Ecology and physics: interrelation and influence

At first glance, ecology and physics seem to be simply incompatible concepts. However, this is not the case. The fact is that the results of physics research and their introduction into industrial production are one of the most important sources that pollute the environment. This science is widely used by the nuclear industry and energy, as well as many other branches of the national economy of the country. It's no secret that all of them have a negative impact on the natural environment.

Interrelation of ecology and physics

There are several explanations of the term discipline studying the state of the environment on our planet. The name "ecology" was proposed by the German biologist E. Haeckel in 1866. This is an independent science, which is attributed to the biological sphere of studying the surrounding world.

One interpretation of the term "ecology" in modern society is the level of technogenic pollution of the biosphere, soil and water resources. This understanding of science is as much as possible "physical". Back in the early 20 century. In the works of such researchers as V.I. Vernadsky and A.A. Bogdanov, the idea was expressed that the laws of the organization exist not only in living nature. They are in the lifeless.

In the early 30-ies of the last century, the physics developed by Newton was replaced by its quantum direction. And in those years, VI. Vernadsky wrote that man is a miniature cosmos or quantum system.

Ecological problems

At the current stage of the development of society, researchers build a scientific picture of the world on the basis of physical laws of nature, which necessarily reflect and take into account all the growing problems of ecology. Human activity affects our planet so much that such an invasion must be concluded in a certain framework and regulated in a certain way. Otherwise, the world may face the fact of an ecological catastrophe.

Education of the younger generation

To solve the problems existing in the surrounding natural environment, it is important to take all possible measures. One of them is the correct organization of ecological education and education of the younger generation. Schoolchildren should be well-oriented in the laws of nature and in the interconnection of the phenomena existing in it, and also be able to assess and foresee the consequences of human intervention in the living world of planet Earth.

General education programs in our country include environmental education as an interdisciplinary subject. Independent course in this direction is not conducted. At the same time, such education is included in the content of such subjects as geography and natural history, chemistry and biology. Ecology and physics also have a close relationship.

The emergence of new disciplines

All processes occurring in living nature find their description in one or another science. But sometimes there is a simultaneous use of the same provisions and techniques by different disciplines. That is why new directions of scientific activity began to arise. This is physical chemistry and chemical physics, physical medicine and medical physics. However, this combination is most appropriate when describing the achievements of physics and science that studies the human habitat.

Vibration and noise

Such phenomena most clearly describe the interrelation of physics and ecology.

Consider the concept of vibration. It represents minor mechanical oscillations that can be observed in physical bodies. In this case, how is physics related to ecology? Vibration is attributed to factors that have a high biological activity that affects the person. Different types of this phenomenon, especially those that have anthropogenic origin, serve as the causes of various pathological conditions of our body. Vibration diseases stand in second place after dust when considering occupational ailments.

How does physics relate to ecology? Through the study of noise. This concept serves to determine the totality of sounds of different frequency and intensity. For example, spoken language is in the range from 50 to 60 dB, and loud music is estimated at 70 dB. Noise has an effect on the physiological activity of a person and on the whole of his body. With the impact of a high level of sounds, various pathologies can occur, down to a decrease in hearing and deafness. And here there is a close connection between ecology and medical physics. The issues studied by these disciplines become relevant in connection with the use of mobile phones and players by people, especially the younger generation.

Electromagnetic fields

Ecology and physics have a close relationship in the study of EMF on human health. Special attention is paid to weak and superweak electromagnetic fields, which are distributed by modern household appliances and various communication means, including computers, mobile phones and other gadgets.

There are natural EMFs on our planet. In their environment, the formation of a whole variety of forms and species of living organisms took place. There are such fields today. They are low-frequency (up to hundreds of kilohertz). This includes natural magnetism found in rocks, atmospheric electricity, tidal and tidal marine phenomena, and flows of particles of cosmic origin.

At the same time, there are EMF of artificial origin. Their study deals with physics and environmental life. Such radiation will be absolutely safe for humans, if by their absolute value they do not exceed the natural background of the planet. Fields created by electronic devices, television and radio broadcasting, as well as fixed and mobile communications can be referred to artificial EMF. Most modern people are exposed to these factors. As a result of the conducted studies negative influence of artificial EMF on the state of human health was proved. In this case, the only highly sensitive indicator of this effect is water, from which our body basically consists. EmFs change its structure, suppressing the functional activity of the liquid.

How does physics help the environment in this case? The scientists are tasked with developing effective methods for detecting EMF and techniques that ensure the safety of all living organisms.

Computer, as well as office equipment

When considering the extent of the harmful effects of PCs, such disciplines as ecology and physics are also involved. And personal computers have a negative impact on our health more than any other gadgets. According to the research, after 45 minutes of work on a PC, a user who does not have the means of protection receives significant overloads of all the regulatory systems of his body.

