Unit One: Cars

week 1

August

25, 27, 27L

How do cars work? Internal combustion, gas vs. diesel

Reaction equations, reaction stoichiometry

Why gasoline?

Gasohol, oxygenated gas, alternative fuels

Spiro p.1-28

Lab check-in

Air pollution

week 2

August

30 Sept.

1,3,3L

Air pollution

Spiro p. 162-183

Air pollution (con'd)

week 3

Sept.

6, 8, 10, 10L

Light and energy, IR spectroscopy, greenhouse effect.

Carbon cycle. Stoichiometry and mass/mole calculations.

Spiro p. 105-127

Air pollution (con'd)

week 4

Sept. 13, 15, 17, 17L*

Is global warming really occurring?

Anthropogenic impact on C cycle. Greenhouse gas trends. Measuring temperature now & in past. General circulation climate models. Climate and ocean currents.

Spiro p. 127-132,

reading packet

Computer lab: global climate data and climate models

week 5

Sept. 20, 22, 24, 24L

History of environmental regulation in US. Major players. Political, ethical, & economic basis for regulation. Cost-benefit analysis. Environmental costs & incentives. Regulation vs. free market.

Spiro 96-99

Miller ch. 26, reading packet

Library & internet resources

week 6

Sept. 27, 29 Oct. 1, lL*

Senate hearings all week

Senate hearings