Science 1206
Course Description
This is an introductory academic science course providing students with a flavor of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Systems and Physics courses in which they may enroll concurrently or subsequently. Topics include sustainability of ecosystems (Biology), weather dynamics (Earth Systems), chemical naming and reactions (Chemistry) as well as uniform and accelerated motion (Physics).
Authorized Learning Resource
Homework Central
Thurs June 11: This period was used as a review session in preparation for our upcoming final exam.
Wed June 10: This period was used as a review session in preparation for our upcoming final exam.
Mon June 8: This period was used as a review session in preparation for our upcoming final exam.
Thurs June 4: Students wrote the Unit 4 Test - Sustainability of Ecosystems (Biology).
Tues June 2: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Nutrient Cycles. Be familiar with human impacts on the Carbon Cycle including (a) deforestation and (b) combustion of fossil fuels (greenhouse effect). (2) Nitrogen Cycle. Note the processes of (a) nitrogen fixation, (b) nitrification and (c) denitrification. The remainder of the class was used for review.
Unit 4 Test - Thurs June 4
Mon June 1: Please review our introduction to Topic D - Nutrient Cycles. Be familiar with 4 major nutrients that compose the body of living things and that nutrients are in limited supply and move in a cycle. Be familiar with the general nutrient cycle between (a) assimilation and (b) decomposition. Note 2 nutrient cycles: (1) carbon cycle. Be able to discuss (a) sources of carbon into the atmosphere and (b) sources of carbon returning to the lithosphere. ...to be continued.
Unit 4 Test - Thurs June 4
Thurs May 28: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Populations. Note the surplus and dieback related to carrying capacity and that carrying capacities of ecosystems can change (ex: with the seasons). Be familiar with 2 types of limiting factors (a) density dependent limiting factors (usually abiotic) and (b) density dependent limiting factors (usually biotic). Also review our discussion of a niche. Be able to give an example of the niche of an organism such as a moose. Note the rule that "no two species can occupy the same niche". Note the 2 situations: (a) identical niches resulting in competitive exclusion and (b) similar niche resulting in coexistence.
Assign 3 - Populations (Due Mon)
Unit 4 Test - Thurs June 4
Wed May 27: Please review our introduction to Topic D: Populations. Review the definition of a population and how population growth can be calculated using a population growth formula. Note 3 types of population growth curves: (1) J-Shaped Curve representing growth in unlimited environments (not common in nature), (2) S-Shaped Curve representing growth in environments where there are limiting factors (common in nature). Be familiar with the 3 stages of this curve: (a) lag phase, (b) exponential phase and (c) equilibrium phase. (3) Predator-Prey Curves which tend to cycle...to be continued.
Unit 4 Test - Thurs June 4
Tues May 26: Please review our introduction to Topic B - Sustainability and Components of Ecosystems. Note the components of ecosystems: (2) Abiotic Components. Also review our introduction to Topic C - Biomes. Note the definition of a biome and the biomes of Canada (tundra, boreal forest, grassland, temperate deciduous forest, mountain forest) with their indicator plants and animals. Be familiar with factors determining the distribution of biomes: (1) latitude, (2) climate and (3) altitude. Our province consists of 2 of these biomes (tundra and boreal forest). Be familiar with the characteristic of the boreal forest biome: location, precipitation, temperature, landscape, indictor plants & animals, their adaptations and threats to sustainability.
Unit 4 Test - Thurs June 4
Fri May 22: Please review our introduction to Topic B - Sustainability and Components of Ecosystems. Note the components of ecosystems: (1) Biotic Components - (a) living or recently living plants, animals and microorganisms, (b) predator-prey interactions, (c) competition interactions (include interspecific and intraspecific competition) and (d) symbiotic interactions (mutualism, parasitism and commensalism). (2) Abiotic Components.
Assign 2 - Sustainability and Components of Ecosystems (Due Tues)
Thurs May 21: Please review our introduction to Topic B - Sustainability and Components of Ecosystems. Be familiar with the definition of sustainability and be able to provide examples of sustainable and non-sustainable use of ecosystems. Note that sustainable use can be measured with an ecological footprint. Also review the components of ecosystems: (1) Biotic Components - (a) living or recently living plants...to be continued.
