AP Environmental Science Review - Video 6 (Day 2)

Instructor Introduction

• Instructor: Mr. Villarreal (Mr. V)
• Location: Mission, Texas (Sherlin Advanced Academic Academy)
• Mascots: Rattlers and Cobras

Agenda for Today

1. Clarifications from Video 5
2. Overview of Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution
3. Text Analysis & Multiple Choice Strategies
4. Modeling Free Response Questions (FRQs)
5. Questions & Live Practice Link

Clarifications from Video 5

• Math Questions:
  • Focus on metric system basics (kilo, mega, giga, deci, centi)
  • Essential math equations: Doubling time, half-life, net primary productivity, population math, percent change
  • Writing out numbers (e.g., "million") is acceptable if work is shown
  • Always show work and units, even for simple problems
• Identify in FRQs:
  • Avoid one-word answers; write complete thoughts
• Math Clarifications:
  • Megawatts and megawatt-hours: 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) = capacity (in megawatts) * hours
  • Example Calculation: 4 MW capacity running for 15 hours = 60 MWh

Exam Preparation

• Focus Areas:
  • AP Daily videos, especially on populations and energy
  • Practice free response questions from AP Central
• Exam Format:
  • Multiple Choice: 80 questions, 1.5 hours, 60% of score
  • Free Response: 3 questions, 1 hour 10 minutes, 40% of score
  • Question Types:
    • Design an investigation
    • Analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution
    • Analyze a problem with math and calculations
• Helpful Links:
  • Exam Dates and Times
  • Environmental Exam Details
  • Digital Exam Testing Guide & App
• Feedback: Encourage feedback via provided form

Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution Overview

• Separation of Issues:
  • Not climate change or ozone depletion (except tropospheric ozone)
• Primary Pollutants:
  • Directly from combustion: SOx, NOx, CO2, CO, hydrocarbons, toxic metals, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5)
• Secondary Pollutants:
  • Undergo chemical reactions: Ozone, photochemical smog, acid rain, etc.
• Sources:
  • Anthropogenic: Combustion (fossil fuels, vehicles)
  • Natural: Volcanoes, radon
• Specific Issues:
  • Photochemical Smog: NOx + VOCs + sunlight = smog
  • Acid Rain: NOx/SOx + water = acid rain; mitigated by limestone
  • Thermal Inversion: Traps pollution close to surface
  • Indoor Air Pollution: Carbon monoxide, mold, VOCs, radon, etc.
  • Noise Pollution: Physiological stress, disrupts animal communication
• Solutions:
  • Regulation, alternative fuels, technology (vapor recovery nozzles, catalytic converters, scrubbers, etc.)
• Legislation: Clean Air Act, regulated by EPA

Science Practices and Examples

• Practices:
  • Concepts, visual representations, text analysis, experiments, data analysis, mathematics, environmental solutions
• Multiple Choice Example:
  • Visual Representation: Identifying thermal inversion from a diagram
• Text Analysis Example:
  • Noise exposure and public health text analysis questions

Free Response Question (FRQ) Models

• Question 2 Model: Multiple parts involving economic costs of pollutants, acid precipitation, solutions, agricultural practices, etc.
• Question 1 Model: Scientific experiments with acid deposition on trees, describing patterns, identifying variables, explaining results, etc.

Key Takeaways

• Practice: Multiple topics and skills using AP Daily
• Know Content: What you need to know and how to show it
• Prompts: Read carefully and look ahead for context clues
• Scientific Method: Important for FRQs
• Text and Visual Analysis: Key components for multiple choice

Practice Resources

• Kahoot: Link for practice questions on Unit 7
• Video Guides: Previous videos and more to come

Conclusion

• Feedback: Encourage providing feedback to improve content
• Thank You: Appreciation for participation and encouragement to continue reviewing