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Science Object

Atomic Structure: Energy in Atoms Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the third of three Science Objects in the Atomic Structure SciPack. It investigates the forces at work within the nuclei of atoms and the energy contained in within atomic nuclei. Scientists continue to investigate atoms and have discovered even smaller constituents of which neutrons...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the third of three Science Objects in the Atomic Structure SciPack. It investigates the forces at work within the nuclei of atoms and the energy contained in within atomic nuclei. Scientists continue to investigate atoms and have discovered even smaller constituents of which neutrons and protons are made. The nuclear forces that hold the nucleus of an atom together, at nuclear distances, are almost always stronger than the electric forces that would make it fly apart. Nuclear reactions convert a fraction of the mass of interacting particles into energy, and they can release much greater amounts of energy than interactions between atoms. Fission is the splitting of a large nucleus into smaller pieces. Fusion is the joining of two nuclei at extremely high temperature and pressure, and is the process responsible for the energy of the sun and other stars. Energy is released whenever the nuclei of very heavy atoms, such as uranium or plutonium, split into middleweight ones, or when very light nuclei, such as those of hydrogen and helium, combine into heavier ones. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Nutrition: What Happens to the Food I Eat? Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of four Science Objects in the Nutrition SciPack. It discusses how the body makes use of foods’ nutrients, after food is digested into simpler substances. These simpler substances must then be absorbed through the lining of the small intestine and transported for use throughout...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of four Science Objects in the Nutrition SciPack. It discusses how the body makes use of foods’ nutrients, after food is digested into simpler substances. These simpler substances must then be absorbed through the lining of the small intestine and transported for use throughout the body for physiological processes. In cells, these nutrients and substances derived from them are taken in and react to provide the biochemical constituents needed to synthesize other molecules. Some cells store energy from the breakdown of some nutrients in specific chemicals that are used to carry out the many functions of the cell. The circulatory system moves substances to the cells and removes waste products. Lungs take in oxygen for metabolism and eliminate the carbon dioxide produced, excretory systems rid the body of dissolved and solid waste products, and the skin and lungs rid the body of excess heat energy. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Cells and Chemical Reactions: Basics of Metabolism Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of four Science Objects in the Cells and Chemical Reactions SciPack. It investigates the basics of cellular metabolisms in plants and animals. Chemical reactions occur in all cells, are fundamental to cell functions, and are essential to maintain the chemical...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of four Science Objects in the Cells and Chemical Reactions SciPack. It investigates the basics of cellular metabolisms in plants and animals. Chemical reactions occur in all cells, are fundamental to cell functions, and are essential to maintain the chemical and physical organization of living systems. All living organisms engage in metabolic processes that take place inside their cells. Metabolism refers to all of the chemical activities and reactions in cells and organisms that are necessary for life. Metabolic processes can be categorized into two types, which are distinguished by their function in growth and maintenance of living cells: synthesis, chemical reactions that use energy to synthesize large and complex carbon-based molecules from smaller molecules; decomposition, chemical reactions that release energy from chemical bonds by decomposing the large molecules into smaller, simpler and lower-energy molecules. The energy released in decomposition is used to synthesize large molecules and in other cellular work, including: movement, maintenance and organization, transport of molecules, and transmission of nerve impulses. A large set of protein catalysts, called enzymes are required for both synthesis and decomposition chemical reactions. Because all matter tends toward disorganized states, constant input of energy is required by all cells to maintain chemical and physical organization. Without this organization, cells and organisms die, and with death (the cessation of energy input) living systems rapidly disintegrate. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Cells and Chemical Reactions: Cellular Respiration Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the third of four Science Objects in the Cells and Chemical Reactions SciPack. It explores the process of cellular respiration in chemical reactions involved. Non-photosynthetic organisms obtain the energy necessary for cell growth and maintenance by decomposing large...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the third of four Science Objects in the Cells and Chemical Reactions SciPack. It explores the process of cellular respiration in chemical reactions involved. Non-photosynthetic organisms obtain the energy necessary for cell growth and maintenance by decomposing large molecules into smaller molecules that have lower energy levels stored in their chemical bonds (thus, releasing some energy from bonds so that it can be used to do cellular work). These smaller molecules can enter or exit the cell to be synthesized into larger complex molecules necessary for growth and maintenance of the organism. Organisms unable to photosynthesize, such as animals and fungi, must take matter into their cells to provide the building blocks (chemical constituents) and energy needed for metabolism (both synthesis and decomposition processes). The matter and energy that is stored in the structures that are synthesized by photosynthetic organisms (for example, the stems, roots and leaves of plants) can be consumed and used by other organisms as an essential source of this matter and energy. The chemical bonds in the molecules that are synthesized through photosynthesis and other synthesis processes contain energy that is needed by all cells (including plant cells). The energy stored in chemical bonds of the matter taken into the cells can be released and transferred into a form available for cellular work. This occurs when the bonds are broken through decomposition reactions and new compounds with lower energy bonds are formed. Cells capture some of the energy that is released during decomposition and usually store this energy temporarily in the phosphate bonds of a small high-energy compound called ATP. The energy stored in the bonds of ATP is then readily available for use by the cell for synthesis and other cellular work. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems: Does Matter Matter? Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems SciPack. It explores the structure of the biomass in an ecosystem and overall cycling of matter. However complex the workings of living organisms, they share with all other systems the same physical...