|
SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT
Click on the link
in the box below for your individual class
assignments.
WELCOME TO AP
BIOLOGY SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
I am looking forward to a great year with you in AP
Biology. There is a massive amount of information that you
need to learn in order to do well on the AP exam. In an
effort to reduce your workload throughout the year and to
help cover all the topics, I am assigning two units as
independent study this summer. The units you will be
studying this summer are Evolution and Ecology. Nine
chapters from the textbook have been selected as your summer
assignment.
You will be required to read
and outline each of the following chapters, as well as
answer all questions. Assignments should be hand-written
on looseleaf and be ready to hand in on the first day of AP
Biology class in September.
EVOLUTION
Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25
ECOLOGY
Chapters 50, 52, 53, 54, 55
An examination on each of these
units will be announced during the first week of classes in
September.
Have a great summer and good
luck with the assignment. Should you need to contact me
with any questions, you can e-mail me at:
vdimartino@tmla.org
Mrs. DiMartino
Chief AP Biologist
CHAPTER 22 DESCENT
WITH MODIFICATION :
A DARWINIAN VIEW OF LIFE
Read and Outline
Chapter 22.
I.
What major points did Darwin make in his book?
2. What important
contribution did Carolus Linnaeus make to biological
science? Why is it ironic that Linnaeus' taxonomic system
was used as a focal point for Darwin's arguments for
evolution?
3. What are fossils and how
are they formed? Using evidence from the fossil record, what
can scientists deduce about life's history?
4 What contribution did
George Cuvier make to paleontology? How did Cuvier and his
followers use the concept of catastrophism to oppose
evolution?
5. How did James Hutton's
principle of gradual isms differ from the concept of
catastrophism? What was Charles Lyell's idea of
uniformitarianism?
6. How was Darwin influenced
by Hutton and Lyell's observation?
7. What were Jean Baptiste
Lamarck's views about evolution? How did this differ from
Aristotle's scala natorae?
8. What mechanism did
Lamarck propose for the way specific adaptations evolve? 9.
Even though the inheritance of acquired characteristics was
incorrect, what contributions did Lamarck make towards the
development of evolutionary theory?
10 How did Alfred Russell
Wallace influence Charles Darwin?
11 What did Darwin mean by
tbe principle of common descent and "descent witb
modification"? What evidence convinced Darwin that species
change over time?
12 In your own words, what
were three inferences Darwin made from his observations,
which led him to propose natural selection as the mechanism
for evolutionary change?
13. Why was variation so
important to Darwin's theory?
14 What is the difference
between artificial selection and natural selection? Why was
Darwin's knowledge of domestic plant and animal breeding
crucial to his argument that natural selection is the
mechanism of evolutionary change?
15. Why is the population
the smallest unit that can evolve?
16. Using real life
examples, how does natural selection result in evolutionary
change?
17. What lines of evidence
did Charles Darwin use to support the principle of common
descent?
18. How can molecular
biology be used to study evolutionary relationships among
organisms?
CHAPTER 23 THE
EVOLUTION OF POPULATIONS
Read
and Outline Chapter 23.
I.
Why was the emergence of population genetics an important
turning point for evolutionary theory? What is meant by the
"modern synthesis"?
2. How are most species
geographically distributed? Why are individuals likely to be
more closely related to others from their own population
center, than those from a different population center?
3. In your own words, what is
the Hardy-Weinberg theorem?
4. In
the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium population, does sexual
reproduction (segregation and crossing-over in meiosis and
random mating) cause rare genes to become more rare or more
common? If the hypothetical
wildflowers population were not in equilibrium, how many
generations of random mating would it take to achieve
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
5. What is the general
Hardy-Weinberg equation? How can it be used to calculate
allele and genotype frequencies?
6. What are the conditions
that a population must meet in order to maintain Hardy-
Weinberg equilibrium?
7. What five factors can
cause microevolutionary change in a population? Which of
these can lead to adaptive change? Which are nonadaptive,
non-Darwinian changes?
8. What is genetic drift? Why
is the effect of genetic drift so great in a small
population?
9. What is the bottleneck
effect?
10. What is gene flow? What
are the consequences of gene flow on between- population
differences?
11. If mutation has such a
negligible effect on the gene pool, why is mutation an
important factor in evolutionary change?
