how it impacts plant growth.

Let's start with refreshing you on the basics:

Here are the links you'll need for the worksheet:

1.Scale of the Universe

2.  Khan Academy: Atoms


Your Plant Nutrient Poster
1. Select one of the 17 essential plant nutrients

Hydrogen	Boron	Carbon	Nitrogen	Oxygen
Magnesium	Phosphorus	Sulfur	Chlorine	Potassium
Calcium	Manganese	Iron	Nickel	Zinc
Copper	Molydendum

2. Make a small, A5 poster which clearly states:

a) The elements name, symbol, atomic mass and electron shells
b) A diagram of the atomic structure
c) Whether this element is a metal, non-metal or metalloid 
d) What the role of this element is for plants 
e) How plants get this element
f) What happens if a plant is deficient in this element

Balancing Chemical Equations

Have a go at this!

Your Aim:
To be able to balance worded equations
To be able to balance simple numerical equations


Video: How to Balance Chemical Equations (Simple)

Video: How to Balance Chemical Equations (the one we watched in class)

Video: Khan Academy: Balancing Chemical Equations

Video: Khan: Visually Understanding Chemical Equations

Exercise: Balancing Chemical Equations (Gap Fill)
Exercise: Balancing Chemical Equations (Khan Academy)

A fairly simple worded explanation is below (click to enlarge)

Conservation of Mass

Part 1: Answer to the splint question "Where did the mass go?"
Learn about combustion as a chemical reaction here: Combustion of Wood (simplified)

Here's another simple version: Combustion in general terms

Be aware, smoke is not a gas, but a mixture of gases, solids and water vapour. 



Part 2: Law of Conservation of Mass

Read about it here: Thoughtco Conservation of Mass (website)

Watch it here: Conservation of Mass Ted-Ed

Take down some key ideas in your book

Extension Ideas:

Conservation of Mass in Nature (Nature website)

What about Black Holes? A forum with some interesting ideas.

Finding Balance in Contentious Issues

It is Scientists' jobs to manage populations of threatened species, or pest species, and prevent certain species becoming pests or becoming threatened.  Yet often their suggestions can become highly debated in the public and political sphere.

Your assignment will be to write a letter to the relevant policy maker on one of the following questions.  

Click on the link to view the assignment and the required readings.  A sample letter is also available, or you can use your own.

Brumbies: Should they be culled out of the NSW Snowy Mountains?

Deer: Should they continue to be protected in Tasmania?

Foxes: Should we continue to pour millions of dollars into keeping Tasmania fox free?

Cats: Should they be confined 24/7?


How on Earth do I get started?
1. Start by reading (or listening) thoroughly to one of the resources.
2. Take notes from this resource.  It might help to draw up sections in your book about each topic required (ie scientific facts, experts, other views etc). so you can keep track of the ideas better
3. Read (or listen) to one more resource.  Take notes.
4. Do you have enough information now to fill in some of the sections of your letter?  Focus just on completing the sections you know you can do.
5. Keep going until you have enough info for all the sections.


How Am I Getting Assessed?
You are primarily getting assessed on your capacity to understand the issues at hand through researching, and effectively communicate these in a real world context.
The rubric can be found here


Short Option
Choose one issue.  Look at one resource (or two).
1. Summarise the issue > what is being argued here? Three or four sentences
2. What are the scientific facts? Dot point with references
3. What are the conflicting community views? Dot point with references 
4. What would you do, if you got to make this decision?  Make sure you back up your view with reason.

Limiting Factors: Swift Parrots

What are the limiting factors influencing Swift Parrots?
Have a scan through these sites and consider the questions below:

BirdLife Australia Swift Parrot Profile > Swift Parrot Fact file


Learn a little bit about Swift Parrots here  > ABC Catalyst short video


Learn a little bit more about Swift Parrots > Australian National University video


First Dog on the Moon is very funny and excellent. Read his cartoon about Swifties here
> FDOTM cartoon


Q1. What are the density dependent factors that might be limiting the Swift Parrot population?