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems SciPack. It explores the structure of the biomass in an ecosystem and overall cycling of matter. However complex the workings of living organisms, they share with all other systems the same physical principles that describe the conservation and transformation of matter. Ecosystems are a community of interdependent organisms and the chemical and physical factors making up the environment with which they interact. For every ecosystem on Earth there is a particular biomass (matter) distribution among organisms in its populations. While the specific biomass distribution in any given ecosystem is unique because of resource availability, there is a common overall biomass distribution pattern in all ecosystems. Greater biomass exists in populations that obtain matter from the physical environment than in populations that obtain matter from other living organisms. As matter flows through different levels of organization in living systems—cells, organs, organisms, communities—and between living systems and the physical environment, chemical elements are recombined in different ways. Matter is conserved through each change. Learning Outcomes: Define an ecosystem and understand how it comprises an interdependent community of organisms along with their interactions with the chemical and physical components of the environment Categorize organisms in a community based on their sources of matter/biomass and nutrients as one of the following: producers, herbivores (primary consumers), carnivores (secondary consumers; tertiary or top-consumers), omnivores, and decomposers Predict the relative biomass for different levels in a biomass pyramid for a typical ecosystem Explain how matter is conserved in the interactions between consumers and producers, but that in a biomass pyramid there is less biomass at the consumer level compared to the producer level [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Plate Tectonics: Layered Earth Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of five Science Objects in the Plate Tectonics SciPack. It explores the characteristics of the various layers of the Earth, using the way waves travel through the different layers to illustrate the differences in each layer. The interior of the earth is hot, under high...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of five Science Objects in the Plate Tectonics SciPack. It explores the characteristics of the various layers of the Earth, using the way waves travel through the different layers to illustrate the differences in each layer. The interior of the earth is hot, under high pressure from gravitational pull, and more dense than its rocky outer crust. The earth is layered with a relatively thin crust; hot, deformable mantle; liquid outer core; and solid, metallic, and dense inner core. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Universe: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the fifth of five Science Objects in the Universe SciPack. It provides understanding of how the universe formed, how it has changed over time, and how it continues to change today. The ‘big bang’ theory of universe formation is supported by recent observations of the motion of galaxies,...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the fifth of five Science Objects in the Universe SciPack. It provides understanding of how the universe formed, how it has changed over time, and how it continues to change today. The ‘big bang’ theory of universe formation is supported by recent observations of the motion of galaxies, as well as observations of the energy left over from the formation of the universe. This evidence suggests that the origin of the universe occurred approximately 13.6 billion years ago, during a point in time when the state of the universe was much hotter and more dense. The fact that light seen from almost all distant galaxies has longer wavelengths than comparable light here on earth provides evidence that the whole universe has been expanding ever since the big bang (and continues to expand today). [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Solar System: Formation of Our Solar System Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the fourth of four Science Objects in the Solar System SciPack. It explores the hypothesis that the solar system coalesced out of a giant cloud of gas and debris left in the wake of exploding stars about five billion years ago. Everything in and on the earth, including living organisms,...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the fourth of four Science Objects in the Solar System SciPack. It explores the hypothesis that the solar system coalesced out of a giant cloud of gas and debris left in the wake of exploding stars about five billion years ago. Everything in and on the earth, including living organisms, is made of the material from this cloud. As Earth and the other planets formed, the heavier elements fell to their centers. On planets closer to the Sun (the inner planets), the lightest elements and their compounds were mostly blown or boiled away by radiation from the newly formed sun. However, on the outer planets, the lighter substances still surround them as deep atmospheres of gas or as frozen solid layers. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Plate Tectonics: Consequences of Plate Interactions Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the fourth of five Science Objects in the Plate Tectonic SciPack. It identifies the events that may occur and landscapes that form as a result of different plate interactions. The areas along plate margins are active. Plates pushing against one another can cause earthquakes, volcanoes,...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the fourth of five Science Objects in the Plate Tectonic SciPack. It identifies the events that may occur and landscapes that form as a result of different plate interactions. The areas along plate margins are active. Plates pushing against one another can cause earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain formation, and very deep ocean trenches. Plates pulling apart from one another can cause smaller earthquakes, magma rising to the surface, volcanoes, and oceanic valleys and mountains from sea-floor spreading. Plates sliding past one another can cause earthquakes and rock deformation. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free

Science Object

Plate Tectonics: Plates Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of five Science Objects in the Plate Tectonics SciPack. It provides a conceptual understanding of what plates are and how they move, contributing to a constantly changing surface. The Earth’s continents and ocean basins are made up of plates consisting of the crust and...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of five Science Objects in the Plate Tectonics SciPack. It provides a conceptual understanding of what plates are and how they move, contributing to a constantly changing surface. The Earth’s continents and ocean basins are made up of plates consisting of the crust and the upper part of the mantle. One plate can consist of both continental and oceanic crust. These plates move very slowly (an inch or so per year) on the hot, deformable layer of the mantle beneath them. The outward transfer of Earth’s internal heat drives convection circulation in the mantle. This convection, together with gravitational pull on the plates themselves, causes the plates to move. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free      Nonmember Price: Free