1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,640 Hi, I'm Jennifer Pulley, and welcome to NASA Connect, the show that connects you to math, 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,680 science, technology, and NASA. 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:16,440 We're here in sunny Virginia Beach, which is located in Virginia's tidewater region. 4 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:21,160 Now, in case you're not familiar with where Virginia Beach or Virginia's tidewater region 5 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:26,280 is located, let's take a look at a bird's eye view of our location. 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:31,320 Virginia Beach is in the tidewater region, located in southeastern Virginia. 7 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:36,840 Virginia is part of the United States, which we all know is part of North America. 8 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:41,960 The continent of North America is one of the seven continents on the planet Earth. 9 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,200 Doesn't it appear that we are all interconnected in some way? 10 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,200 On a global scale, have you ever wondered how the Earth really works? 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:55,560 Now here, we can see the ocean, the beach, and the sky, not to mention all the people, 12 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,560 animals, and marine life. 13 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,480 They all play important roles in determining how our planet works. 14 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:06,520 We can say that the Earth is whole, meaning that everything on the planet, inside and 15 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,400 out, is interconnected. 16 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:13,600 Say, do you know the branch of science that deals with studying how the Earth works? 17 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:18,000 Well, if you said Earth science, you're getting warm. 18 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,880 Scientists have established a new field of science called Earth System Science. 19 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:28,400 The Earth is a system of individual parts that work together as a complex whole. 20 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,160 Now in order to understand this concept, we need to know what a system is, and we'll get 21 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:33,280 to that in a minute. 22 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:39,040 But first, throughout the program, you will be asked several inquiry-based questions. 23 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,100 After the questions appear on the screen, your teacher will pause the program to allow 24 00:01:43,100 --> 00:01:46,160 you time to answer and discuss the questions. 25 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,680 This is your time to explore and become critical thinkers. 26 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:54,520 Students, take a few minutes to answer and discuss the following questions. 27 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:55,520 What is a system? 28 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,000 What are some examples of a system? 29 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,600 Choose one system and draw a picture with its parts labeled. 30 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,600 It's now time to pause the program. 31 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:08,040 So what is a system? 32 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:12,520 We use the word system when we want to describe something that is made up of different kinds 33 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:13,520 of parts. 34 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,760 These parts join together to form an interconnected whole. 35 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,440 Is your definition similar to this one? 36 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:26,120 Learning to think systematically is very useful because all sorts of systems surround us. 37 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:30,120 In fact, each of us is our own complex system. 38 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:35,440 For example, each of us is made up of more than 200 kinds of cells. 39 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:42,280 These skin, bone, blood, gland, nerve, and muscle cells all join together to form an 40 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:46,000 incredible system, an individual human person. 41 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,800 Looking at ourselves as a system reveals two important features of systems. 42 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:57,120 One, each part of a system can itself be described as a smaller system or subsystem. 43 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,280 Two, a system can be very different from its parts. 44 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,000 Let's look at the first feature. 45 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,280 Each part of a system can also be described as a subsystem. 46 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,040 One of the parts of a human system is the circulatory system. 47 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,720 This system moves blood throughout your body. 48 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:18,560 However, the circulatory system itself is a system with many parts. 49 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:24,720 The parts of the circulatory system include the heart, veins, arteries, and blood cells. 50 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,680 The heart is also a system made of parts. 51 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,500 These include muscle cells, nerve cells, and valves. 52 00:03:31,500 --> 00:03:35,680 You can go even further and concentrate on the heart muscle cell. 53 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:42,160 The heart muscle cell is made of a cell membrane, cell nucleus, and many different proteins. 54 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,880 You could go crazy breaking down all those systems. 55 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,840 And you know, in case you didn't realize, we are not the biggest system around. 56 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:53,560 The human system is actually part of the system of life, which is part of the planet Earth. 57 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:57,400 And the planet Earth is part of the solar system. 58 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,040 Are you with me so far? 59 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:04,000 So you see, each part of a system can itself be described as a system. 60 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:09,280 The second system feature states that a system can be very different from its parts. 61 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,320 A school bus is another example of a system. 62 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:19,960 A school bus has hundreds of parts, such as the frame, engine, wheels, gas tank, and seats. 63 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:25,360 Individually, none of these parts will get you from your home to school and back. 64 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:30,200 Joined together as an interconnected whole, the bus system can take you back and forth 65 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:31,200 to school. 66 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:35,680 The school bus has properties that are different from the properties of its parts. 67 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,120 No part of the school bus has the ability to transport you. 68 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:43,000 The bus functioning as a whole system has these properties. 69 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,960 So, did you come up with some good examples of systems? 70 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:51,400 Now that you have an understanding of what a system is, how can you apply the concept 71 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,560 of systems to learn more about how the Earth works? 72 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,240 Recall the two features about systems. 73 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:02,840 Number one, each part of a system can itself be described as a system. 74 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:07,120 And number two, a system can be very different from its parts. 75 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,480 Okay guys, I have three questions I want you to try and answer before we continue with 76 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:12,480 the program. 77 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,120 What do you think are the parts of the Earth system? 78 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:21,280 How do the parts of the Earth system you identified work together to make Earth function as a 79 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:22,280 whole? 80 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:25,840 How is the Earth system itself part of larger systems? 81 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:30,200 Compare your answers to all three questions with others in your class or groups. 82 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,760 As the teacher pauses the program, keep in mind the two features about systems. 83 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,000 How did you do with those questions? 84 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:43,600 You know guys, NASA has come to understand that the only way to really comprehend the 85 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,720 workings of our planet is to view the Earth as a whole system.