Data, analysis AND climate change

We can use the tools we learn in class, to help study and solve climate change:

Concept1: Does my household have an impact on global warming?

Science: (Source: https://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/Modules/8Module8.html))

Every time we turn on a light, drive our car to the store, or turn up the thermostat to heat our home, we create carbon dioxide. That’s because all of these sources of energy usually involve the burning of fossil fuels, which create carbon dioxide as a by-product. Carbon dioxide is a ‘greenhouse’ gas. As its concentration increases in the atmosphere, the average temperature of the world increases too. This is called Global Warming, and scientists have tracked this steady change for over 150 years.

Example1: The table below gives the number of kilograms of carbon dioxide (K) produced by an average US home as the amount of electrical power use (P) changes (measured in kilowatt hours: kWh). The family also produces 250 kilograms of carbon dioxide each month from driving the family car and heating the home. 

P 700 800 900 1000 1100 

K 600 650 700 750 800 

Problem 1 – Graph the data in this table with P the power used in kWh on the horizontal axis and K the total monthly carbon dioxide produced in kilograms on the vertical axis. Graph the data from P = 600 to 1200 and K = 500 to 900.  

Problem 2 - What is the rate of change for the data in the graph? 

Problem 3 – What is the linear equation that describes this data? 

Problem 4 – What does the value for K at P=0 represent in terms of the homes carbon dioxide budget? 

Concept2: Does Travel industry (including the vacations I take) impact global warming?

Science:(https://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/Modules/8Mod8Prob2.pdf)

Estimating the Carbon Footprint for Traveling 2 Jet engines burn kerosene, and cars burn gasoline. This creates carbon dioxide and soot as a byproducts. Both of these are known to have an impact on global warming. The amount of carbon dioxide produced depends on the length of the trip. It is common to use ‘passenger mile’ as a measure of traveled distance. This is then the average amount of carbon dioxide that a single person generates in the jet or car for each mile of the journey.

Example 2: The table below gives the average amount M of carbon dioxide (produced in kilograms) for D the indicated number of passenger miles taken. 

D 300 600 900 1200 1500

M 44 86 128 170 212 

Problem 1 – Graph the data in this table with passenger miles (D) on the horizontal axis and the total carbon dioxide produced in kilograms (M) on the vertical axis. Graph the data from D = 0 to 1600 miles and M = 0 to 250 kilograms. What is the rate of change for the data in the graph? What is the linear equation that describes this data?