Science 30
What to Know for Your Diploma
Unit A: Living Systems Respond to the Environment
1. Describe the structures of the heart and blood vessels (i.e. Ventricle, atria, septum, valves, aorta, vena cava, pulmonary arteries and veins, coronary arteries and veins)
2. Describe the rhythmic contraction of the heart and its function (lub dub)
3. Describe the structure and function of blood vessels and the pathway or flow of blood through the body (including arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venuoles and veins)
4. Describe the components of blood (i.e. plasms, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, antibodies, hemoglobin and hormones) and the transportation of substances (i.e. nutrients, waste, gases, hormones) and distribution of thermal energy
5. Describe the process of blood clotting
6. Explain the relationship between exercise, lifestyle, diet, gender and cardiovascular health by examining blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol
7. Be able to map blood flow though a mammalian heart
8. Describe how pathogens in the environment enter the circulatory system (parasites, bacteria, viruses)
9. Describe the first line of defense (skin, tears, stomach acid, cilia) play a role in preventing pathogens form entering the body
10. Describe the immune response (completely) and describe how immunity develops
11. Explain how an autoimmune disease attacks the body (ex. Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus)
12. Analyze how vaccines defend against disease
13. Describe how vaccinations are beneficial in controlling epidemics
14. Describe (in general) the behavior of chromosomes during mitosis, meiosis and fertilization (what is the purpose of each and what happens to the chromosomes)
15. Using a Punnett square, explain the inheritance of single traits using the understanding of genes and dominance
16. Distinguish autosomal from sex linked genes (use examples)
17. Describe the structure of DNA by
a. Identifying the structure of DNA as a double helix
b. Listing the essential components of DNA as nucleotides
c. Identifying the base pairings between the strands (A and T, C and G)
18. Explain the process of DNA replication
19. Describe how an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide (protein) is determined by the sequence of DNA triplet code (i.e. use the table of DNA triplets to match amino acids)
20. Describe the role of proteins in the human body (i.e. enzymes, structural molecules and a source of energy)
21. Describe how mutations in DNA affect the proteins produced, resulting in disease (i.e. sickle-cell anemia, hemophilia, Huntington’s, cystic fibrosis)
22. Describe the types of mutations (frameshift vs point mutations)
23. Describe in general terms, genetic engineering and its applications to gene therapy and developing genetically modified organisms
24. Describe the development of resistance in bacteria and viruses, based on the concepts of mutation, plasmid transfer, transformation and natural selection
25. Assess the risks and benefits of genetic technology and the need for ethical considerations (i.e. stem cell research, access to genetic screening, genetically modified organisms)
26. Interpret patterns and trends in data using Pedigree charts and determine trends with sex linked inheritance
Unit B: Chemistry and the Environment
1. Define acids and bases in term of protons donors and acceptors and determine characteristics of strong and weak acids, bases and molecular compounds based on appropriate diagnostic tests
2. Calculate concentrations based on experimental data including titration analysis
3. Describe the relationship between pH and hydronium ion concentration
4. Explain how a buffer maintains a relatively constant pH in living systems (i.e. the role of hydrogen carbonate ion in the blood) and describe buffering capacity (in soil)
5. Trace the historical use of acid-base indicators to aboriginal methods
6. Outline the chemical reactions that produce air pollutants (combustion of fossil fuels producing sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides) that when combined with water ultimately create acid deposition
7. Describe the impacts on biotic and abiotic components of the environment caused by acid deposition (i.e. lowered pH in water, accelerated corrosion, metal leaching, bioaccumulation)
8. Describe in general terms the use of acids and bases in industry (i.e. extraction of metals, fertilizer production, soap making)
9. Identify and explain how human activities and natural events contribute to acid deposition
10. ID and name carbon compounds using IUPAC nomenclature that contain up to 3 carbon atoms in the parent chain and a single functional group including simple halogenated hydrocarbon, alcohols, carboxylic acids or esters.
