Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Exam #2 Essay Questions

I am a little early in posting these, but I decided no one would mind too much if I posted them today. I reserve the right to slightly change the questions when you see them again on the test, so make sure to stay flexible and read the questions when you take the exam.

1. Why is the ocean salty while the overwhelming majority of rivers and streams are fresh? In other words, describe how the water cycle and the rock cycle interact. Make sure to cycle through both the water and rock cycles completely in your answer. Include any and all processes that are involved in the either cycle.
2. Describe the theory of plate tectonics. Include in your answer a clear description of the theory along with evidence discussed in class that supports the theory.
3. Sedimentary rocks make up less than 5% of the crust, but they represent many of the rocks you will encounter. Discuss the process by which a sedimentary rock is formed? Clearly describe each of the steps in the process. Is there anything that cannot become a sedimentary rock? Explain.
4. Greenhouse gases are much maligned, so we need to rehabilitate their image. Please describe, in detail, the greenhouse effect and the clearly state the significant role greenhouse gases play in this process. Clearly state the interaction between greenhouse gases and electromagnetic radiation.


The best strategy for getting 100% of the credit on each of these questions would look something like this:
  1. Sit down in your best study environment with your notebook and textbook and answer each of the questions.
  2. Get together with trusted fellow students from ISCI 2001 and then decide what the perfect answer would look like then "grade" each others answers.
  3. Compare your groups perfect answer to the answer of other groups and then...
  4. Memorize the correct answer.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Light and aging

Found this interesting article (click here) on the used of near infrared light to reduce wrinkles. We are not talking about skin in class, but light has been a consistent part of our discussion for weeks.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Flat panels and the environment

Check out this article on the impact of electronics manufacturing and global warming. Very relevant to our current topic in class.

Flatscreen TVs turn up the heat on climate

Mark your calendars!

Dates you'll want to write down....

10/29 Quiz on The Hydrologic Cycle; paper and pen quiz, so you need to know the names of things! Quiz and test on The Hydrologic Cycle will include material delivered by classmates.
11/3 Quiz on The Atmosphere; paper and pen quiz
11/7 Test on Unit 3, covering all of the following lectures/topics
  • Plate Tectonics
  • Rocks and Minerals
  • The Hydrologic Cycle
  • The Atmosphere
The Unit 3 test will be a big event, so you need to start studying ASAP (if you have not already done so). There will be two essay questions on this exam. I will give you a list of possible essay questions by the end of next week. You will also have a lot of completion and short answer questions on the test.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Final exam schedule

Lindsey did some searching and found the Final Exam schedule on the NGCSU website. Click here to check it out!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

A little light reading

If you are looking for a little, light reading when you take a break from your studies, check out the following article in New Scientist. It follows from the recent material we have covered in class. Enjoy!

Moving the Earth: a planetary survival guide

Monday, October 20, 2008

Obama's statement about the ACF

Alli was right. I don't know how this slipped past me. Click here for an article on Obama's statement about the need to end the tri-state water wars.

Monday (10/20) notes

Today we will be doing the following in class:
  1. Taking the Rocks & Minerals Clicker quiz
  2. Completing the Water Cycle Notes
  3. Beginning The Atmosphere notes
For Wednesday, please do the following...
  1. Read Ch. 25 if you have not already done so.
  2. Print out a copy of the Ecosystem Column Instructions
  3. Come dressed for lab (you may get a little dirty) on Wednesday
  4. Bring a sandwich size ziplock bag full of fallen leaves