Tues May 19: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Review of Important Terms: Be familiar with how ecologists represent energy flow through diagrams: (1) food chains. (2) food webs and why they are more common in nature and stable. (3) pyramids of energy (trophic efficiency and the Rule of 10. ). Note two important processes involved with energy in ecosystems: (1) photosynthesis (stores energy from the sun) and (2) cellular respiration (uses energy)...to be continued.
Assign 1 - Terms and Ecosystem Introduction (Due Thurs)
Thurs May 14: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Review of Important Terms: Energy in Ecosystems. Note its continuous supply from the sun and energy's one-way flow. Be familiar with how ecologists represent energy flow through diagrams: (1) food chains. Know the food chain definition, why they are uncommon in nature, why they are fragile and related terms (producers, consumers, trophic levels). (2) food webs and why they are more common in nature..to be continued.
Tues May 12: We completed the sample problems exploring accelerated motion. We also examined what accelerated motion looks like on a d-t graph. Please review our introduction to Unit 4 - Sustainability of Ecosystems (Biology). We started with Topic A - Review of Important Terms: (1) ecology, (2) ecologist, (3) ecosystem, (4) spheres of the Earth, (5) species, (6) population, (7) community, (8) habitat and niche...to be continued.
Mon May 11: Please review our introduction to Topic E - Non-Uniform / Accelerated Motion. We completed the accelerated motion sample problems. Students worked on Assignment 9 - Accelerated Motion.
Assign 9 - Accelerated Motion (Due Tues)
Thurs May 7: Please review our introduction to Topic E - Non-Uniform / Accelerated Motion. Note the definition of acceleration and 2 types of acceleration: (1) positive acceleration and (2) negative acceleration. Be familiar with the acceleration symbol, formula, units, formula rearrangements and how to determine if an object is speeding up or slowing down. We worked through several sample problems...to be continued.
Wed May 6: Students completed the Unit 3 - Physics (Motion) Test.
Tues May 5: This was a review class in preparation for the upcoming unit test.
Physics Unit Test - Wed, May 6th
Fri May 1: This was a review class in preparation for the upcoming unit test.
Physics Unit Test - Wed, May 6th
Thurs Apr 30: Students completed Lab 1 - Uniform Motion using ticker tape timers and modern motion detectors.
Lab 1 - Uniform Motion (Due Fri)
Physics Unit Test - Wed, May 6th
Tues Apr 28: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Graphing Uniform Motion. Review how to convert a d-t graph to a v-t graph. We completed a pre-lab for Lab 1 - Uniform Motion.
Physics Unit Test - Wed, May 6th
Fri Apr 24: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Graphing Uniform Motion. We completed discussion of interpolation and extrapolation. Also review how to interpret d-t graphs using the following information: (a) position of line segment means position of the object and (b) slope of line segment means direction of motion. We worked through several examples...to be continued.
Assign 8 - Graphing Uniform Motion (Due Tues) Physics Unit Test - Wed, May 6th
Wed Apr 22: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Graphing Uniform Motion. Note that a larger slope means a higher speed or velocity. Be familiar with how to interpolate and extrapolate from a set of data...to be continued.
Tues Apr 21: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic D - Graphing Uniform Motion. Note that a straight sloped line on a distance time graph indicates uniform motion (constant speed). Note that a straight sloped line on a displacement time graph indicates uniform motion (constant velocity). Students practiced calculating the slope of these lines using the slope formula which represents speed or velocity. Please review how to calculate a Line of Best Fit to show these relationships....to be continued.
Fri Apr 17: We used this class as a review of concepts so far. We worked together one on one to answer questions.
Thurs Apr 16: We completed our problems related to average velocity.
Assign 7 - Average Velocity (Due Fri)
Wed Apr 15: Please review our continued problems exploring average speed. We investigated problems that require a conversion. Also review our introduction to (2) Velocity. Note that it is a vector quantity (direction is important). Be familiar with the symbol for velocity, its formula, units, definition of constant velocity and all formula rearrangements. We worked through several sample problems...to be continued.