12. How does nonrandom mating
affect a population's genotype frequencies? Allele
frequencies? What are two kinds of nonrandom mating?
13. In your own words, what
is natural selection? What are the consequences of natural
selection?
14. What biochemical
technique allowed researchers to detect the great amount of
genetic variation in a natural population? Why does this
technique underestimate genetic variation?
15. What are some factors
that can produce geographic variation among closely related
populations?
16. How is geographic
variation preserved in a natural population?
17. What is relative fitness?
What role does it play in adaptive evolution?
18. What are three modes of
natural selection? How are they distinguished from one
another?
19. What is sexual
dimorphism? How can it influence evolutionary change?
20. Why doesn't natural
selection breed perfect organisms?
CHAPTER
24 THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES
Read
and Outline Chapter 24
1.
What are the two patterns of evolutionary change? How do
they differ?
2. According to Ernst Mayr,
what is a biological species?
3. What are some limitations
of the biological species concept?
4. How can gene flow between
closely related species be prevented?
5. What are five prezygotic
isolating mechanisms? What is an example of each?
6. What are three postzygotic
isolating mechanisms? What is an example of each?
7. In your own words, what
characterizes the allopatric speciation model? What is the
role of geographical isolation in this model?
8. What is the adaptive
radiation model? According to this model, how might it be
possible for there to be many closely-related sympatric
species, even if geographic isolation is necessary for them
to evolve?
9. What is the difference
between autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy?
10. What are the two modes of
speciation that are based on genetic mechanisms of change?
11. What causes peak shifts?
What is the role of nonadaptive change in this speciation
process? What is the role of adaptive evolution?
12. What are some points of
agreement and disagreement between the two schools of
thought about the tempo of speciation (gradualism vs.
punctuated equilibrium)?
13. What is paedomorphosis?
How may it have influenced human evolution?
14. Using horse evolution as
an example, why is it difficult to identify evolutionary
trends from fossil records?
CHAPTER
25 TRACING PHYLOGENY
Read and
Outline Chapter 25
1.
What is macroevolution? How is it different from
microevolution?
2. What are fossils and how
do they form?
3. How are strata of
sedimentary rocks formed? What are index fossils? How are
they used to correlate the relative ages of strata?
4. What is the difference
between relative dating and absolute dating? What is the
most common method for absolute dating of rocks and fossils?
5. What is continental drift?
What are its geographical consequences?
6. What is an adaptive zone?
How can radiation into new adaptive zones result in
macroevolutionary change? What are some examples of past
radiations?
7. How can mass extinctions
occur?
8. What are the two features
of the taxonomic system developed by Carolus Linnaeus?
9. When constructing a
phylogeny, why is it important to distinguish between
homologous and analogous character traits? What is the
difference between homologous and analogous structure?
10. What are the advantages
of protein comparison as a taxonomic tool?
11. What are the three
techniques used for DNA comparison in molecular systematics?
What information does each provide?
12. What are the differences
in approach that characterize phenetics and cladistic
analysis?
13. Using crocodiles and
birds as an example, how can the outcome of a phylogenic
analysis differ depending upon the criteria used?
14. How do morphology and
molecules affect phylogenic systemics?
CHAPTER 50 AN
INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND THE BIOSPHERE
Read and Outline
Chapter 50.
1.
Define ecology.
2. Distinguish between the
abiotic and biotic components that make up the environment
3. What is organismal
ecology?
4. Name and describe the
levels of organization in organismal ecology.
5. What was the impact of
Rachel Carson's 1962 book, Silent Spring?
6. Why is environmental
temperature an important factor in the distribution of
organisms?
7. What is the importance of
water to life?
8. What is the importance of
sunlight as an abiotic factor?
9. How does wind amplify the
effects of environmental temperature on an organism?
10. What effects do rocks and
soil have on the environment?
11. How can catastrophic
disturbances affect biological communities?
12. Define the terms
"climate" and "biome".
13. Describe the cause of
seasons on the earth.
14. What determines the
earth's global climate patterns?
15. What effects do global
air circulation, precipitation, and winds have on the
earth's climate patterns?
16. Describe how ocean
currents and topographic features contribute to climate
variation.
17. How do ecologists
distinguish between freshwater and marine biomes?
18. Describe the vertical
stratification of aquatic biomes.
19. What are the two major
categories of freshwater biomes?