A danger to humans is represented by such office equipment as telephone fax and photocopying equipment. There are even certain groups of people who have psychological and physiological characteristics, which are generally not recommended to work at the computer. One of these categories is children.

And PCs are dangerous not only for those who are directly sitting behind the screen of the monitor. Electromagnetic radiation coming from the PC, especially from its power supply, is distributed in a radius of up to 2.5 m. That is why the impact of office equipment is now becoming a significant factor when considering electromagnetic safety of people.

Appliances

Without true electric assistants, no one can manage today. But it should be borne in mind that all household appliances operating from an alternating current network are the direct source of electromagnetic fields. These are microwave ovens and powerful refrigerators, electric stoves and freezers. By purchasing such a device, it is necessary to pay attention to the compliance of its sanitary passport with the requirements of the sanitary norms established by the legislation contained in MCANP 001-96.

Ionizing radiation

Where is physics used in ecology? Examples of this relationship can be observed when studying radioactive radiation. Its effect on biological objects causes either a deterministic threshold effect, or a stochastic threshold.

An acute damaging factor is a single irradiation of a human body with an absorption dose exceeding 0.25 Gy. Values of this value, ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 Hz, cause only short-term changes in blood composition. At a dose of 0.5 to 1.5 Hz a person has a feeling of fatigue, and sometimes a negative phenomenon, like vomiting.

To date, researchers have well studied the consequences for the human body, which carries ionizing radiation. In accordance with the results obtained, there are developments of a variety of medico-prophylactic measures that are able to protect the body against the entry of radionuclides into it.

Thermal machines

In everyday life we have to constantly meet with different engines. They serve to set in motion cars and airplanes, tractors and ships, as well as railway locomotives. Thermal machines, as a rule, produce electric current. It was the appearance and further development of this type of technical devices that contributed to the rapid development of industry in the 18-20 centuries.

For today it is possible to say with confidence that the closest interconnection is with thermal machines and ecology. Physics as a science considers the problems of thermal losses of such engines, which are the reason for increasing the internal energy of not only the surrounding bodies, but also the atmosphere. This effect is caused by the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere, which negatively affects the state of nature.

In addition, the harmful effects on the environment are provided by the internal combustion engines of aircraft, cars, as well as the furnaces necessary for the operation of thermal power plants. All of them pollute the atmosphere with very harmful substances for our health, which after they enter the water bodies and soil. All this causes catastrophic changes in our environment.

What activities in physics are related to the environment? In our country there is an active struggle with air pollution. It consists in increasing the efficiency of thermal engine engines, using more efficient fuels, and installing flue gas catchers. At the thermal power station and other objects of this type, the technology of complex processing of raw materials is introduced, and long-length exhaust pipes are built.

Substance state

When studying this topic, we clearly see the connection that physics has in ecology. Examples of this can be found in such a natural phenomenon as the water cycle. When studying the topic of vaporization and condensation, the connection between these two sciences is clearly seen. After all, in nature under any temperature conditions, moisture evaporates from the surface of soils and water bodies.

In this case, the water that passes into the vapor state condenses in the upper layers of the atmosphere. Due to this phenomenon, snow-white clouds are formed, and dew, hail, or snow falls to the ground. In nature, there is a certain balance between the amount of water that evaporates from the surface of the earth, and the one that is in the atmosphere.

In this case, how does physics affect the environment? A man with a powerful technique, created with the help of this science, is able to destroy water bodies, which will lead to a disturbance of the natural balance. The new state will be unusual for living organisms that live in the area. That is why before making an intrusion into nature, it is important for a person to assess all possible consequences of his actions.

Diffusion

This phenomenon is studied in physics lessons. However, along with his consideration, students should learn about the fact that diffusion in nature is sometimes the reason that pollutants spread in the soil, air and water.

An example of this is the work of metallurgical plants. At a low rate of dispersion of gases emitted through their pipes, probably accumulation of harmful substances over the area where the production is located. Further, due to diffusion, dangerous elements penetrate into the plants, as well as into the body of animals and humans.

Forms of training

In what cases is a full-fledged realization of the opportunities for students to receive an environmental education? To do this, it is necessary to use all forms of material supply, which are lesson and after-hour work, elective classes, solving problems in physics with ecological content.

An important condition for success will be the holding by the children of various research papers examining the issues of environmental protection and human health. It is also possible to remember the submitted material well and the teacher's told an ecological fairy tale on physics. Ecology in it should be present in the image of the main and secondary heroes, their actions and ways of achieving the goal.

Since in physics lessons the teacher pays much attention to solving problems, it is important not just to impose environmental conditions on their condition, but also to involve students in the discussion of the solution in terms of existing problems related to the use of fuel and energy resources, the ecologization of transport, industry, Economy.