Assign 6 - Average Speed (Due Thurs)
Mon Apr 13: Please review our introduction to Topic C - Speed vs Velocity. Note that speed is a scalar quantity. We discussed the difference between average speed and instantaneous speed using Usain Bolt's 100 m world record sprint data. Note the speed symbol, formula, units and formula rearrangements.
Assign 5 - Dist. & Displacement - (Due Date Extended to Wednesday)
Thurs Apr 2: Students completed Assign 5 - Distance and Displacement.
Tues Mar 31: Please review our continued discussion of Topic B - Distance vs Displacement. We worked 2 types of sample problems: (B) from two given positions. Be able to solve problems using the formula and a scale vector diagram.
Assign 5 - Distance and Displacement (Due Thurs)
Mon Mar 30: Please review our continued discussion of Topic B - Distance vs Displacement. We worked 2 types of sample problems: Be able to solve problems using the formula and a scale vector diagram. (A) initial position is assumed to be zero. (B) from two given positions. Be able to solve problems using the formula and a scale vector diagram. Also review our introduction to Topic C - Speed and Velocity. We start with (1) Speed. Note that it is a scalar quantity (no direction). We discussed the difference between average speed and instantaneous speed using Usain Bolt's 100 m record video. Be familiar with the symbol for speed, its formula, units, definition of constant speed and all formula rearrangements.
Fri Mar 27: We completed a worksheet exploring the various Types of Errors. Also review our introduction to Topic B - Distance vs Displacement. (1) Distance - Be familiar with the definition, symbol, units of distance, scalar quantity and the distance formula. (2) Displacement - Be familiar with the definition, symbol, units of displacement, vector quantity, the displacement formula and the sign convention....to be continued.
Wed Mar 25: Students completed Quiz 2 - Math Operations. Please review our continued notes and discussion of (5) Sources of Errors: (b) systematic error (one sided error) which can be reduced by adding or subtracting the know error or by machine calibration. (c) parallax.
Fri Mar 20: Please review our notes and discussion of (4) Precision vs Accuracy. Precision refers to the exactness of a measuring device and repeatability of measurement. Accuracy refers to how close an experimental measurement is to an accepted value. Accuracy can be measured using a percent error formula. Also review our discussion of (5) Sources of Errors: (a) random error (two-sided error) which can be reduced through averaging of many measurements...to be continued.
Quiz 2 - Math Operations (Wed)
Thurs Mar 19: Students completed Quiz 1 - Significant Digits. Please review our notes and sample problems exploring (3) Conversion Factors - a method of converting between units.
Assign 4 - Conversion Factors (Due Fri)
Wed Mar 18: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Math Skills: (2) Scientific Notation. Be familiar with how to convert (a) expanded form to scientific notation and (b) scientific notation to expanded form.
Assign 3 - Scientific Notation (Due Thurs)
Quiz 1 - Significant Digs From Scales and Numbers (Thurs March 19th)
Tues Mar 10: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Math Skills: (d) adding and subtracting using the least number of decimal place. Also review our introduction to (2) Scientific Notation. Note the purpose of scientific notation: (a) a convenient way to represent a very large of very small number and (b) a method of making a number with an uncertain number of significant digits certain. Be familiar with how to convert (a) expanded form to scientific notation and (b) scientific notation to expanded form...to be continued.
Assign 2 - Math Operations (Due Wed)
Quiz 1 - Significant Digs From Scales and Numbers (Thurs March 19th)
Mon Mar 9: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Math Skills: (c) multiplying and dividing using the least number of significant digits. We worked through several examples.
Fri Mar 6: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Math Skills. Be familiar with the concept of (1) Significant Digits / Figures: (b) the correct amount of significant digits in a number. We worked through several examples.
Assign 1 - Significant Digits (Due Mon)
Tues Mar 3: Please review our introduction to Unit 3 - Physics. We bein with Topic A - Math Skills. Be familiar with the concept of (1) Significant Digits / Figures. Note how to determine (a) the correct number of significant digits from a scale, (b) the correct amount of significant digits in a number...to be continued.