20. Explain zonation in a
freshwater biome, such as a lake.
21. What is a wetland? An
estuary?
22. What are the three
physical criteria that define a marine environment?
23. Explain zonation in a
marine biome.
24. What constitutes a "coral
reef'?
25. What determines the
geographical distribution of terrestrial biomes?
26. Identify the general
climate and vegetation in each of the following biomes:
a) tropical rain forest b) savanna c) desert d) chaparral e) temperate
grassland (prairie ) f) temperate deciduous forest g) taiga
h) tundra
27. What are regulators and
conformers?
28. Define the "principle of
allocation".
29. What are the
physiological, morphological, and behavioral responses to
environmental variations?
CHAPTER 52 POPULATION ECOLOGY
Read and Outline Chapter 52
I.
Define population.
2. What are the two important
characteristics of any population?
3. Describe the patterns of
population dispersion.
4. What is demography?
5. When does zero population
growth occur?
6. What is the exponential
model of population growth? What equation is used to
describe it? Why is this model unrealistic?
7. What is the logistic
population growth model? What equation is used to describe
it?
8. How well does the logistic
model fit the growth of real populations?
9. What is intraspecific
competition?
10. How do density-dependant
factors regulate population growth?
11. Describe human population
growth throughout history.
12. What parameters affect
human population growth?
CHAPTER 53 COMMUNITY
ECOLOGY
Read
and Outline Chapter 53
I.
Define community.
2. How are species richness
and relative abundance related to species diversity?
3. Contrast the
individualistic hypothesis with the interactive hypothesis
of community structure.
4. What is meant by
interspecific interactions? How do they factor in the
evolutionary process?
5. Explain what is meant by
predation. How do plants and animals defend themselves
against these factors?
6. Define parasitism.
7. What is the difference
between endoparasites and ectoparasites?
8. What is interspecific
competition? What are the different ways in which it can
occur?
9. Explain the competition
exclusion principle.
10. What is meant by an
ecological niche? Explain the difference between a
fundamental niche and a realized niche.
11. Define commensalism and
mutualism. How are these a form of symbiosis?
12. How do predators alter
the structure of a community?
13. What other factors can
alter the structure of a community?
14. What are disturbances and
how do they bring about instability in a community?
15. Define ecological
succession.
16. What is the difference
between primary and secondary succession?
CHAPTER 54
ECOSYSTEMS
Read and Outline
Chapter 54.
1. Define ecosystem.
2. What trophic relationships
determine an ecosystem's routes of energy flow?
3. What is a food chain? Give
an example.
4. Describe the three
ecosystem processes that affect energy flow and chemical
processes.
5. What are the primary
producers?
6. What are primary consumers
and how do they obtain food?
7. What is the importance of
decomposers in an ecosystem?
8. Define ecological
efficiency.
9. What is meant by a pyramid
of productivity?
10. Explain the difference
between a biomass pyramid and a pyramid of numbers.
11. Describe the water cycle.
12. Explain the carbon cycle.
13. What are the steps of the
nitrogen cycle?
14. What is the green house
effect?
15. How is human population
growth altering habitats and reducing biodiversity.
CHAPTER
55 CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Read
and Outline Chapter 55.
1. What are some indications
that extinction rates are unusually high?
2. What are the major threats
to biodiversity?
3. Explain the factors that
regulate species diversity.
4. Define a biodiversity hot
spot.
5. What is an endangered
species? How is this different from a threatened species?
6. What is meant by a
metapopulation? How can it be altered by human activity?
7. Explain what is meant by
population viability analysis (PNA)?
8. Describe the "gap
analysis" method of landscape management.
9. What is the "zoned reserve
system" of landscape management?
10. How will restoring
degrades areas help in the conservation effort?
11. What is "bioremediation"?
12. What is the goal of the
Sustainable Biosphere Initiative?
__________________________________________________________________
AP Chemistry
Summer Assignment
Mrs. Rohan Hyland/Ms. Puntillo
1) Read Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and Chapter 25
(Ch. 25 sections 1-7 only)
2) On Loose-leaf answer the following
questions from the end of each chapter in the Text:
Ch. 1 #1,3,5,7,9,11,23,25,33,37,39,41
Ch. 2
#1,3,5,7,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43,52
Ch. 3
#1,3,5,7,9,13,15,17,19,21,23,29,37,39,43,45,47,49,51,53*,
57,59,61,69,71,79
Ch. 25 #1,5,7,11,13,21,31,33,43
*Use pp.85-86
“Combustion Analysis” as a guide to help answer this
question
This assignment may not
be typed. It must be written in blue and black ink. Write
the questions in black and the answers, work and
explanations in blue.