A density dependent factor is one that limits how members of a population live, due to the number of members within that population

Q2. What are the density independent factors that might be limiting Swift Parrot population?

A density independent limiting factor  is one that limits how members of a population live – but is caused by a factor outside of population numbers alone 

Q3. What are some of the actions Scientitsts are taking to manage Swift Parrot population?

Ecosystem Dynamics

Ecosystem Inputs These are the critical factors required for an ecosystem to function	Internal Ecosystem Dynamics This is the way living organisms interact within an ecosystem.  The way these factors interplay will directly impact how species survive within an ecosystem	Ecosystem Outputs These are the ‘services’ a functioning ecosystem provides.
1. Energy: usually from the sun and utilised by producers 2. Nutrients: usually from the soil, decomposition or from other ecosystems 3. Water: From rainfall, creeks, runoff, lakes etc. 4. Atmosphere: The balance of oxygen and CO2 in the air is vital for survival of almost all living organisms 5. Biodiversity: This means the range of organisms interacting in an ecosystem. Generally, the greater the biodiversity, the more likely an ecosystem is to thrive and be resilient to change.	1. Predator-Prey relationships: The transferal of energy around the food web 2. Decomposition: The recycling of nutrients 3. Interspecific competition: This is the competition between different species of organisms.  It is often between species who share similar food sources, habitats, or other resources. An example is between rabbits and bandicoots. Weeds and pest animals often reproduce faster than native species, meaning that they ‘out-compete’ the locals. This can cause localised extinctions or push species to adapt to new habitats or food sources. 4. Intraspecific Competition: This is the competition between individuals of a species.  It includes competing for mates, habitats, food and other resources.  Each environment has a specific ‘carry capacity’ of how many individuals of a species it can hold.  Exceeding this number can cause populations to plummet.  5. Symbiotic Relationships This is where different species depend on other species within their ecosystem. Examples are bees pollinating flowers (mutualistic), ticks parasitising a rabbit (parasitic) or birds nesting in trees (commensal)	1. Heat energy: most of the sun’s energy is passed onto the environment via the heat caused by organisms’ metabolising 2. Nutrients: Nutrients are recycled in an ecosystem, but can also flow on ‘down-stream’ to another area via erosion, water movement or through the air 3. Water: Via transpiration from trees and by leaching through soils 4. Atmosphere: Ecosystems aid in the regulation of atmospheric gases  5. Biodiversity: Healthy ecosystems encourage further biodiversity by producing genetic diversity, adaptations in species, etc.  From this new species develop.

Symbiotic Relationships:
Watch this and take notes:
Crash Course: Community Ecology Dynamics
Symbiosis Made Simple

Questions to Consider for Your Assignment:
1. What species would you consider 'a key-stone' for the Taroona ecosystem? That is, which species would you consider is the most important, effectively holding the rest of the ecosystem together?

2. What species are playing a role in decomposition? You don't need the species specific name, just the general terms.

3. What sort of relationships might be occurring out there? See if you can think of a mutalistic, commensal and parasitic relationship.

Ecosystems & Biodiversity

Hello!

Welcome to the ETE blog.  Save this URL in your book-marks - we will use the blog frequently to access course materials.  Posts are put up chronologically, so newest information will be at the top of the page & scroll down for old content.

Activity 1: Ecosystems: A General Overview
Watch one or both of the videos.  Take notes in your book. I know Crash Course is a bit 2016.  I'm sorry. 

Crash Course Ecosystems (video)

Activity 2: Abiotic & Biotic Factors 
Watch this, and take notes in your book.
Bozeman Science: Abiotic & Biotic Factors

Activity 3: Upping the Observation of Abiotic Factors
Taroona Rainfall Data BOM
Taroona Daily Max Temp BOM
Explore the aerial, consider which abiotic factors this informs:

Activity 4: Biodiversity: A General Overview

CSIRO What is Biodiversity & Why is it Important (video)

Bozeman Science (video)

Atlas of Living Australia (website) Explore species and distribution across Australia)