Fri Feb 27: Students wrote the Unit 2 - Chemical Reactions Test.
Thurs Feb 26: This period was used as review in preparation for the upcoming Chemistry Unit Test. We worked through questions from the review sheet.
Unit 2 - Chemistry Test (Updated: Fri Feb 27)
Fri Feb 20: This period was used as review in preparation for the upcoming Chemistry Unit Test. We worked through questions from the review sheet.
Unit 2 - Chemistry Test (Updated: Thurs Feb 26)
Tues Feb 17: Students completed Lab 4 - Reaction Rates.
Lab 4 - Reaction Rates (Due Thurs)
Unit 2 - Chemistry Test (Wed Feb 25)
Mon Feb 16: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic H - Rates of Reactions. Be familiar with the 4 factors that impact reaction rate and how Collision Theory can be used to explain the change in reaction rate: (3) concentration and (4) light intensity. The remainder of this period was used to prepare for Lab 4 - Reaction Rates.
Unit 2 - Chemistry Test (Wed Feb 25)
Fri Feb 13: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic H - Rates of Reactions. Be familiar with the 4 factors that impact reaction rate and how Collision Theory can be used to explain the change in reaction rate: (2) surface area...to be continued.
Unit 2 - Chemistry Test (Wed Feb 25)
Wed Feb 11: Students were given class time to complete Lab 3 - Acids and Bases. Please review our notes and discussion of Topic H - Rates of Reactions. Note the definition of reaction rate. Note the 3 requirements for successful collisions based on Collision Theory. Be familiar with the 4 factors that impact reaction rate and how Collision Theory can be used to explain the change in reaction rate: (1) temperature...to be continued.
Unit 2 - Chemistry Test (Wed Feb 25)
Tues Feb 10: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic G - Acids and Bases. Note the changes of color of the following indicators in acids, bases and neutral substances: (2) red litmus, (3) pH paper / universal and (4) phenolphthalein.Students completed Lab 3 - Acids and Bases (Indicators).
Lab 3 Acids and Bases - Due Wed
Fri Feb 6: Students completed Lab 2 - Reaction Types Lab.
Lab Due - Tues
Thurs Feb 5: Midterm Exams were returned for review. Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic G - Acids and Bases. We discussed the pH Scale. This stands for "power of hydrogen" and is a scale between 0-14 that measures acidity or basicity of a substance. Note where acids, bases and neutral substances are located on this scale and their relative concentration of hydrogen ion or hydroxide ion. Note that the scale is logarithmic (we completed problems related to the base 10 scale). Note how the pH of a substance can be measured using indicators. Note the changes of color of the following indicators in acids, bases and neutral substances: (1) blue litmus...to be continued.
Thurs Jan 22: This class was used as a review period in preparation for the upcoming Midterm Exam.
Midterm Exam - Wed Jan 28th (9:10 - 10:25) Room: 215
Wed Jan 21: This class was used as a review period in preparation for the upcoming Midterm Exam.
Midterm Exam - Wed Jan 28th (9:10 - 10:25) Room: 215
Mon Jan 19: This class was used as a review period in preparation for the upcoming Midterm Exam. We focused on a review of Unit 1 - Reproduction.
Midterm Exam - Wed Jan 28th (9:10 - 10:25) Room: 215
Fri Jan 16: We completed our discussion of reaction types. Please review our introduction to Topic G - Acids and Bases: (1) Acids. Note the definition of an acid, its physical and chemical properties and how acids can be identified by the presence of hydrogen ion (H+). (2) Bases. Note the definition of a base, its physical and chemical properties and how bases can be identified by the presence of hydroxide ion (OH-)...to be continued.
Thurs Jan 15: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic F - Reaction Types: (3) single replacement, (4) double replacement and hydrocarbon combustion.
Assign 4 - Reaction Types (Due Fri)
Tues Jan 13: We discussed how to balance complete hydrocarbon combustion reactions. Please review our notes and discussion of Topic F - Reaction Types. Be able to identify the following reaction types based on the reaction skeleton: (1) formation (synthesis), (2) decomposition, (3) single replacement...to be continued.
