Chem321:Discussion 4
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This discussion is based on discussing three questions, and it is set to take place on the wiki, over the next few days. You have until midnight on Wednesday, 15th July to post your initial direct answer to each of the questions. Then, by Friday, 17th July, you should post at least two comments in response to (and under) the comments by other students. Be sure to start your text with a *, and sign your responses with four tilde marks at the end.
Laws of conservation of matter and energy
Classical laws of chemistry and thermodynamics tell us that neither mass and energy cannot be destroyed; both are conserved during any physical or chemical process. (Strictly speaking we should use a combination of mass-energy when talking about nuclear reactions, but these are rare on Earth.)
What can we learn from the conservation of mass and conservation of energy when considering global resources of mass and energy?
- From the Law of Conservation of mass and energy, we must consider several things when discussing global resources. In order to conserve mass and energy on a global scale, we must implement and use renewable resources that we have on hand. For example, we have seen that wind mills and wind turbines are a great source for creating energy at low cost. It may be costly to make a wind turbine and implement this into a certain location, but it will undoubtedly save money in the long term. Additionally, we must not use more energy than we have have and what we can make. We are expending our resources at a rapid rate, and it is necessary to scale back on a global scale, in order for our resources, land, and capital to last decades and centuries into the future.LeannaCollard (talk) 20:17, 13 July 2015 (EDT)
- Although energy and matter can neither be created nor destroyed, it is imperative that we rationally and respectfully manage global energy and material resources. This is due to the fact that there are many irreversible reactions, such as the combustion of gasoline in an automobile. The combustion of the chemical energy from the hydrocarbon is converted into mechanical energy (moving the car), and consequently produces water and carbon dioxide (as the mass of the reactants must equal that of the products). However, going from the products (CO2 and H2O) back to the reactants (hydrocarbon and oxygen) is not feasible. Thus, this example highlights the dire need to appropriately conserve global resources, and to adequately focus on the effectuation and development of more renewable and sustainable technologies (and behaviors conducive to the success of future generations). Alexanderlevitz (talk) 17:03, 15 July 2015 (EDT)
- If we look at the conservation of mass and conservation of energy we can learn a few things when considering global resources of mass and energy. Due to the conservation of energy and mass we know that these things are limited and cannot created more.therefore we must actively conserve the resources that we have present on earth, because even though these things cannot be destroyed sometimes they cannot be changed back into something that we see as useful to us either. once this happens we are such with the waste that we do not want, and less of the product that we had started with. This also shows us that we need to use processes that have a high efficiency and high yield when considering how to create or make different products. Finally we can also learn that there is only so much energy available, and finding the greenest most effective way to harness this energy will make it so that we make less impact on our environment and that the world will still be around for future generations.Rileytc197 (talk) 17:51, 15 July 2015 (EDT)
- Conservation of mass and conservation of energy are not serious issues for our planet. In order for conservation of mass to be an issue, more mass would have to escape the atmosphere, such as spacecraft,than enters the atmosphere, such as colliding comets and meteorites. For Conservation of energy to be an issue, we would have to be radiating more energy out into space than we are taking in from it, predominantly from the sun. What we do have to worry about, is the makeup of that mass. The elements that mass is made up of, the molecules those elements are organized into, and their arraggement in the core, crust, and atmosphere of the planet.Gallaggc196 (talk) 20:23, 15 July 2015 (EDT)
Limitations
Science is clearly valuable when studying the environment. What do you perceive as the limitations of science in this context?
- Science is what we believe to be true here and now. We have learned over decades and centuries that was once believed as true, certainly may not be. The limitation to science in this context is that what we believe to be accurate and true today, may not be accurate and true fifty years from now. There will be great advancements in technology that may enhance our belief or prove it to be false all together. It is naive of us to say that what we believe is 100% true and always will be. The great thing about science is that it is a process and it is always evolving. LeannaCollard (talk) 20:17, 13 July 2015 (EDT)
- When it comes to science and the environment there are a few limitations that are present. The main limitation that is present is the fact that science is based on what is know at the time, if the information is incorrect or not fully there than we cannot base a correct assumption on that science. Also the fact that nowadays with the internet and all of the media that we have false science or science that has been changed to make look a certain way is also a big thing. this means that some people who are honest will see the correlation in the data about the environment, while those being paid to say otherwise falsify data or change it to support what they want. Rileytc197 (talk) 19:46, 15 July 2015 (EDT)
- Understanding the environment through the scientific process does have some inherent limitations. For example, there can be a number of confounding factors that make obtaining data, and a subsequent conclusion difficult or impossible. The complexity and breadth of the environment also complicates our ability to gain a comprehensive understanding of the environment. However, as technology continues to advance so will our capacity to comprehend and discover more about our environment. Furthermore, even if our technological growth were to cease we would still continue to ascertain more about our environment, as we have not been studying the environment and our impact on it for much time at all (vis-à-vis the amount of time in the Anthropocene, which is arguably at least a few thousand years). Thus, I feel that much of our current limitations in understanding can be attributed to our short temporal relationship with discovering the many intricacies of our environment, as well as the tools (technology) with which we do so, both of which will improve with time. Alexanderlevitz (talk) 21:20, 15 July 2015 (EDT)
Wonder tech
If you had $50 billion to spend on developing some new technology, what would you choose, and how would you spend the money?
- If I have $50 billion to spend on developing some new technology, I would allocate the money in many different areas. Of course I would spend a great deal of this money on research. This research would be new technologies and advancements that kept people living longer lives. Although this proposes the issue of people living longer and depleting more resources on this Earth, I would still choose to allocate my money to healthcare and technological advancements in this sector of science. This could be in heart transplants and better working devices of the heart, such as advancements to pacemakers and other cardiovascular technologies. I would also allocate some of this money to neurological technological devices to improve the lives of those who have brain abnormalities and neurological disorders. Overall, I would want to invest my money that will improve the quality of life to those with health care issues.LeannaCollard (talk) 20:22, 13 July 2015 (EDT)
- If I had a $50 billion budget to develop a new technology I would attempt to create a new range of energy-producing construction materials that will be utilized for the façades of all types of buildings. For example, I would try to create both synthetic wood (in order to avoid deforestation) and bricks that have a photovoltaic laminate (similar to the new fully transparent solar concentrator, i.e. solar panel window). This laminate would preserve the aesthetic appeal of either option (brick or faux wood), and would allow the entire exterior of the house to generate energy (as opposed to being limited to rooftops). If I still had money leftover (after what is hopefully a success) I would attempt to make wind energy more accessible to homeowners, especially those in cities, as well as utilizing space that is normally unused. For example, in Brooklyn there are numerous brownstones and buildings that have multiple chimneys that are no longer in use, thus I would figure out a way to house the stem of the wind turbine in the chimney, thereby saving space on the roof (for solar panels or a green roof), and potentially making the wiring of the system to the house less complicated. Alexanderlevitz (talk) 18:08, 15 July 2015 (EDT)
- If i had $50 billion to help develop a new technology I would definitely choose solar energy and wave energy, theses two are actually my personal favorites (with geothermal in close 3rd). I would use this money to develop solar panels that can use more of the suns energy, and use it more efficiently. there is so much energy that is generated form the sun if were were able to finally develop a solar panel that can capture say 40%o of the energy that hits it and use it for electricity. With wave energy I would also like to invest money into developing it and making this form of energy one that is actually well known since not many people know about it. Finally I would also spent the money on creating wave energy farms in the seas and use this power to help supply power to the places that need it. Rileytc197 (talk) 20:19, 15 July 2015 (EDT)
