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
Fri Oct 23: Upcoming! Students completed Unit 1 Quiz 2 - Causes of Weather. Please review our introduction to Topic F - Measuring Weather. Note the following weather observations including definition, measuring device, units and how it works: (c) atmospheric pressure (aneroid barometer), (d) relative humidity (sling psychrometer), (e) wind speed (anemometer) and (f) wind direction (wind vane)...to be continued.
Wed Oct 21: Please review our introduction to Topic F - Measuring Weather. Note that weather forecasting can be (1) qualitative measurements (descriptions using the senses) or (2) quantitative observations (involving numbers and weather instruments). Note the following observations including definition, measuring device, units and how it works: (a) temperature (thermometer), (b) precipitation (graduated pole or rain gauge), (c) atmospheric pressure (aneroid barometer)...to be continued.
Quiz 2 - Causes of Weather (Friday, Oct 23rd)
Tues Oct 20: Please review our continued discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (6) Ocean Currents. Be familiar with 2 types of ocean currents: (a) surface currents which are faster and caused by prevailing winds and the Coriolis Effect. Be familiar with the Gulf Stream and how it impacts Newfoundland. (b) deep ocean currents which are slower and caused by differences in salt content and differences in temperature (thermohaline).
Assign 8 - Ocean Currents (Due Wed)
Quiz 2 - Causes of Weather (Friday, Oct 23rd)
Mon Oct 19: Please review our continued discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (5) Fronts. Be familiar with the definition of a front, the associated weather, front symbols and types: (a) cold front, (b) warm front, (c) stationary front and (d) occluded front. (6) Ocean Currents. Be familiar with 2 types of ocean currents: (a) surface currents which are faster and caused by prevailing winds and the Coriolis Effect...to be continued.
Assign 7 - Fronts (Due Mon)
Quiz 2 - Causes of Weather (Friday, Oct 23rd)
Thurs Oct 15: Please review our continued discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (3) Global Wind Systems. (c) polar easterlies. Be able to recognize these on a map. (4) Jetstream. Be familiar with the jet stream definition and how this high altitude wind separates cold polar air to the north and warm tropical air to the south. (5) Fronts. Be familiar with the definition of a front, the associated weather, front symbols and types: (a) cold front...to be continued.
Wed Oct 14: Students completed Assign 6 - Air Masses. Please review our continued discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (3) Global Wind Systems. Note that the major winds that blow consistently in the same direction are called prevailing winds. Note why these follow a curved path: (a) Coriolis Effect and (b) convection currents. Be familiar with the 3 major prevailing winds, their location and direction: (a) trade winds, (b) prevailing westerlies and (c) polar easterlies...to be continued.
Thurs Oct 8: Students wrote Unit 1 Quiz 1. Please review our continued discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (2) Air Masses. We completed the characteristics of each air mass type. Students worked on Assign 6 - Air Masses.
Assign 6 - Air Masses (Due Wed)
Wed Oct 7: This was a review period in preparation for the upcoming quiz.
Quiz 1 - Thursday Oct 8th
Mon Oct 5: Please review our continued discussion of Topic E - Causes of Weather: (1) Atmospheric Pressure. Note the characteristics of (b) low pressure systems (air travels over warm land or water, rising air, counterclockwise cyclone spin, cloudy skies and precipitation, cool and isobars close together). Be able to recognize diagrams for both. (2) Air Masses. Be familiar with the definition of an air mass, their size, how they form, the various types and their properties (maritime polar, continental polar, maritime tropical, continental tropical and arctic) and their position on a map of North America...to be continued.
Assign 5 - Atmospheric Pressure (Due Wed) Quiz 1 - Thursday Oct 8th
Fri Oct 2: Please review our introduction to Topic E - Causes of Weather. We introduced the first cause of weather: (1) Atmospheric Pressure. Note the definition of atmospheric pressure, appropriate units and atmospheric pressure at sea level (101.3 kPa). Be familiar with the difference between vertical pressure and horizontal pressure. Note the characteristics of (a) high pressure systems (air travels over cool land or water, sinking air, clockwise anti-cyclone spin, clear skies, warm and isobars far apart). Be able to recognize diagrams for both...to be continued.
Quiz 1 - Thursday Oct 8th
Tues Sept 29: Please review our continued notes and discussion exploring Topic D - Energy Transfer in the Water Cycle. Note two types of energy (a) kinetic energy - related to motion of particles and temperature and (b) potential - related to position of particles and state / phase. We discussed the various stages of the heating curve for water noting either kinetic or potential energy increases...to be continued.