Assign 3 - Balancing Chemical Equations (Due Thurs)
Mon Jan 12: We corrected the balancing chemical equation worksheet.
Thurs Jan 8: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic E: Balancing Chemical Equations. We worked through several sample problems. Students completed a related worksheet.
Wed Jan 7: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic E: Balancing Chemical Equations. Note the following definitions: chemical reaction, chemical equation, reactants and products. Know the principle behind balancing equations; the Law of Conservation of Mass. We completed tips / guidelines for balancing equations and worked through a sample problem.
Tues Jan 6: We discussed Lab 1 - Physical Properties of Molecular and Ionic Compounds. Students shared data.
Lab 1 - Physical Prop. of Molecular and Ionic Compounds (Due Wed)
Thurs Dec 18: Students gathered data and completed Lab 1 - Physical Properties of Molecular and Ionic Compounds.
Lab 1 - Physical Prop. of Molecular and Ionic Compounds (Due Wed)
Tues Dec 16: We completed a pre-lab for Lab 1 - Physical Properties of Molecular and Ionic Compounds...to be continued.
Mon Dec 15: Students completed Quiz 3 - Ionic Compounds.
Fri Dec 12: We continued with review in preparation for Quiz 3 - Ionic Compounds on Monday.
Quiz 3 - Ionic Compounds (Monday)
Wed Dec 10: We discussed the naming of Ionic Compounds that include polyatomic ions. We worked through examples moving from symbols to names and names to symbols.
Quiz 3 - Ionic Compounds (Monday)
Tues Dec 9: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Ionic Compounds: Rule Set 2 - Naming Ionic Compounds Multivalent. We worked on further examples moving from symbols to names and names to symbols.
Quiz 3 - Ionic Compounds (Monday)
Fri Dec 5: Students completed a worksheet exploring the naming of ionic compounds )univalent). Please view our notes and discussion of Topic D - Ionic Compounds: Rule Set 2 - Naming Ionic Compounds Multivalent...to be continued.
Thurs Dec 4: Please review our continued discussion of Topic D - Ionic Compounds. We completed samples of the energy level diagram as a model of ionic bonding. Also review naming of ionic compounds: (1) Rule Set 1 - Ions With One Type of Charge (Univalent). We worked through examples from symbols to names and from names to symbols....to be continued.
Mon Dec 1: Please review our continued discussion of Topic D - Ionic Compounds. Also review physical properties of ionic compounds including (a) melting point / boiling point, (b) hardness, (c) state, (d) solubility of solution, (e) conductivity of solution and (f) color of solution. Also review our introduction to a model of ionic bonding: the energy level diagram....to be continued.
Fri Nov 28: Students completed Quiz 2 - Molecular Compounds. Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D - Ionic Compounds. We discussed how the structure of an ionic compound consists of many ions in the ionic crystal lattice that maximize attractions and minimize repulsions...to be continued.
Wed Nov 26: We started class with a review of molecular compounds for the upcoming quiz. Please review our introduction to Topic D - Ionic Compounds. Be familiar with the definition, ion composition and the 3 possibilities that form ionic compounds: (metal with non-metal , metal with polyatomic ions and polyatomic ion with polyatomic ion). Note that the formula of an ionic compound is called an empirical formula and it represents the simplest whole number ratio of ions...to be continued.
Quiz 2 - Molecular Compounds (Fri)
Tues Nov 25: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic (C) - Molecular Compounds. We discussed the naming of molecular compounds: (4) molecular diatomic elements, (5) molecular polyatomic elements and (6) molecular monoatomic elements. We worked through several examples. Students worked on and then we corrected Worksheet 1 - Naming of Molecular Compounds.
Worksheet 1 - Molecular Compounds Naming
Quiz 2 - Molecular Compounds (Fri)
Mon Nov 24: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic (C) - Molecular Compounds. We discussed the naming of molecular compounds following IUPAC rules including (1) Rule Set 1 - symbols to names, (2) Rule Set 2 - names to symbols, (3) common / trivial names, (4) molecular diatomic elements...to be continued.
Worksheet 1 - Molecular Compounds Naming
Quiz 2 - Molecular Compounds (Fri)
Wed Nov 19: Students worked on Assignment 2 and reviewed the notes on molecular compounds.
