Students will be able to:

the principles of system and synergy

Systems -explain
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model
and
Synergy
What do all of these pictures have in common? They are all systems.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

System = a set of components that work together in some regular

way to perform a particular function.
A bicycle is an example of a system.

But if the parts of the bike are not assembled to that they work together
it is no longer a system.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

The most powerful characteristic of any and all systems is Synergy.

Synergy occurs when two or more processes interact so that the
combined effect is greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Even if you know how each components of a system work and
behave, you cannot predict how the whole system is going to
work and behave.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

The Human Body is made of Carbon

Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Calcium
Sodium
Magnesium
and many other elements.
If you were to purchase all of these
materials at the store the total cost
would be about
$1.00
All of these materials put together to
make a human is priceless.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

Using 6 sticks of equal length see if your group can create a system.

The tetrahedron is the strongest structure for its volume and surface
Area.
Imagine all the Synergy that is going on in your body which is much
more complex than the tetrahedron.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0_DKeFfObI

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

Sodium

Chlorine

When combines we witness Synergy. Two deadly substances

combined to produce something we cannot live without.

-explain the principles of system and synergy

Systems
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model
and
Synergy
Ecosystems also follow the laws of Synergy as well. It is the
interrelationships between the parts that produces the behavior
of the whole.
Students will be able to:

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

A model is used by scientists to make predictions about a system.

Model A representation or simulation.
It could be conceptual, physical, or mathematical

Systems have storages, flows, inputs, outputs, and processes.

Diagrams show: storages as boxes
flows as arrows
inputs are arrows into a system
outputs are arrows out of a system
processes are labeled

Reductionist vs. Systems approach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoHDhHKD1rI

The Gaia hypothesis

Presented by James Lovelock. He said the Earth is one living and self
regulating system. Gaia in Greek mythology is the mother earth goddess.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

Models are useful because the real thing is

-not available or its impractical.
-too rare, too complex, too big, too expensive.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

Models are useful because the real thing is

-not available or its impractical.
-too rare, too complex, too big, too expensive.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

Models follow the emergent property. Any unique property that presents
itself when two or more components are joined together Example: When
iron is heated to a liquid and rotated it forms a magnetic field.

Systems
and
Synergy

Students will be able to:

-explain the principles of system and synergy
-construct a simple system
-define the properties of a good model

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=PzFvyMQwyQY

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system
-will be able to create a model of an ecosystem of their choice

Ecosystems involve interrelationships among climate, geology, soil,

vegetation, and animals. These components are linked
together transfers of energy and or matter.

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

Two basic processes occur in an ecosystem:

1. The cycling of matter
2. A flow of energy

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of

nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to
ensure the continued existence of living organisms.
Examples are the:

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of

nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to
ensure the continued existence of living organisms.
Examples are the:
Water Cycle

http://www.youtu
be.com/watch?
v=0_c0ZzZfC8c

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of

nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to
ensure the continued existence of living organisms.
Examples are the:
Carbon Cycle

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?
v=OByqdUhWERk

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of

nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to
ensure the continued existence of living organisms.
Examples are the:
Nitrogen Cycle

http://www.youtu
be.com/watch?
v=w03iO_Yu9X
w

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

The cycling of matter. Because there are only finite amounts of

nutrients available on the earth, they must be recycled in order to
ensure the continued existence of living organisms.
Examples are the:
Phosphorus Cycle
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=Au0ZaqXy1wM

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

The flow of solar energy into the earth's systems. As radiant

energy, it is used by plants for food production. As heat, it warms
the planet and powers the weather system. Eventually, the energy is
lost into space in the form of infrared radiation. Most of the energy
needed to cycle matter through earth's systems comes from the sun.

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

Systems are defined by the source and ultimate destination of

their matter and/or energy.
Open system = A system in which both matter and energy are
exchanged across boundaries of the system.

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

Systems are defined by the source and ultimate destination of

their matter and/or energy.
Closed system = A system in which energy is exchanged across
boundaries of the system, but matter is not.

Thermodynami
cs

Students will be able to:

-outline the concept and characteristics of a system
-apply the systems concept to ecosystems
-describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental
systems
-explain the nature of equilibria
-define and explain the principles of positive and negative feedback, homeostasis and selfregulating mechanisms
-define the terms open system, closed system, and and isolated system

Systems are defined by the source and ultimate destination of

their matter and/or energy.
Isolated system = A system in which neither energy or matter
is exchanged across boundaries of the system.
No such system exists.