Energy Flow
ENERGY FLOW is about how energy moves through the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living things. See Overview.
Contents
| Chapters | Investigations | Stay Current |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What Is Energy? | Chapter 1 | |
| 2. Why Do Volcanoes Erupt? | 2.1. Subduction Zone Map | Chapter 2 |
| 3. What Heat’s the Earth’s Interior? | 3.1 Convection | Chapter 3 |
| 4. How Does the Sun Shine? | (Space Science Laboratory) 4.1 Space Weather Now | Chapter 4 |
| 5. What Is Light? | Chapter 5 | |
| 6. How Does Energy Flow in the Atmosphere? | 6.1. Equilibrium 6.2. Heat Trappers Inc | Chapter 6 |
| 7. What Causes Thunderstorms & Tornados? | 7.1. Sun Beams 7.2 Wind Maps | Chapter 7 |
| 8. What is El Niño? | Chapter 8 | |
| 9. How Does Energy Flow in Living Systems? | 9.1 Energy Flow & You | Chapter 9 |
Overview
Analyzing the flow of energy is vital to understanding Earth systems. Students investigate the process of convection and how it relates to earthquakes and volcanoes, global winds, ocean currents. They experiment with the variables that affect water flowing through a bottle as a model for dynamic equilibrium and how the greenhouse effect is expected to change the Earth’s climate. Students learn about energy that flows through living systems can be stored over millions of years as fossil fuels; and how that energy is being released to power our civilizations for a few short decades. Students think about how the flow of energy through Earth systems affects their daily lives and how life might be different for their children and grandchildren.