Question #1 - Final

The geosphere is associated with the states of terrestrial matter: solid (earth), liquid (water), gas (air), and plasma (fire). The atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass. The hydrosphere is the collective mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet. Finally, the biosphere is the part of the Earth, including air, land, surface rocks, and water, within which life occurs, and which biotic processes in turn alter or transform. The hydrosphere is essential for life, in that case the biosphere would not be around unless we had the hyrosphere. Plants would also not be able to grow if there were no geosphere, and if there were not plants there would be no life. So, it is essential that we have every one of these major systems. A concern is climate change, such as global warming caused by anthropogenic releases of greenhouse gases, most notably carbon dioxide, and their interactions with humans and the natural environment. I will used this information in the future because now I know that we would not be here unless we had every one of the major systems. We need to changed our ways, like cut down polluion, so that we can keep these. Common good supports this cause I would be doing a good thing for the world, keeping it going. People would argue that it'll be hard to change this much, but it'll be worth it to save the planet.

Sources:
1. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
24 May 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_major_system
2. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
20 May 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_environment

Pictures:
1. Image:Devils Punchbowl Waterfall, New Zealand.jpg
2. Image:Seawifs global biosphere.jpg

Question #6 - Final

Converging plate boundries are the ones that move together, these are in the form of trench and island arc systems. Diverging pull apart from eachother, mid-ocean ridges are created as magma from the mantle upwells through a crack in the oceanic crust and cools. Transform are plate material is neither created nor destroyed at these boundaries, but rather plates slide past each other, these boundries are where the spreading centers are offset by transform faults anywhere from a few meters to several kilometers in length. Earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trench formation occur along plate boundaries. In the case of earthqueakes these happen by transform or convergent type plate boundaries, which form the largest fault surfaces on earth, they will move past each other smoothly and aseismically only if there are no irregularities or asperities along the boundary that increase the frictional resistance. Three major types of valcanos are shield valcano, stratovolcano, and cinder cones. Shield volcanos are large with shallow-sloping sides. Stratovolcanoes are tall, conical volcano composed of many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. Cinder cones are steep conical hill of volcanic fragments that accumulate around and downwind from a volcanic vent. The Ring of Fire is an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and plate movements. I'll use this information in the future because now I know all about how the plates effect the earth. Before I never knew how much of an impact it had on the earth. Others might say that is doesn't matter, but it does because the reason the earth is like this today is because of the plates moving. Common good would supports this because now I know and I can inform everyone about it.

Sources:
1. Maggi Glasscoe
9/8/98
http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate4.htm
2. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
8 June 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics

Pictures:
1. Image:Tectonic plate boundaries.png
2. Image:Pacific Ring of Fire.png

Question #3 - Final

Renewable energy means using natural factors such as wind or solar effectively. Nonrenewable energy means using natural factors like oil or nuclear supplies that can't be used again. Both renewable and nonrenewable can change form, this is an example of the conservation of energy. This law states that energy can not be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another. There is the same amount of energy here on Earth as there was 25 years ago, the only difference is it's in a different place or form. Nonrenewable resources is the overall cost of he earths energy is major pollution in the air and the benefit are that we have energy which makes our everyday lives easier. For renwable resources H2O is 70% of the Earth’s surface and 80% of fruit and vegetables are made of water. Our bodies are 50 - 70% water and we lose about 2.5 liters through urine and feces, skin and lungs. In the long run though using renewable resources can do good for out planet. For example, groundwater could be removed from an aquifer at a rate greater than the sustainable recharge. I will use this information in the future because now I know what I can do to help the planet. I can use better resources to produce less pollution. Eventhough it will be hard because you will have to change a lot of things, still you will be helping the planet be a better place for everyone. Common Good is a core democratic value to support this. I will be helping the plants and everyone living on it.

Sources:
1. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
9 June 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_energy
2. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
10 June 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_resource

Pictures:
1. Image:Global Carbon Emission by Type to Y2004.png
2. Image:Windenergy.jpg