SHOW ALL WORK FOR EACH QUESTION and
explain your answers.
I have intentionally
selected questions that have the answers given at the end of
the textbook. This is so you can check your answers.
Credit will not be given
for answers only.
3) Answer each objective for each
packet IN DETAIL. The answers to objectives should be
complete enough to serve as a study plan for each chapter.
Objectives may be typed. Packet Objectives can be found on
this AP Chemistry Summer Assignment Website:
4) Memorize the following Tables,
Figures, and Rules from Text:
Chapter 2: Table 2.3 Names of Groups,
Table 2.4 Common Cations, Table 2.5 Common Anions, Section
2.7 Rules for naming ionic compounds, molecular compounds,
and acids
Chapter 3: Figure 3.11, 3.12, and 3.14
Chapter 4: Table 4.1 Solubility Rules
Organization: Answers to questions and
objectives for each packet must be stapled separately.
Please feel free to send me an email at any
time during the summer break.
mrohan13@yahoo.com
You are strongly advised to start this
assignment early enough so that you have approximately two
weeks to complete the readings and work for each chapter.
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AUGUST TO BEGIN THIS
ASSIGNMENT.
Have fun and remember
if it were easy it wouldn’t be AP!
------------------------------------------------------------------
General Chemistry - Packet # 1 - Matter and
Measurements
Objectives:
1.
Define matter.
2.
Identify the important physical and chemical
properties for some common substances.
3.
Describe identifying characteristics of the three
states of matter.
4.
Differentiate between homogeneous and heterogeneous
mixtures.
5.
Define the term atom, element, and compound.
6.
Differentiate among elements, compounds and mixtures.
7.
Visualize mixtures, pure substances, elements,
compounds, gases, liquids and solids at the atomic level.
8.
Write the symbol for the first 36 elements in the
periodic table, given the name.
9.
Write the name for the first 36 elements in the
periodic table, given the symbol.
10.
List the fundamental properties chosen as the basis
for SI.
11.
List the fundamental properties for derived units of
measurements.
12.
Identify multiplier indicated by selected prefixes in
the SI system and perform simple conversions.
13.
Distinguish between weight and mass.
14.
Calculate the density of a substance and perform
calculations using density.
15.
Perform conversions between temperature scales.
16.
Describe various separation techniques.
17.
Distinguish between physical and chemical properties
and changes.
18.
Distinguish between extensive and intensive
properties.
19.
Distinguish between accuracy and precision.
20.
Distinguish between exact and inexact numbers.
21.
Determine the number of significant figures in a
measured quantity.
22.
Determine the number of significant figures to report
in the result of mathematical calculations.
23.
Use dimensional analysis to analyze problems.
General Chemistry - Packet # 2 - Atoms, Molecules and
Ions
Objectives:
1.
State the law of conservation of mass and constant
composition.
2.
State the law of multiple proportions and to use
experimental data to verify the laws.
3.
Tell the number of atoms of each element in a formula
unit for a compound, given the chemical formula. Write
chemical formulas given the number of atoms of each
constituent element in the formula unit of the compound.
4.
List the postulates of Dalton’s atomic theory.
5.
Describe significant experiments that led to the
current model of the atom and explain how each contributed
to the current understanding of atomic structure.
6.
Describe mass differences and charge differences
among electrons, protons and neutrons.
7.
Define isotopes, atomic number and mass number in
terms of the number electrons, protons and neutrons.
8.
Calculate the average atomic mass given the isotopic
abundance.
9.
Identify those elements that form stable diatomic
molecules.
10.
Distinguish between the meaning of atom, molecule and
ion.
11.
Locate groups of atoms in the periodic table using
two different organizing schemes:
a) metals, nonmetals and metalloids.
b) Alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, and noble
gases.
12.
Identify the ionic charge for the ions in the
chemical families;
-
Alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and halogens.
13.
Write the chemical formula for simple ionic
compounds.
14.
Predict whether any given pair of electrons will form
an ionic or covalent compound.
15.