Mon Nov 17: Students wrote Quiz 1 - Safety and the Periodic Table. We continued discussion of Topic (C) - Molecular Compounds. Note how intermolecular forces relate to the following physical properties: (a) melting point / boiling point, (b) hardness, (c) state, (d) solubility of solution, (e) conductivity of solution and (f) color of solution...to be continued.
Fri Nov 14: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic (C) - Molecular Compounds. We continued examples of covalent bonding using the Lewis Diagram. Also note that the formula of a molecular compound is called a molecular formula and it contains exact numbers of atoms. Note the two types of forces involved with these compounds: (a) intramolecular forces (within molecules) and (b) intermolecular forces (between molecules)...to be continued.
Quiz 1 - Mon Nov 17
Assign 2 (Due Wed)
Thurs Nov 13: Please review our introduction to Topic (C) - Molecular Compounds. Be familiar with the definition of a molecular compound (formed from 2 non-metals), the type of bonding (covalent bonding) and the use of a Lewis Diagram (Electron Dot Model) to explain covalent bonding. Be familiar with the difference between lone pairs and bonding groups. ...to be continued.
Quiz 1 - Mon Nov 17
Assign 2 (Due Wed)
Fri Nov 7: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic B - Periodic Table Introduction. Note that the atomic number equals the number of protons and number of electrons (if the atom is neutral). Be familiar with the information contained in an element block and how the solid staircase separates metals and non-metals. We also noted how the Periodic Table is organized into (1) horizontal periods and (2) vertical groups / families. Be familiar with the names of some special families of elements.
Assign 1 - Metal or Non-Metal (Due Thurs) Quiz 1 - Mon Nov 17
Thurs Nov 6: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A - Safety: (2) SDS intended for those who work with chemicals in their job. We reviewed the sixteen sections of a Safety Data Sheet and the information they contain. Also review Topic B - Periodic Table Introduction. Note that elements of the table are made of atoms and that atoms contain 3 subatomic particles (note their location, charge and relative mass)...to be continued.
Quiz 1 - Mon Nov 17
Tues Nov 4: Students wrote the Unit 1 Test - Weather Dynamics.
Mon Nov 3: This class was a review period in preparation for the upcoming test.
Weather Test - Tues Nov 4th
Fri Oct 31: Please review our introduction to Unit 2 - Chemical Reactions. We started this unit with a review of safety: Topic A - Safety (WMHIS) and SDS. Please review WHMIS (2015) noting the red diamond symbols and the associated hazard: (1) exploding bomb, (2) flame, (3) flame over circle, (4) gas cylinder, (5) corrosion, (6) skull and crossbones, (7) health hazard, (8) exclamation mark, (9) environment and (10) biohazardous infectious material.
Weather Test - Tues Nov 4th
Wed Oct 29: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic J - Climate Change. We discusses some impacts of climate change: (3) warmer oceans (4) rising sea levels, (5) more violent storms, (6) increased desertification and (7) impacts on human health. End of unit!
Weather Test - Tues Nov 4th
Tues Oct 28: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic J - Climate Change. Be familiar with the cause of climate change (enhanced greenhouse effect due to greenhouse gases). Note how we know about past climate through (2) fossil record and (3) ice cores. Be familiar with the cause of climate change - greenhouse gas emissions accelerating the enhanced greenhouse effect. Note examples of greenhouse gases. We discusses some impacts of climate change: (1) melting of sea / land ice, (2) altered habitats...to be continued.
Weather Test - Tues Nov 4th
Fri Oct 24: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic I - Extreme Weather. Note the following forms of extreme weather and how they form: (4) nor'easters, (5) blizzards and (6) El Nino and La Nina. Also review our introduction to Topic J - Climate Change. Be familiar with the cause of climate change (enhanced greenhouse effect due to greenhouse gases). Note how we know about past climate through (1) tree rings, (2) fossil record...to be continued.
Weather Test - Tues Nov 4th
Thurs Oct 23: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic I - Extreme Weather. Note the following forms of extreme weather and how they form: (1) thunderstorms, (2) tornadoes, (3) hurricanes...to be continued.
