Physics and Chemistry Found in Vital Signs of Planet Earth (CIP2)

Activity Description

1. Go to: "NASA Global Climate Change Eyes on Earth" site located at http://climate.nasa.gov/.

2. Review all of the vital signs of planet Earth. Explore the related links, as well as other areas of this site.

3. For each of the main vital signs (Arctic Sea Ice, Carbon Dioxide, Sea Level, Global Temperature, Land Ice) identify at least one NSCI 100 topic (basic chemistry and physics) that you feel can be connected to the vital sign in some manner. For example:

Carbon Dioxide: Carbon Dioxide (CO2). What does that mean? Perhaps discuss the bonding in CO2 (covalent);What chemical processes make CO2? What chemical processes consume CO2? Any of these can be pursued singularly.

Global Temperature: Temperature. What is temperature? Look it up. It is the average kinetic energy of particles. What does that mean? Or perhaps temperature scales? How many are there? Why?

Land Ice: Ice. That's what phase of water? What does phase change mean? What types are there? Or perhaps what is unusual about the solid form of water floating in the liquid form.

You may only use one of these examples in your submission. Come up with your own connections for the other items.

Connect to topics in your text. Any scientific term found in your text is eligible for use.

4. For each topic identified, thoroughly respond to each question or direction below:

a. Identify the topic using the scientific term(s) and identify the page number in your textbook where this topic/concept/term(s) is found.

b. Conduct informational research on the topic. Summarize the results of this literature search and include references.

c. Discuss your understanding of the basic chemistry or physics of the topic. This discussion does not need to be within the context of the vital sign. Explain your understanding of the concept using examples and information that make sense to you and makes your understanding visible to the reader.

d. Now, discuss your understanding of how the topic/concepts/term(s) can be related to a vital sign.

e. Repeat this process for more connections to the vital signs, related links, or other areas on the initial site.

f. You should have a total of 7 different chemistry and/or physics topics/concepts/term(s) for a complete assignment. This means you might double up on connections to certain vital signs OR connect to related links or other areas on the initial site.

5. Submit your work to the Assignments Folder by due date. Feel free to openly discuss this assignment in the weekly Forums.

Evaluation/Rubric

Consistent with course policy and with all prior and future evaluations, this work will be scored based upon the general rubric distributed at the beginning of this course. This general rubric encourages you to strive to demonstrate maximum understanding and not just meet minimum requirements. Keep this rubric in mind for every assignment you do. Make it R.EA.L. - Reach. Expand. Achieve. Learn.