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)