Year 9 project based learning task Research booklet

The expanding universe

The universe is constantly expanding. The universe consists of stars, planets, moons nebula, pulsars, black holes and space. Our solar system is approximately 5800 000 000 km from the sun to outside. Our solar system is small part of our galaxy, the Milky Way.

The universe is so large, it cannot be measured in kilometres. Instead we use light years. 1 light year = distance light will travel in one year.

Light travels  at 3000000km per second.

Evidence suggests that is still expanding. The edge of the universe is approx,  1400 million light years.

The stars and galaxies at the edge are moving faster than those in centre. 

Big Crunch- the Big Bang crunch is when dark energy reduces and gravity pulls everything onto it ending the universe .

Big chill- the world freezes over and ends life.

Hormones

Hormones are chemicals messages.

Messages are slower than nerve messages and last longer.

Hormones are produced in endocrine glands and then passed directly into the blood.

Each hormone produced has it's own specific function.

Hormones can act on the whole body,on body systems or individuals organs.

Endocrine glands 

Endocrine glands are located throughout the body

Responsible for the production of hormones 

Endocrine glands include the typhoid, pancreas 

Pituitary gland

 The pituitary gland is the master gland that  controls the other endocrine glands

The pituitary gland produces hormones that act on other organs 

The pituitary gland is also responsible for the production of hormones that influences the reproductive organs and growth before puberty.

How the body response 

Stimulus received   

           $ 

Endocrine gland produces a hormone 

            $

Hormone is carried around the body in the blood 

                  $

Target cells and organs respond to the hormone 

                          $

Homeostasis is restored and the hormone is destroyed by the liver.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones can be detrimental Mendel because the radio frequency being emitted heats up your brain tissue.

This radiation could put you at greater risk of getting brain cancer and tumours in the brain. This causes the brain to absorbs the radiation.

Ways we can avoid this 

Keep your mobile phone a distance if 10 ml away from your head.

Weak signals and frequencies when making calls causes cell phones to release more radio frequency.

The radio frequency is the strongest when it is attempting to make a call, so put your phone on speaker.

Stoke

1. What causes a stroke?

A blood clot in the brain which can cause black outs and stokes.

2. What lifestyle choices can lead to the increased chances of a stroke occurring?

Eating unhealthy foods and not doing excersise.

3. What are some of the signs that someone who is having a stroke displays?

Speech is poor 

Face is droopy 

They can lift their arms 

4. What are some of the treatments for stroke?

• antihypertensives to reduce blood pressure
• antiplatelet agents
• anticoagulants which both prevent blood clots from forming or growing.

Spinal injury

 What does spinal injury involve?

It involves injury and damage to the spine which can cause paralysis.

 2. What paralysis occurs if damage occurs at C4, C6, T6 parts of the spinal cord

C4 body paralysis and full head paralysis 

C6 from the neck down 

T6 from the waist down

3. Research how stem cells could potentially cure spinal injuries

They can rebuild and reconstructed all parts of the spine.

The brain

Brain
The brain is encased in the bony skull, contains approx 25 billion neurons and weighs about 1.4kg. There are 3 main parts to the brain.
The cerebrum
The cerebellum
The brain stem

The cerebrum is the largest part and the controls memory, complex thought, logical thinking speech. The cerebrum coordinates muscular activity without thinking about it - balance, co- ordinate muscles when walking so that you do not fall over. The brain stem is the responsible for your heart beat pulse, digestion and breathing.

1 Name the three major structures of the brain and outline the main function of each.

The cerebrum controls the memory and logical thinking 

The Cerebellum coordinates muscular activity without thinking it 

The brain stem keeps your heart pulsing and you breathing and digestion

2 Recall the three structures that protect the brain.

Skull

Fluid 

Meningies 

3Explain why the ‘grey’ matter is concentrated in the cerebrum.

Because it is 90% grey matter 

4 Recall which part of the brain controls

breathing- the brain stem

balancing on a skateboard- the cerebellum

puzzle solving-cerebrum

Screative writing-left side of the brain

Explain why a major injury to the brain stem is often fatal.

Because the connection from the brain or rest of the body is lost and stops everything from working in the body.

If meninges are membranes that protect the brain, what is meningitis?

Meningitis is a brain sickness which is the infection of the meninges 

The brain of an average elephant weighs about six kilograms. Explain why it needs to be so large. 

Because the elephant is so large it needs a larger brain to fully operate and be more powerful to move the muscles in the elephant.

If the left side of the brain is damaged in an accident, it's often the right side of your body that is affected. Investigate why.

Because the motor neurons croos and travel down the spine the rest of the other side of the body