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2000-2001
2001-2002
* The Power of the Exponent
* A Treasure Lost
* Breathless
* Evolution: The Only Constant is Change
* Enzyme Activity and Computer Modeling
* Earth Fissures
* Aerobic Metabolism
* The Science of Survival
* Tailpipe Emissions
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2001-2002 SyRIS Science Module Collection
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| Module Title: |
| Air Pollution and Acid Rain |
| Faculty Team Members (Discipline): |
| Tim Frank (Engineering, Physics, Math), Marshall Logvin (Biology), Jean Revie (Biology), Sian Proctor (Geology), and Robert Curfman (Lab Technician) |
| College: |
| South Mountain Community College |
| Student Group Targeted: |
| Non-science majors in environmental geology courses (GLG110/111: Geologic Disasters and the Environment) |
| How Will the SyRIS Goals Be Met? |
Interdisciplinary Component: Tailpipe emissions are an inevitable consequence of our mobile society that relies on internal combustion engines for transportation. This module explores the compounds produced by combustion engines and their resulting consequences. The module examines the exploration and drilling for oil (geology), how oil is refined into gasoline (chemistry), how engines burn gasoline to generate movement (engineering & physics), what are the by-products produced from the burning of gasoline through tailpipe emissions (chemistry), how do these byproducts affect human health (health science), vegetation (biology), and the environment (environmental science). We plan on developing instructional material that demonstrates to students how our dependence on internal combustion engines affects the environment and why. While the module will be tested in a geology course, we hope to make the material general enough so that it could be adapted to other science classes where different aspects of tailpipe emissions could be applicable.
Active Learning Strategies:
- Cooperative Learning - Students work in groups to complete classroom and lab exercises. The module includes numerous discussion activities.
- Technology-based Learning - Students use computers with Internet access to research answers to questions and PowerPoint software to make a presentation over their experimental results. Also, students must use calculators to analyze data.
- Project-based Learning - Students are engaged in projects that involve problem solving and using the scientific method.
- Writing -Students are required to provide written answers to the questions asked within their module handouts. This includes making diagrams and careful descriptions of the observable results from their experiments.
- Group Presentation - Groups prepare a PowerPoint presentation summarizing what they learned and their experimental results. The presentation is evaluated and included in the grade for the module.
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| Module Overview: |
Background: Air pollution is a serious problem in industrialized countries. Although it is primarily thought of as a "big-city" problem, its effects are not just localized to the pollution source region. While air pollution is known to cause a wide variety of health problems, many of these adverse effects are difficult to observe directly. In fact, some of the problems associated with air pollution - such as asthma - can only be proven on a statistical basis. However, acid rain is one of the few side effects of air pollution that can be directly observed. In this module students get to learn what air pollution is, some commons sources of air pollution, how air pollution can cause acid rain, and perform some experiments to test the effects of acid rain on the environment.
Intended Use: The activities in this module use the inquiry method to introduce air pollution and acid rain. After studying air pollution and acid rain, students work in groups to setup multiple experiments to observe the effects of acid rain on the environment. In the process, students also learn about acids/bases and the pH scale. At the end, students give a PowerPoint presentation over their findings.
Potential Significance: The hands-on activities provide students with relevant experiences of the cause/effect relationships that occur every day between man and nature. The exercises improve the students' problem solving skills as they discover these relationships. It also provides students with a greater appreciation of the influence technology has on their lives.
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| Module Objectives |
Students will be able to:
- Describe the basic methods used in oil exploration and drilling.
- Describe how oil is converted into gasoline at refineries.
- Explain the basic principles behind an internal combustion engine.
- Identify some of the pollutants emitted from combustion engines.
- Describe some of the direct consequences of these emissions on health.
- Describe some of the direct consequences of these emissions on the growth of vegetation and the germination of seeds.
- Explain what is acid rain, how emissions from combustion engines contribute to acid rain, and the effects of acid rain on natural ecosystems.
- Identify and describe at least three of the consequences on the environment of our society's dependence on automobiles.
- Produce a spreadsheet to present and analyze data gathered while performing the module's exercises.
- Create and deliver a presentation of their module experience.
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| Module Materials: |
 see full record from Maricopa Learning eXchange (MLX)
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