Weather Test - Tues Nov 4th
Wed Oct 22: Students were given some class time to start Assignment 10 - Weather Forecasting. Please review our notes and discussion of Topic H - Remote Sensing. Note the definition of remote sensing. Note how the following technologies provide weather data: (1) weather balloons (radiosonde), (2) weather radar and (3) weather satellites (GOES & POES).
Assign 10 - Weather Forecasting - Due Thurs
Weather Test - Tues Nov 4th
Mon Oct 20: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic F - Measuring Weather. (e) wind speed - anemometer and (f) wind direction - wind vane. Also review our introduction to Topic G - Weather Forecasting. Be familiar with the difference between current weather conditions and a weather forecast. Note 2 types of forecasting: (1) short range forecast for 2 days a) persistence forecasting and b) nowcasting and (2) long range forecast for 3-7 days...to be continued.
Fri Oct 17: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic F - Measuring Weather (d) relative humidity. We discussed the use of a sling psychrometer and students used one to collect relative humidity data...to be continued.
Assign 9 - Relative Humidity (Due Fri)
Wed Oct 15: Students wrote Unit 1 Quiz 2 - Causes of Weather. Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic F - Measuring Weather (d) relative humidity. We discussed the use of a sling psychrometer...to be continued.
Tues Oct 14: Student's review questions were answered in preparation for the quiz. Please review our continued discussion of Topic F - Measuring Weather. Be familiar with the following weather instruments including how they work, appropriate units and whether they collect qualitative or quantitative data: (a) temperature - thermometer (b) precipitation - rain gauge or meter stick,(c) atmospheric pressure - aneroid barometer..to be continued.
Quiz #2 - Wednesday
Fri Oct 10: Students completed Assign 8 - Ocean Currents. Students were provided with a review sheet / study guide for the upcoming quiz.
Assign 8 - Ocean Currents (Due Fri)
Quiz #2 - Wednesday
Wed Oct 8: Students completed Assignment 7 - Fronts. Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (6) Ocean Currents. Note two different ocean currents and their causes: (a) surface currents and (b) deep currents. Note that deep currents are caused by differences in salt concentration and temperature in ocean water (thermohaline current)...to be continued.
Quiz #2 - Wednesday
Tues Oct 7: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (4) Jetstream. Note how it separates cold polar air above the jet and warm tropical air below the jetstream. Also review our discussion of (5) Fronts. Note the definition of a front, their symbols and why they typically bring precipitation. Note the characteristics of the 4 front types and be able to recognize these from a diagram: (a) cold front, (b) warm front, (c) stationary front and (d) occluded front.
Assign 7 - Fronts (Due Wed)
Fri Oct 3: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (3) Global Wind Systems. Note the three major prevailing wind systems and their location on a map: (a) trade winds, (b) prevailing westerlies and (c) polar easterlies. Also review our discussion of the (4) Jetstream. Note the definition of the jet stream and how it separates cold polar air above the jet and warm tropical air below the jetstream...to be continued.
Thurs Oct 2: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (2) Air Masses. Note the properties of the following air masses and be able to label them on a map of North America: (a) maritime polar, (b) continental polar, (c) maritime tropical, (d) continental tropical and (e) arctic air mass. Students worked on Assignment 6 - Air Masses. Also review our introduction to (3) Global Wind Systems. Note the definition of prevailing winds and the TWO reasons why these winds follow curved paths: (a) Coriolis Effect and (b) convection currents....to be continued.
Assign 6 - Air Masses (Due Thurs)
Wed Oct 1. Students completed Unit 1 Quiz 1. Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (2) Air Masses. Note the definition of an air mass, their size, lack of movement and function in redistribution of heat energy...to be continued.
Mon Sept 29: Students completed Assign 5 - Atmospheric Pressure.
