PHSC 210 WEEK 2 Mastering Geology Assignments 1

Mastering Geology Assignments 1

 Item 1

Earth is a dynamic body, with many separate bodies/spheres that are closely interrelated. The spheres comprise the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere. The complex interaction between the various spheres is what is referred to as Earth system.

The way water moves from water bodies (hydrosphere) to the atmosphere, and back to solid Earth and its relation to plants and animals is a good example of a process that is part of a complex Earth system.

Part A

Examine the figure below which is an aerial view of mudslide that occurred in Caraballeda, Venezuela in 1999 after an extensive rainfall. Now select the components of the Earth system that created and were affected by this natural disaster to demonstrate the interconnectivity of Earth system.

Select all that apply.

Item 2

Part A - Question 1

By how much would solar have to grow to match the current level of hydroelectric power?

Part B - Question 2

Which source represents 32% of renewables?

Part C - Question 3

Which energy source’s annual growth rate is about four times greater than that of tidal power?

Part D - Question 4

Assuming that renewable energy sources will contribute more and more to power generation in the future, do you expect the growth rates for these renewable energy sources to increase or decrease over the next 30-year period (2000 to 2030)?

Part E - Question 5

Which projection has nonrenewables comprising roughly 50% of our energy production in 2050?

Part F - Question 6

Assume depletion of nonrenewables requires renewables (excluding combustibles and waste) to account for more than 30% by 2040. What growth rates of renewables must be achieved and by when?

Item 3

Part A

Many pollutants from coal-fired power plants are properly managed today. Which of the following is currently considered to be the biggest threat to the environment?

Part B

All fossil fuels, including coal, are considered an indirect form of ____________ energy.

Part C

Where is electricity made at a coal-fired power plant?

Part D

During peak usage, what happens to the cost of electricity?

Part E

What color smoke coming from a coal-fired power plant would indicate wasted fuel?

Item 4

Part A

How much garbage does the average person produce in a month?

Part B

When our oil supply is depleted, a new material will need to be used to produce _________.

Part C

Which of the following would be considered household hazardous waste?

Part D

What hazardous material do electronics contain, making them important to recycle properly?

Part E

What hazardous material do fluorescent light bulbs contain, making it important to dispose of them properly?

Part F

___________ would help prevent the creation of leachate.

Part G

Although “dry tombing” or capping a landfill after it is full is necessary, what problem can it create?

Item 5

Scientists use the scientific method to ensure their studies are reputable and valuable. This requires that they make observations, collect data, make further observations, and finally propose hypotheses. Hypotheses – an untested idea can be accepted or refuted based on further testing. We usually think of obervation (which is based on what you see) verses inference (which is an attempt at explaining an occurence based on previous knowledge). We use the scientific method every day without even thinking about it! In this activity, you will determine whether a particular scenario is an observation or an inference, to better understand how these two terminologies are different between themselves and from a hypothesis.

Part A

In the example below, all of the items are examples of either observations or inference based on a situation where you walk into a dark room, flip the wall switch, and the light does not come on.

Drag the appropriate items into their respective bins. Each item may be used only once.

Item 6

Scientists use the scientific method to ensure their studies are reputable and valuable. This requires that they make observations, propose a hypothesis or series of hypotheses (untested ideas) to test a particular theory – a thoroughly tested idea). For instance, Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift was backed by evidence and observations, but the evidence was controversial, and Wegener couldn’t offer a persuasive explanation of how continents could actually move. So his hypothesis was generally rejected.

New observations and evidence, such as the volcanic eruptions along mid-ocean ridges and the subduction of oceanic crust beneath trenches explained the motion of Earth’s plates (rather than the continents themselves, as Wegener had hypothesized). Similarly, after several obervations and testing, the Big Bang emerged as an explanation for the development of the universe.

Part A

Each of the following is either a hypothesis, theory or observation.

Drag the appropriate items into their respective bins. Each item may be used only once.