Inquiry into Physical Science: A Contextual Approach Volume 1: Global Warming: Is Global Warming Really Occurring?

Author(s): Roger Nanes

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INQUIRY INTO PHYSICAL SCIENCE: A CONTEXTUAL APPROACH, Volume 1 provides the fundamental underpinnings required for all three volumes and uses global warming as a context to introduce the ideas of heat, temperature and energy. For a one semester course, Volume 1 combined with Volume 2 or 3 is recommended, or all three volumes can be used together for a longer course.

New material in this edition includes:

  • A much-expanded discussion of pictorial representations of energy transfer and transformation and the introduction of graphical representations.
Since the first edition was published in 2003, a great deal has been learned about the scientific basis of global warming. What was a single capstone activity on global warming in the first edition has been replaced by three new activities that focus on the connection between natural and anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its feedback effects on climate.

 

 Global Warming Unit
Leading Question: Is Global Warming Really Occurring?
 
Chapter 1 Introduction--Underpinnings
 
Preface--A Message to the Student
1.1 Fundamental vs. Derived Properties
1.2 Units
1.3 Area
1.4 Volume
1.4.1 Measuring Volume
Making Connections: Area and Volume
1.5 Ratios
1.6 Density
1.6.1 Understanding Density
1.7 Exponential Notation
Making Connections: The Arithmetic of Exponential Numbers
1.8 Straight Line Graphs
1.8.1 Graphical Analysis of Mass vs. Volume
1.9 Curved Graphs
1.9.1 Height of Liquid in a Container vs. Volume
Making Connections: Density and Graphical Analysis
1.10 Let's Keep Things in Proportion
1.10.1 Understanding Proportion
 
Chapter 2 What is Energy?
 
2.1 The "Money" of Nature
2.2 Storage, Transfer, and Transformation of Energy
Energy Storage
2.2.1 How is Energy Stored?
Energy Transfer
Energy Transformation
2.2.2 How is Energy Transferred and Transformed?
Making Connections: Energy Transfer & Transformation
2.3 A Pictorial Representation for Money Flow in a Bank
2.4 A Pictorial Representation for Energy Flow in a Natural System
2.4.1 A Pictorial Representation For Energy Flow
2.5 A Graphical Representation for Energy Flow
Making Connections: Energy Representations
2.6 Power
2.6.1 Power: Nature's "Rate of Pay"
 
 
Chapter 3 Heat and Temperature
 
3.1 Physiological Determinations of Temperature
3.1.1 The Sense of Touch as a Thermometer
3.2 Temperature Scales
3.2.1 Temperature Scales
3.3 The Kelvin Scale and Absolute Zero
Interactive Demonstration--What!?--20 Is Not Twice 10?
3.4 Is There a Difference Between Heat and Temperature?
3.4.1 Thermal Mixing of Water Samples
A Diagrammatic Approach to Mixing Water Samples
3.4.2 (I) A Chart Method for Heat Transfer/Part 1
3.4.2 (II) A Chart Method for Heat Transfer/Part 2
Making Connections: Heat & Temperature (I)
3.4.3 An Equation for Heat Transfer
3.4.4 A Hot Mystery
Making Connections: Heat & Temperature (II)
3.5 Heat Transfer
3.6 Temperature Revisited--What Is Temperature?
Interactive Demonstration--Temperature and Random Motion
 
Chapter 4 Thermal Equilibrium of the Earth
 
4.1 Thermal Equilibrium--Another Perspective
4.1.1 Heating and Cooling Curves
4.1.2 Dynamic Equilibrium--A Balancing Act
Making Connections: Thermal Equilibrium
4.2 Electromagnetic Radiation
Interactive Demonstration--Listening For the Infrared
4.3 The Input Energy--The Solar Constant
4.3.1 Measuring the Solar Constant
Making Connections: The Solar Constant
4.4 The Output Energy--Infrared Radiation
4.4.1 Color Temperature of a Light Bulb
Making Connections: Thermal Radiation
4.5 Below Zero!? Something is Wrong Here!
 
Chapter 5 The Role of the Atmosphere
 
5.1 The Atmosphere to the Rescue
Interactive Demonstration--How High Does The Atmosphere Go?
5.2 The Interaction of Light with Matter
5.2.1 How Does a Piece of Colored Plastic Get Its Color?
Making Connections: Colored Filters
5.2.2 Solid, Liquid, or Gas: Is the Color the Same?
5.2.3 Absorption Spectra
5.3 The Greenhouse Effect
5.3.1 Infrared Absorption--The Greenhouse Effect
Making Connections: Greenhouse Effect
5.4 Global Warming--Is the Earth's Equilibrium Changing?
5.4.1 The "Natural Rhythms" of Atmospheric CO2
5.4.2 Is Global Warming Really Occurring?
5.4.3 Atmospheric CO2:Thermostat or Amplifier?