Assign 5 - Atmospheric Pressure (Due Mon)
Quiz 1- Wed Oct 1st
Wed Sept 24: Please review our introduction to Topic E - Causes of Weather: (1) Atmospheric Pressure. Be familiar with the definition of atmospheric pressure and the appropriate units. Be familiar with the difference between (a) vertical pressure and (b) horizontal pressure. Be familiar with the explanation of a high pressure system noting sinking air, clear weather, clockwise rotation and isobars that are far apart. Be familiar with the explanation of a low pressure system noting rising air, cloudy weather, anticlockwise rotation and isobars that are close together...to be continued.
Quiz 1- Wed Oct 1st
Tues Sept 23: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic D: Energy Transfer in the Water Cycle. Be familiar with the various stages for the heating curve for water. Note that when temperature is increasing that all energy goes into faster particle movement (kinetic energy increase). Note that when temperature is stable that all energy goes into moving the particles further apart (potential energy increase).
Assign 4 - Energy Changes In The Water Cycle (Due Wed)
Mon Sept 23: Please review our introduction to Topic D: Energy Transfer in the Water Cycle. Note the definition of the water cycle and its components: (a) evaporation, (b) transpiration, (c) sublimation, (d) condensation, (e) precipitation, (f) infiltration, (g) percolation and (h) runoff. Focus on how this cycle moves energy. Note the difference between system (water) and surroundings (the atmosphere). Note energy changes in (a) evaporation and melting and (b) condensation and freezing ..to be continued.
Quiz 1- Wed Oct 1st
Thurs Sept 18: Students completed Lab 2 - Heat Sinks
Lab 2 Heat Sinks - Due Thurs
Wed Sept 17: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic C- Factors Affecting Absorption of Energy. (2) Specific Heat. Note (a) substances with high specific heat / heat sinks. These heat slowly and cool slowly like Earth's hydrosphere and atmosphere. (b) substances with low specific heat. These heat quickly and cool quickly like Earth's lithosphere. We worked through several sample problems.
Mon Sept 15: Students collected data for Lab 1 - Albedo. Students completed this lab report.
Lab 1 - Albedo and Surfaces (Due Mon)
Assign 3 - Methods of Energy Transfer (Due Wed)
Fri Sept 12: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic B - Methods of Heat Transfer. Note the journey of energy and how these 3 methods of energy transfer heat the Earth. Also review our introduction to Topic C- Factors Affecting Absorption of Energy. (1) Albedo - measuring reflection of energy. Be familiar with the definition and the unitless scale: 0 - low albedo (low reflection and high absorption) and 1 - high albedo (high reflection and low absorption). Study how albedo is impacted by (b) color of the surface (white has high albedo, dark has low albedo) and (b) angle of incidence (morning has low angle with high albedo, noon has 90 degree angle with low albedo)...to be continued.
Thurs Sept 11: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic B - Methods of Heat Transfer: (2) conduction - by direct collision of particles and (3) convection / advection - by movement of particles in a circular path. In each case be familiar with which methods of energy transfer work in each sphere...to be continued.
Tues Sept 9: Please review our continued notes and discussion exploring the Topic A - Weather, Climate, Weather Lore and Spheres. Be familiar with the 4 interacting spheres of Earth that are impacted by weather: (a) atmosphere, (b) lithosphere, (c) hydrosphere and (d) biosphere. Also review our introduction to Topic B - Methods of Heat Transfer: (1) radiation - in the form of waves (include Earth's Energy Budget and types of radiation)...to be continued.
Assign 2 - Weather Lore (Due Thurs)
Mon Sept 8 - We introduced Unit 1 - Weather Dynamics. We started with Topic A - Weather, Climate, Weather Lore and Spheres. Be familiar with the definition of weather and its components including appropriate units - (a) temperature, (b) precipitation, (c) atmospheric pressure, (d) humidity, (e) wind speed & direction and (f) sky cover. Note the difference between weather and climate. Note the definition of weather folklore / weather proverbs / weather sayings and how these are based on years of observations but are not always scientifically accurate...to be continued.
Assign 1 - Describing Weather (Due Tues)
Thurs Sept 4: Welcome to Science 1206! Let's look forward to a great year of learning together. Today you received your course descriptor and evaluation scheme, had the opportunity to join our Google Classroom and were introduced to my website. The remainder of the period was used to distribute textbooks.
