What is a system?

School system

Ecosystem Alarm System

Political SystemWeather System

SOLAR SYSTEM

Why use systems?

• The universe is complex and gigantic.

• Scientists break things into smaller units they call “systems”. – They study each system – systematically- and how it

interacts with other systems– No system operates in isolation!

This is a system

This is a system…

This is a system

This is a system

This is a system

So what makes a system?

Two or more individual parts that work together to perform a single function and combine to form a whole.

Wait - what is it?

Two or more individual parts that work together

to perform a single function AND combine to form a whole.

This is a system…

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This is a collection of parts

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This is a system…Two or more parts work together

Transport a person

Makes a bicycle

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What was our definition again?

Two or more individual parts that work together to perform a single function and combine to form a whole.

Is this a system?

Yes – •two or more parts•work together to get you down the road•Make skateboard

Is this a system??

Yes•two or more parts•work together help you communicate•Make an iPhone

Is this a system?

Yes – •two or more parts• work together to… what? Magnify? Observe better? Make clearer? All of them.•Make a microscope

Systems Challenge….

• In your table teams come up with 4 systems within the room.

• Make sure you can identify the parts, name its function and name the object

• You have 2 minutes…GO!

Why are systems important?

• They are a tool to help understand the world• It can be too hard to study the whole, so we

need to break the world up into systems

All systems have…• INPUT: energy, information or matter that

enters a system

• OUTPUT: energy, information or matter that is produced or altered by the system

Into and out of the system

• Input– Finger touches– Voice– Information

• Output– Light– Sounds– Phone signals– Information from apps– Etc…

Outputs Can Become Inputs

Output Input

Input

Output

Systems have…• INPUT: energy, information or matter that

enters a system

• OUTPUT: energy, information or matter that is produced or altered by the system

• BOUNDARIES – set the limits of the system– Where it is defines the system

System - Writing System

System: Writing system• Parts

• Wood• Metal• Eraser• Lead• Hand• Paper• Arm

• Input– Blood from body– Energy from body

• Output– Letter

System – Hand/Pencil• Parts

• Wood• Metal• Eraser• Lead• Hand

• Input– Blood from body– Energy from body

• Output– Lead on paper– Sound

System - Pencil• Parts

• Wood• Metal• Eraser• Lead

• Input– Warmth from finger

touch– Energy of motion

from fingers

• Output– Lead on paper– Sound

Systems have…• INPUT: energy, information and matter that

enters a system

• OUTPUT: energy, information and matter that is produced or altered by the system

• BOUNDARIES – set the limits of the system

– Where it is defines the system

• SUBSYSTEMS: Most systems are composed of smaller systems or are part of a larger system

– They are systems within systems

Subsystem - Pencil• This pencil is

a subsystem of this writing system

Subsystem: Digestive tract

• This digestive system is a subsystem of the human body system

Subsystem: Truck

This truck system is a subsystem of the skateboard

Name 1

Name 1

Name 1

Name 1

Name 1

Name 1

Name 1

Name 1

Name 1Name 1

Name 1

A pencilThe edges of the Pencil

Open

Heat from fingersEnergy of motion

•Manufacturer•Mood of holder•The hand•Etc..•The writers brain

WoodEraseLeadMetal

MovingLead losing

Eraser system

Heat on paper

Lead on paper

Thoughts on paper

The paperThe notebookProof reader

TeacherStudent’s grade

Home life

none

Thoughts of writer

PencilEdges of pencil

Open

System?

Copy the following chart into your journal

Item System Input Output Open/closed Subsystem