Roger Nanes

 

INQUIRY INTO PHYSICAL SCIENCE: A CONTEXTUAL APPROACH, Volume 1 provides the fundamental underpinnings required for all three volumes and uses global warming as a context to introduce the ideas of heat, temperature and energy. For a one semester course, Volume 1 combined with Volume 2 or 3 is recommended, or all three volumes can be used together for a longer course.

New material in this edition includes:

  • A much-expanded discussion of pictorial representations of energy transfer and transformation and the introduction of graphical representations.
Since the first edition was published in 2003, a great deal has been learned about the scientific basis of global warming. What was a single capstone activity on global warming in the first edition has been replaced by three new activities that focus on the connection between natural and anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its feedback effects on climate.

 

 Global Warming Unit
Leading Question: Is Global Warming Really Occurring?
 
Chapter 1 Introduction--Underpinnings
 
Preface--A Message to the Student
1.1 Fundamental vs. Derived Properties
1.2 Units
1.3 Area
1.4 Volume
1.4.1 Measuring Volume
Making Connections: Area and Volume
1.5 Ratios
1.6 Density
1.6.1 Understanding Density
1.7 Exponential Notation
Making Connections: The Arithmetic of Exponential Numbers
1.8 Straight Line Graphs
1.8.1 Graphical Analysis of Mass vs. Volume
1.9 Curved Graphs
1.9.1 Height of Liquid in a Container vs. Volume
Making Connections: Density and Graphical Analysis
1.10 Let's Keep Things in Proportion
1.10.1 Understanding Proportion
 
Chapter 2 What is Energy?
 
2.1 The "Money" of Nature
2.2 Storage, Transfer, and Transformation of Energy
Energy Storage
2.2.1 How is Energy Stored?
Energy Transfer
Energy Transformation
2.2.2 How is Energy Transferred and Transformed?
Making Connections: Energy Transfer & Transformation
2.3 A Pictorial Representation for Money Flow in a Bank
2.4 A Pictorial Representation for Energy Flow in a Natural System
2.4.1 A Pictorial Representation For Energy Flow
2.5 A Graphical Representation for Energy Flow
Making Connections: Energy Representations
2.6 Power
2.6.1 Power: Nature's "Rate of Pay"
 
 
Chapter 3 Heat and Temperature
 
3.1 Physiological Determinations of Temperature
3.1.1 The Sense of Touch as a Thermometer
3.2 Temperature Scales
3.2.1 Temperature Scales
3.3 The Kelvin Scale and Absolute Zero
Interactive Demonstration--What!?--20 Is Not Twice 10?
3.4 Is There a Difference Between Heat and Temperature?
3.4.1 Thermal Mixing of Water Samples
A Diagrammatic Approach to Mixing Water Samples
3.4.2 (I) A Chart Method for Heat Transfer/Part 1
3.4.2 (II) A Chart Method for Heat Transfer/Part 2
Making Connections: Heat & Temperature (I)
3.4.3 An Equation for Heat Transfer
3.4.4 A Hot Mystery
Making Connections: Heat & Temperature (II)
3.5 Heat Transfer
3.6 Temperature Revisited--What Is Temperature?
Interactive Demonstration--Temperature and Random Motion
 
Chapter 4 Thermal Equilibrium of the Earth
 
4.1 Thermal Equilibrium--Another Perspective
4.1.1 Heating and Cooling Curves
4.1.2 Dynamic Equilibrium--A Balancing Act
Making Connections: Thermal Equilibrium
4.2 Electromagnetic Radiation
Interactive Demonstration--Listening For the Infrared
4.3 The Input Energy--The Solar Constant
4.3.1 Measuring the Solar Constant
Making Connections: The Solar Constant
4.4 The Output Energy--Infrared Radiation
4.4.1 Color Temperature of a Light Bulb
Making Connections: Thermal Radiation
4.5 Below Zero!? Something is Wrong Here!
 
Chapter 5 The Role of the Atmosphere
 
5.1 The Atmosphere to the Rescue
Interactive Demonstration--How High Does The Atmosphere Go?
5.2 The Interaction of Light with Matter
5.2.1 How Does a Piece of Colored Plastic Get Its Color?
Making Connections: Colored Filters
5.2.2 Solid, Liquid, or Gas: Is the Color the Same?
5.2.3 Absorption Spectra
5.3 The Greenhouse Effect
5.3.1 Infrared Absorption--The Greenhouse Effect
Making Connections: Greenhouse Effect
5.4 Global Warming--Is the Earth's Equilibrium Changing?
5.4.1 The "Natural Rhythms" of Atmospheric CO2
5.4.2 Is Global Warming Really Occurring?
5.4.3 Atmospheric CO2:Thermostat or Amplifier?

Roger Nanes