EESC-101 || with 100% Accurate Solutions.
Science correct answers Systematic observation of events in order to discover facts about them.
Also a body of knowledge. Can be verified for further investigation. Is a process of discovery
that requires reproducibility, peer review, and skepticism
Environmental Science correct answers Interdisciplinary study of the environment and its
interactions. It includes ecology, biology, chemistry, atmospheric science, oceanography,
geology (classic sciences) and also human-related disciplines like ethics, economics,
engineering, poli. science, history, sociology, anthropology and archeology. It also includes the
biotic, abiotic, evidence, objectivity and ecological footprint
What is the criterion to decide whether a statement is in the realm of science? correct answers
Disprovability. Whether it is possible, at least in principle, to disprove the statement. Science
starts by disproving a statement. If you can think of a test that could disprove a statement, then
that statement can be said to be scientific. If there is not a test, then the statement is said to be
nonscientific
Scientific Method correct answers a set of methods that scientists use to investigate natural
phenomena or in the environment. it includes: 1. Observation (of a broad or specific topic. the
why and starting point) 2. Formulate a hypothesis (best guess to kick start your study based on
the scientist's background) 3. Test the hypothesis (or make a prediction. being able to reproduce
them) - after many tests: formulate theory (a graduated hypothesis) 4. If no exceptions -
formulate law (no other one that disproves it, as good as it gets) 5. Continual re-examination
(peer review to ensure quality. helpful to the body of knowledge)
Hypothesis correct answers An explanation of an observation in nature that is capable of being
disproved. Best guess based on scientific observation. Can be very broad or very specific
depending on the scientist proposing it
Theory correct answers Verified and widely accepted hypothesis (it has been repeated over and
over again)
Law correct answers a description of what we find in nature that ALWAYS happens in the same
way. Hypothesis that has been widely accepted and cannot be disproven. There are not many.
Observations of how something looks like, rather than explain
What are the 2 types of data for testing Hypotheses? correct answers Independent and dependent
variable
Independent Variable correct answers Variable that is manipulated by the investigator; affects
the dependent variable
Dependent Variable correct answers Variable that changes in response to changes in the
independent variable (is the focus of the study)
,Def. Models correct answers A simplified explanation of complex phenomena. Explanations
come from accumulated knowledge from many supported hypotheses. or Tools used to simplify
and investigate complex systems. Models are often: conceptual, physical, mathematical,
pictorial, computer-simulated
explain how the scientific investigation is a feedback process correct answers with context of
current science theories or social values, it starts with initial observations of nature, then
inferences based on the Observations, then a model that relates some o all of the inferences to
explain the observations, then a Hypothesis deduced from the model, then Test of hypothesis,
then data data collection, then Reject or no hypothesis, if yes repeat from Observations, if No
repeat from Test
Inductive Reasoning correct answers Start with a broad hypothesis and find evidence to support
it
Deductive Reasoning correct answers Start with specific observation and verify/falsify
Conceptual Model correct answers Provides a framework for investigation
Physical Model correct answers A tangible representation of a system
Mathematical Model correct answers An equation used to represent a system
Pictorial Model correct answers A visual representation of a system
Computer-simulated Model correct answers A digital representation of a system
Pseudoscience correct answers Ideas presented as scientific but not based on scientific
methodology. e.g. flat earth
Junk Science correct answers scientific research that is intentionally biased. e.g. link between
vaccinations and autism
Explain the importance of peer review in publishing scientific information correct answers an
important aspect of the scientific method, a check of quality of the information to validate the
logic and methodology, how the data was collected and analyzed, and that the reasons to draw
the conclusion are strong and well articulated
the following statement was written by a non-scientist. How do you know? "Scientists say that
the theory of evolution proves that humans and chimpanzees are related but I think it is not
proven, it is only a guess" correct answers First, there is not 100% proof of anything out there
(science doesn't actually prove, but disproves). Second, the use of the word theory is incorrect in
scientific terms. Here is more like a hypothesis (like I have a theory that this and that do X)
Systems Theory correct answers a set of components that function together to act as a whole.