Name simple ionic and covalent compounds, given the
formula.
16.
Write the formula for simple ionic and molecular
compounds given the IUPAC name.
General Chemistry
- Packet # 3 – Chemical Equations and Stoichiometry
Objectives:
1.
Interpret the conservation of mass in terms of a
balanced chemical equation.
2.
Balance simple chemical equations.
3.
Explain what the terms, coefficient, subscript, and
phase mean in a chemical equation.
4.
Identify synthesis, combustion, decomposition, single
displacement and double displacement reactions.
5.
Predict the products for a given equation and
classify.
6.
Differentiate among the mass of a single atom in
grams, atomic mass units and atomic molar mass of an atom
(in grams).
7.
Calculate the formula mass of a compound.
8.
Define the terms mole and Avogadro’s number.
9.
Define mass spectrometer.
10.
Calculate the mass of a mole or fraction of a mole of
an element or compound and calculate the number of moles of
atoms, molecules or formula units given the mass of a
compound and its formula.
11.
Calculate the percent composition.
12.
Write the stoichiometric equivalences (mol ratios)
from balanced equations.
13.
Calculate the amount of product formed, or reactant
consumed, in a chemical reaction, given the initial amount
of one reactant (or product) and assuming the other reactant
is in excess.
14.
Determine the limiting reactant for a chemical
reaction and the maximum amount of product that can be
formed, given the initial amounts of each reactant in the
chemical equation.
15.
Calculate the percent yield, given the actual amount
of product formed and the theoretical amount of product.
General Chemistry – Packet # 19
– Organic Chemistry
1.
Recognize the basic structure of organic compounds as
tetrahedral predicted by the VSEPR theory.
2.
Describe the acid-base properties of organic
substances.
3.
Write the structural formula and chemical formula for
four families of hydrocarbons:
-
Alkanes
-
Alkenes
-
Alkynes
-
Aromatic hydrocarbons
4.
Recognize the properties of the compounds in the
families listed in objective #3.
5.
Describe the properties and structure for the
following functional groups:
-
Alcohols and Ethers
-
Aldehydes and Ketones
-
Carboxylic acids
-
Amines and Amides
-
Esters
6.
Write and recognize reactions involving organic
compounds.
7.
Define chirality.
8.
Name organic compounds using the IUPAC system.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Chemistry/Chem
Honors
Summer Assignment
-
Chemistry in our lives
– From the time we wake up, to the time we go to sleep, we
are intimately dependent upon the products that chemists
have developed. In fact, there is no “chemical-free”
place on earth. Chemistry is a vital part of our world.
-To better become aware of this
importance,
obtain THREE articles from local newspapers or
scientific journals from any of the following areas:
-The importance of chemistry in our food and water
-The importance of chemistry in household products
-The importance of chemistry to human
health/healthcare
-Energy resources
-Air quality (Chemistry of our air)
-Nuclear Chemistry
-Hazardous chemicals in our home
-Toxicology
-For
EACH article chosen, write a one-page summary
discussing:
a. The major issues presented in the article
b. The importance of chemistry in creating and solving
the problem
-Each summary must be double spaced, 12-font.
-Internet articles must come from scientific journals
for example Scientific American or Discover. NO WEBSITES!
-Be sure to attach the articles with your summaries!
-
As you probably already know, chemistry does involve some
degree of math. BUT DON’T WORRY --it can be easy AND FUN
if you let it be!! Don’t be afraid of math problems,
treat them like puzzles; TACKLE THEM!
One of the main skills you will have to utilize when solving
chemistry equations is isolating the variable you are
solving for!
Here are some basic questions to work through that will help
you when solving chemistry equations! (Many or all of you
should be familiar with this method already!)
Isolating the Variable: A quick review
A quick review of the basic principles -
all equations have two sides: a Left Side (LS) and a Right
Side (RS). The common method to isolate the variable is to
do the same thing (mathematically) to both sides of the
equation, with the aim of bringing like terms together and
isolate the variable (or the unknown quantity).
For example: 5x
+ 8 = 3x
– 6
We want to get rid of the number 8 from the left side.
So we subtract 8 from both sides of the equation.
|
5x
+ 8 |
= |
3x
– 6 |
original equation |
|
– 8 |
= |
– 8 |
subtract 8 from both sides |
|
5x |
= |
3x
– 14 |
resulting equation |
Next, we want to get rid of 3x
from the right side.