Assign 4 - Energy Changes Water Cycle (Due Fri) Quiz 1 - Thursday Oct 8th
Mon Sept 28: Please review our notes and discussion exploring Topic D - Energy Transfer in the Water Cycle. Note the definition of the water cycle as a way to transfer energy through the following processes: (a) evaporation, (b) transpiration, (c) sublimation, (d) condensation, (e) precipitation, (f) infiltration, (g) percolation and (h) runoff. Be able to label a diagram. Note how this cycle moves water but also shifts heat energy: (a) evaporation and melting (heat energy is gained by the system moving particles apart and lost by the surroundings) and (b) condensation and freezing (heat energy is lost by the system moving particles together and gained by the surroundings). Note two types of energy (a) kinetic energy - related to motion of particles and temperature...to be continued.
Quiz 1 - Thursday Oct 8th
Thurs Sept 24: Students completed Lab 2 - Heat Sinks.
Lab 2 "Heat Sinks" (Due Mon)
Wed Sept 23: Please review our continued discussion of Topic C - Factors That Affect Absorption of Energy: (2) Heat Capacity. Substances with high specific heat - heat up slowly and cool down slowly. Since they hold heat they are considered good heat sinks (Earth's hydrosphere and atmosphere). Substances with low specific heat heat up quickly and cool down quickly. Since they do not hold heat they are poor heat sinks (Earth's lithosphere). We worked through several sample problems. We also completed a pre-lab for Lab 2 - Heat Sinks.
Mon Sept 21: Students completed Lab 1 - Albedo and Surfaces.
Lab 1 "Albedo and Surfaces" (Due Wed)
Fri Sept 18: Please review our introduction to Topic C - Factors That Affect Absorption of Energy: (1) Albedo. Note that albedo measures reflection of energy. We discussed factors that impact albedo: (a) color - light objects have high albedo (high reflection, low absorption) and dark objects have low albedo (low reflection, high absorption). (b) Angle of incidence of the sun to Earth - morning sun has a low angle with high albedo, afternoon sun has a large angle with low albedo. We also completed a prelab for Lab 1 - Albedo of Surfaces.
Thurs Sept 17: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic B - Methods of Heat Transfer: (3) Convection / Advection - transfer of energy through the movement of particles in a circular path. Be able to explain how these 3 methods work to ensure heating of Earth's surfaces and atmosphere.
Assign 3 - Methods of Energy Transfer (Due Friday)
Tues Sept 15: Please review our notes and discussion of Topic B - Methods of Heat Transfer. Method 1 is (1) radiation - the transfer of energy in the form of waves. Radiation can travel through space in the absence of particles (vacuum). Be familiar with Earth's Energy Budget and what percentage of radiation is absorbed or reflected. Note that this budget can be upset by events such as the greenhouse effect. Be familiar with 3 types of radiation in the spectrum: (a) visible light (can see), (b) infrared light - (can feel as warmth) and (c) UV light (can damage). (2) Conduction - transfer of energy by direct collision of particles. Since collisions are necessary this happens best in solids (lithosphere) and liquids (hydrosphere) but is minimal in the atmosphere. This relates to how close particles are positioned in these states. (3) Convection / Advection - transfer of energy through the movement of particles in a circular path...to be continued.
Mon Sept 14: Please review our continued notes and discussion of Topic A: Weather vs Climate, Weather Lore and Earth's Spheres. Be familiar with how weather is different from climate. Note weather lore and its reliability. Finally we explored the 4 interacting spheres of the Earth: (1) atmosphere (troposphere), (2) lithosphere, (3) hydrosphere and (4) biosphere.
Assign 2 - Weather Lore (Due Date: Tuesday)
Thurs Sept 10: Welcome to Science 1206. I am looking forward to working with you throughout the year. This was an introductory class. We distributed course descriptors and explained how you will be evaluated in this course. The Google Classroom Code was provided and this electronic classroom will display all course content and is where assignments, quizzes and test dates will be posted. We introduced Unit 1 - Weather Dynamics. Topic A explores Weather vs Climate, Weather Lore and Earth's Spheres. Note the definition of weather and its various components along with appropriate units: (1) temperature, (2) precipitation, (3) atmospheric pressure, (4) humidity, (5) wind speed and direction and (6) sky cover. ...to be continued.
Assignment 1 - Describing Weather (Due Date: Mon)