Conceptual framework to helps us understand how interrelationships within that system work,
,including predicting how it will work. Made up of inputs (from the environment), throughputs
(rates of flow) and outputs (to the environment) work. E.g. an urban system or city
Closed System correct answers material is not exchanged across the system boundary. Does not
allow matter to move in or out. energy does. E.g. a pot with a sealed top or the earth from a
functioning perspective, to simplify our understanding of it and not thinking that we have a way
out of our environmental issuses
Open System correct answers not generally contained within boundaries. Some material moves
into or out of the system. Allows energy and matter to move in and out. e.g. precipitation and
solar radiation coming into the water and evaporation and terrestrial radiation coming out of the
ocean
What are Feedback Loops? Types? correct answers A circuit that feeds back some of the Output
to the input of a system (turns output into input). Results in change to the system. E.g. as there
are more births, there is more population and with more population, there are more births. There
are positive and negative feedback loops, and can occur simultaneously. E.g. city population
Positive Feedback correct answers Occurs when an increase in output leads to a further increase
in output. Destabilizing. (Output that feds back and overall disrupts the system, can even break it
down). E.g. ocean temp. rise, leading to Arctic sea ice melting. As reflective ice disappears,
darker ocean waters absorb more heat, resulting in more ocean temp. rise. As temp. increase, the
permafrost thaws a bit more, and the decomposition of this dead material of vegetation under wet
conditions without oxygen turns into CO2 and methane, which adds to the temp. In a sand dunes
environment, an off-road vehicle can destabilize the ecosystem, generating loss of vegetation,
and creating erosion. Other cars would probably widen the path and increase erosion.
Negative Feedback correct answers Occurs when an increase in Output leads to a decrease in
further output. stabilizes the system. E.g. Human body temperature is stable at 37°C. If your
temperature goes up, you can have a heat stroke. The body's response is to sweat, cool you,
dropping your temperature back to your stable 37°C.
Balance def. correct answers Dynamic equilibrium. E.g. Sandy beach is maintained via
deposition and erosion
Homeostasis def. correct answers System that maintains a stable condition. E.g. our bodies sweat
and shiver to regulate our body temp.
Exponential Growth in systems def. correct answers example of positive feedback. growth
occurs at a constant rate per time period but appears to sharply increase. E.g. total human
population. in the 60s the growth rate was 2% the highest of all-time
Doubling Time def. correct answers The time necessary for the quantity being measured to
double. Approx. = 70 divided by annual % growth rate.
, Explain the case of doubling time of the Water hyacinth correct answers an invasive species of
weed native to South America that had invaded North America and South East Asia, was
accidentally brought into Lake Victoria in Africa. With a doubling time of 1 month, at 30 months
there were 1 billion plants covering 13% of the lake growing 3 hectares per day, limiting
accessibility and fishing. It reduced the oxygen and therefore the water quality compromising the
biodiversity of the lake. Ideas explored were a South American beetle and even some 3D print
models but the effective solution was hand labor
T/F. A closed system exchanges material but an open system exchanges energy correct answers
False. In a closed system no material goes out. And in an open system, energy and matter can
move.
Why are positive feedback loops destabilizing? Explain using an example correct answers
Output that feds back and overall disrupts the system, can even break it down. For example, an
invasive species like water hyacinth. If they grow and reproduce, new offspring create more of
the invasive species. overproduction of such species can create competition with others and
introduce a disruption of the balance of the ecosystem
A population has a growth rate of 10% per year. What is the doubling time? How would this
answer change if the growth rate is 5%? correct answers 70/10%=7 years. Only knowing that the
growth rate reduced in half, we can anticipate that the doubling time will be the double of the
time (7x2). With the formula we can corroborate it:
70/5%=14 years
Matter def. correct answers all material that has mass and occupies space; is composed of
elements. Everything we see around us
Element def. correct answers Substance composed of identical atoms. Contains atoms with same
atomic number
Law of Conservation of Matter correct answers Matter may be transformed from one substance
to another but it cannot be created or destroyed
Atom def. correct answers made of electrons (-) and the nucleus, which is composed of protons
(+) and neutrons (no charge). Most of its weight is in the nucleus, E.g. Carbon atom
atomic number def. correct answers number of protons. E.g. to be Carbon you have 6 protons. in
the period table, we have organized elements according to that atomic number. changing your
proton by 1, changes your element!
mass number def. correct answers describes the nucleus (n° protons + n° neutrons)
Isotope def. correct answers Atoms of the same element may have different mass numbers. E.g.
C12: 6 protons, 6 neutrons, stable or doesn't decay. C14: 6 protons, 8 neutrons, unstable changes
overtime, radioactive, half-life decays into Nitrogen after 5730 years. This has a huge application
i.e. carbon dating (we can date any organism up to 60,000 years)