11. Describe the common uses of hydrocarbons, including halogenated hydrocarbons (CFCs), alcohols (ethanol as an additive to gasoline), carboxylic acids (ethanoic acid in vinegar) and esters (ethyl ethanoate as nail polish remover)
12. Identify organic compounds commonly considered to be environmental pollutants (i.e. organic waste, CFCs, PCBs, dioxins and furans)
13. List sources of and analyze the hazards posed by halogenated hydrocarbons and benzene deriatives
14. Identify and explain how human activities and natural events contribute to photochemical smog and the depletion of the ozone layer (i.e. driving a car, agricultural practices)
15. Explain the mechanism and significance of biomagnification and
16. Describe the risks and benefits of using chemical processes that may produce products that have potential to harm the environment
17. Describe technologies used to reduce the production and emission of chemical compounds that have the potential to harm the environment (smelting, pesticide production, sweetening of sour gas, combustion engines)
18. Describe alternatives to the use of chemical technologies (i.e. biological controls for pests, biodegradable products)
Unit C: Electromagnetic Energy
1. Describe and calculate strength of field around a mass (i.e. electric field, magnetic field, gravitational field) and understand that if a mass is introduced into this region it will experience a force
2. Calculate field strength and attractive forces within a field (gravitational and electric field strength at a given distance from a mass or point charge using equations)
3. Compare source, direction and strength of vector fields as determined by test objects
4. Describe the effect of a conductor moving through a magnetic field and introducing an electrical current
5. Describe the relationship for up to 3 resistors among power, current, voltage and resistance for both series and parallel circuits using equations
6. Describe electrical energy in kilowatt hours and joules using equations
7. Distinguish between alternating current and direct current in terms of electron flow and electric field
8. Describe the operation of a transformer in terms of the relationship among current, voltage and number of turns in the primary and secondary coils
9. Describe advantages of AC over DC for transmitting and using electrical energy
10. Compare the general design and function of a DC electric motor and generator (be able to label and describe how they work)
11. Describe in terms of designs and electrical energy, the functioning of safety technologies like circuit fuses and breakers, polarized plugs and ground wirings
12. Describe examples of technological devices based on electric current (i.e. lightbulbs, electrical devices and electromagnets in the home and workplace) and their effect on everyday life (i.e. cost of energy)
13. Describe the range of the electromagnetic spectrum from long, low frequency radio waves through microwaves, infrared rays, visible light and ultraviolet radiation to very short, high frequency waves such as Xrays and gamma rays and compare in terms of source, frequency, wavelength, energy and effect on living tissue and properties of these above EMRs
14. Recognize that the earth’s atmosphere absorbs certain frequencies of EMR
15. Investigate and describe reflection, refraction, diffraction and polarization of visible light
16. Investigate, use and describe the relationship of the variables in the universal wave equation
17. Explain the design of telescopes
18. Describe how a spectroscope can be used to determine the composition of stars and conditions to produce emissions (bright line) and absorption (dark line) spectra in terms of light sources and temp
19. Describe technology used in star study
a. Spectroscopes used to analyze the distribution of energy in a star’s continuous emission spectrum
b. Analyze shifts in the spectrum in terms of Red and Blue shift (Doppler effect)
20. Describe the evolution of stars and the existence of black holes, white dwarves and neutron stars
21. Explain the goal of technology is to provide solutions to practical problems (i.e. uses of EMR to solve medical problems using MRIs, Xrays, laser surgery) and describe technologies developed to protect astronauts from high-energy radiation
22. Evaluate and select appropriate instruments, such as a prism, diffraction grating or spectroscope for problem solving and observe and analyze the various spectra provided
Unit D: Energy and the Environment
1. Compare energy consumption of contemporary society with that of traditional cultures
2. Compare Canada’s per-capita energy consumption with developed and developing nations and ID factors that affect consumption (i.e. economy, lifestyle, level of technology, geography and climate)
3. Apply sustainable development to increasing efficient use of energy
4. Explain the need to develop technologies that use renewable and non-renewable energy in the home and to meet increasing global demand
5. Describe the environmental impact of developing and using various energy sources (i.e. conventional oil, oil sands, solar power, biomass, hydroelectricity, nuclear power and geothermal power, wind power)
6. Explain how Hess’s Law leads to the theoretical prediction of heat of combustion. Use the formula to calculate the energy released in reactions
7. Describe the conversion of solar energy into renewable forms (i.e. wind, hydro, chemical potential energy by photosynthesis) and non-renewable forms (i.e. coal, oil and gas) and further conversions into electrical and thermal energy
8. Describe the functioning of renewable energy technologies and assess their advantages and disadvantages, including active and passive solar heating technologies, wind turbines, hydroelectric power, biomass energy hydrogen fuel cells
9. Explain the difference between fission and fusion and balance simple nuclear reactions to show the conversions of nucleons
10. Describe and demonstrate radioactive decay including alpha, beta and gamma radiation
11. Describe mass energy changes in fission and fusion reactions and use E=mc2
12. Describe the operation of a fission reactor (CANDU)
13. Compare and contrast coal or hydroelectric power stations with nuclear power stations, in terms of purpose, process of energy conversions, design and function
14. Explain the source of tides, in terms of gravitational attraction and the relative motions of the sun, moon and Earth
15. Describe the energy transformations involved in converting tidal energy to electrical energy