So, we subtract 3x
from both sides of the equation.
|
5x |
= |
3x
– 14 |
result from above |
|
– 3x |
= |
– 3x |
subtract 3x
from both sides |
|
2x |
= |
– 14 |
resulting equation |
Now, we want to get rid of the coefficient 2.
So, we divide 2 from both sides of the equation.
|
2x |
= |
– 14 |
result from above |
|
÷2 |
= |
÷2 |
divide both sides by 2 |
|
x |
= |
– 7 |
resulting solution |
Using this method, work through a few more problems,
solving for the unknown variable:
1. D = 5.67
2.31
2. 4.8 = 2.3
V
3. 3.9 = _m_
4.6
4. 90 = (5.4) (C) (20)
5. 9.87 = m (4.18) (9.00)
3.
Research Dmitry I. Mendeleyev’s invention of the Periodic
Table. How has the table changed since its 19th century
inception? Create an illustrated timeline of the table’s
changes on a standard size piece of printer paper. You may
use images from the web if you want to.
4.
What’s in a name? How did the elements of the Periodic Table
get named? Learn the stories behind several of the elements’
names and then choose a few (at least three or more) that
you find most interesting. Create an illustrated display on
a standard size piece of printer paper portraying the
elements’ stories in a creative manner.
___________________________________________________________________
The purpose of the physics summer
assignment is to introduce you to mathematical concepts that
will be used through the entire course.
METRIC AND SI UNITS
http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/index.html
Read all the topics under the headings
Essential of the SI and Background. You should know the
names and symbols of the units for length, mass, time,
speed/velocity, acceleration, force, and energy/work/heat.
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
http://www.fordhamprep.com/physics/physics/lessons/ch1/less16.htm
http://janus.astro.umd.edu/cgi-bin/astro/scinote.pl
You should know how to convert a
number into scientific notation and how to multiply and
divide numbers that are in scientific notation.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES AND DIGITS
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/sf/index.html
You should be able to determine how
many significant figures are in a number and how many
significant figures will be in an answer when you multiply
or divide.
GRAPHING
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/graph/index.html
This website gives you list of
important information for graphing in physics. You should
be able to follow the guidelines when making graphs.
TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS
http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/trig/trigonom.html
This website teaches about the
trigonometric ratios. When given an angle, you should be
able to use sine (sin), cosine (cos) and tangent (tan).
Also, when given two sides, you should be able to use the
inverse of sine, cosine and tangent to find the angle.
_________________________________________________________________________
1. Read Textbook Chapter 2.
2.
Do problems #1-40 in sections 2-1 through 2-7. Show all
work on loose leaf paper
__________________________________________________________________
The purpose of the Earth Science
summer assignment is to introduce you to some of the topics,
such as astronomy, weather and natural disasters, that will
be brought up during the course.
1. Go to these websites:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/earth-science-channel.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-channel.htm
(If that link does not work, go to
http://www.howstuffworks.com then click on “Science” and
then click on “Earth Science” or “Space.”)
2. Read different articles.
3. Choose five articles that are most
interesting to you.
4. Write 10 sentences about each of
the five articles (50 sentences in all). Do not copy and
paste. Write in your own words a summary for each article
as if you were explaining to a friend what the article was
about. Also, write about other possibilities that you think
of that the article did not mention or go into.
5. The summaries should be typed and
follow this format (title, link, summary). Make sure your
name is on it.
Can China Control the Weather?
http://science.howstuffworks.com/cloud-seeding.htm
China has been researching and
practicing controlling the weather. The purpose is to
provide rain for growing crops, preventing drought and
clearing air pollution called smog.
To do this, China uses anti-aircraft
guns, rocket launchers and planes to launch pellets that
have a chemical called silver iodide in a process called
cloud seeding. The silver iodide is thought to help clouds
get saturated with water, which water sticks to and which
leads to rain.
In addition to modifying clouds to
make rain, China is trying to prevent clouds for clear skies
for the Olympics. Other countries, including the United
States, are researching weather modification.
Cloud seeding is expensive, but
cheaper than other ways of getting water into areas. Cloud
seeding may provide good weather but may also be harmful to
the environment. It would be interesting to see if this
technology can be used to control weather on holidays. It
may also be possible to use this technology as a weapon.
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