https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek Resource booklet for Environmental Sciences and Societies en-us 2017-06-04 08:45:55 UTC 2025-11-06 11:02:23 UTC hello@padlet.com varsha_venkatraman https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175097798 A system is a set of interrelated parts and the connection between them that unites them to form a complex whole and produces emergent properties. 
The number of inputs, outputs, flows and storages increase as the size of the system increases.]]> 2017-06-04 08:49:54 UTC https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175097798 varsha_venkatraman https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175098163

Input identifies the elements that go into the system in order for there to be processes, outputs and feedback. Inputs are flows that may be physical things such as water entering an ecosystem, it may be solar energy for photosynthesis or it could be cultural behaviours entering environmental value systems.

Processes act on the inputs and transform them into outputs. In an ecosystem processes transform chemical energy into heat energy during respiration, whereas in a social system, such as education, the process of teaching transfers information from the teacher to the student.

Outputs are the flows of matter and energy that leave the system. Animals eat food, the digestive system processes it in order to release energy for life processes and the output is heat and waste. Social systems often have policies as their outputs.

]]> 2017-06-04 08:57:16 UTC https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175098163 varsha_venkatraman https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175098351 There are 3 types of systems:

1. Open system - An open system exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings. (most living things)
2. Closed system - A closed system exchanges energy but does not exchange matter with its surroundings. (Does not exist naturally, but the planet is a closed system.)
3. Isolated system - An isolated system exchanges neither energy nor matter with its surroundings. (Does not exist)

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Transfers simply move energy or matter from one place to another without changing it in anyway.

Transformations move energy and matter but in the process of doing so there is a change of state or form.

]]> 2017-06-04 09:24:37 UTC https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175099392 varsha_venkatraman https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175099532

Equilibrium: Tendency of a system to return to an original state following a disturbance. 

1. Steady State Equilibrium: Continuous inputs and outputs of energy and matter. Although there might be small term fluctuations, in the long term, no massive change.
2. Static Equilibrium: No change over time.

]]> 2017-06-04 09:28:12 UTC https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175099532 varsha_venkatraman https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175099551

First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy can be neither created nor destroyed. 

Second Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy of an isolated system not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time. 

]]> 2017-06-04 09:28:51 UTC https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175099551 varsha_venkatraman https://padlet.com/varsha_venkatraman/w11jnq0ypaek/wish/175099586

Positive Feedback: Results in the further increase or decrease in the output and results in the system becoming more unstable or moving to a new equilibrium. ( a change occurs)

Negative Feedback: Neutralises any movement from the equilibrium. (No change occurs)

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