Phosphate and the rock cycle

10/4/2013 Phosphorous and the Rock Cycle
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/rock-cycle.htm

Phosphorous is necessary for all life processes. Phosphate is part of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) the energy molecule that is a product of cellular respiration. 

Phosphorous is released from rocks through weathering, a stage in the rock cycle. You will complete the weathering lab, looking at the effect of temperature on the weathering of limestone (represented by calcium carbonate tablets). Questions 1-8 on page 5 of the Global Science Textbook need to be answered. Remember, experimental design includes: independent variable, dependent variable, and the control. Make sure you talk about safety.







DOL: Write a quick expository essay explaining how the rock cycle works. You should start and end in the same place. Make sure you explain at which stages you would find sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock.

Answer the following for homework:

1.The reservoir of the element phosphorus exists in various rock and soil                       .

2. Plants absorb phosphate from the            or               solution.

3. Phosphate is first assimilated into organic compounds as              phosphate and then passed to various other organisms through the food chain.

4. At any point on the food chain, an organism may use organic phosphorus in respiration. when this occurs, the phosphate is released back to the environment in                .

5. Humans disrupt the phosphorus cycle by             and           .

10/2/2013

Nitrogen Cycle Questions



60. The main reservoir of N is in the air, which is about ______________ percent nitrogen gas.

61. Plants cannot assimilate nitrogen gas from the atmosphere. (true or false)

62. To be assimilated by higer plants, nitrogen must be present as a __________or __________ions.

63. A number of bacteria and certain blue green algae can convert nitrogen gas to the ammonium form, a process called nitrogen _________.

64. The bacteria have mutualistic relationship with the ___________ family of plants.

65. Once fixed, nitrogen may be passed down food chains, excreted as ________________, and recycle as the mineral nutrient called __________.

66. Nitrogen eventually  returns back to the atmosphere because certain bacteria convert the nitrate and ammonia compounds back to ___________.

Write a one paragraph essay explaining how earthworms cycle nitrogen back into the ecosystem.

Questions from class 10/1

What is the law Conservation of Mass?
Matter is neither created or destroyed.
What does this have to do with Environmental Systems?
All the natural chemicals (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, water) on earth are continuously cycled through the biosphere via biogeochemical cycles. 
Design an experiment to test the law of conservation of mass using:

Alka seltzer tablet
a baggie
a rubber band
water
a beaker

You will need to write a complete lab report that includes data tables and graphs. Use the lab report rubric provided to help.

Use percent error to analyze your before and after results:

|Expected Value - Exact Value|	× 100%
|Exact Value|

Record the change in mass below

Group	period 3	period 4	period 5	period 6	period 7	period 8
1			+ 5.4g	+2g	+2.6g	+.3g
2			-.2 g	+4.10g	-.5g	-.2g
3			- .2 g	0g	-.3g	-.3g
4			-.2 g	0g	+4.3g	+4 g
5			-.27 g	0g	-.09g	-.2g
6			-1.0 g	+.23g	-.3g	+8.9g

Lab Report Rubric

	Excellent (4 pts)	Good (3 pts)	Adequate (2 pts)	Needs Work (1 pt)	Not attempted (0)
Introduction	1. Includes the question to be answered by the lab 2. states hypothesis that is based on research and/or sound reasoning 3. title is relevant.	One of the "excellent" conditions is not met, two conditions met	Two of the "excellent" conditions is not met , one is met	Introduction present, no exemplary conditions met
Methods	Description or step-by-step process is included, could be repeated by another scientist	Description included, some steps are vague or unclear	The description gives generalities, enough for reader to understand how the experiment was conducted	Would be difficult to repeat, reader must guess at how the data was gathered or experiment conducted
Data and Analysis	Results and data are clearly recorded, organized so it is easy for the reader to see trends. All appropriate labels are included	Results are clear and labeled, trends are not obvious or there are minor errors in organization	Results are unclear, missing labels, trends are not obvious, disorganized, there is enough data to show the experiment was conducted	Results are disorganized or poorly recorded, do not make sense ; not enough data was taken to justify results
Conclusions	1. Summarizes data used to draw conclusions 2. Conclusions follow data (not wild guesses or leaps of logic), 3. Discusses applications or real world connections 4. Hypothesis is rejected or accepted based on the data.	3 of 4 of the "excellent" conditions is met	2 of the 4 excellent conditions met	1 of the 4 excellent conditions met
Format and Lab Protocols	Lab report submitted as directed, and on time. Directions were followed, stations were cleaned. All safety protocols followed.	Most of the excellent conditions were met; possible minor errors in format or procedures	Some of the excellent conditions met, directions were not explicitly followed, lab stations may have been left unclean or group not practicing good safety (such as not wearing goggles)	Student did not follow directions, practiced unsafe procedures, goofed around in the lab, left a mess or equipment lost
	Total (out of 20 )

9/26/2013

Tomorrow's test is 20 multiple choice and two short answer.

Today, you get to play the lottery.

Look at all three reviews, and as a group identify the important questions. What questions will I ask on this test.

Each one of you will write out 10 possible multiple choice, and 2 possible short answers.

You can earn 1 point bonus for every question that matches my test. GOOD LUCK. Roll the dice, pull the handle, spin the wheel.

9/23/2013

Rate three land management options using the adaptive land management rubric.

Write a paragraph explaining which strategy is the best for the old school ecosystem. Explain how this strategy meets the criteria on the rubric.

Write  a second paragraph describing your plan for the old school ecosystem. 

Complete questions 44-53 on the review for tomorrow. Use pages 14-18 in the text.

You can earn .5 extra credit on the six weeks exam for each question answered.

9/20

Develop a rubric for adaptive land management.

Identify three strategies for rehabilitating the old school ecosystem.

Explain how your plan follows four of the five strategies for adaptive land management.

Exchange and rate your neighbors plan.