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 of environmental pollution. The nuclear industry and energy, as well as many other sectors of the national economy, make extensive use of this science. It is no secret that all of them, to one degree or another, negatively affect the natural environment surrounding a person.
The relationship of ecology and physics
There are several explanations of the term discipline that studies 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 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 "physical" as possible. At the beginning of the 20th 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. There are also inanimate ones.
At the beginning of the 30s of the last century, the physics developed by Newton was replaced by its quantum direction. And in those years V.I. 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 based on the physical laws of nature, which necessarily reflect and take into account all the growing environmental problems. Human activity influences our planet so much that such an invasion must be enclosed in a certain framework and regulated in a certain way. Otherwise, the world may face the fact of the onset of environmental disaster.
Raising the younger generation
To solve the problems existing in our natural environment, it is important to take all possible measures. One of them is the proper organization of environmental education and education of the younger generation. Pupils should be well-versed in the laws of nature and in the interconnectedness of the phenomena existing in it, as well as be able to assess and anticipate 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. An independent course in this area is not conducted. Moreover, such an education is included in the content of such subjects as geography and natural sciences, chemistry and biology. A close relationship among themselves are also ecology and physics.
The emergence of new disciplines
All processes occurring in living nature find their description in a particular science. But sometimes there is the simultaneous use of the same provisions and methods by different disciplines. That is why new directions of scientific activity began to arise. These are physical chemistry and chemical physics, physical medicine and medical physics. However, this combination is most appropriate when describing the achievements of physics and science, studying the human environment.
Vibration and noise
Such phenomena most vividly describe the relationship between physics and ecology.
Consider the concept of vibration. It represents minor mechanical vibrations that can be observed in physical bodies. In this case, how is physics related to ecology? Vibration is attributed to factors with high biological activity that have an effect on humans. Various types of this phenomenon, especially those that are technogenic in origin, are the causes of various pathological conditions of our body. Vibrational diseases are in second place after dust when considering occupational ailments.
How is physics related to ecology? Through the
study of noise. This concept serves to determine the totality of sounds of different frequencies and intensities. For example, conversational speech ranges from 50 to 60 dB, and loud music is estimated at 70 dB. Noise affects the physiological activity of a person and his entire body. When exposed to a high level of sounds, various pathologies can occur, up to a decrease in hearing and deafness. And here ecology and medical physics are closely connected. The questions studied by these disciplines become relevant in connection with the use by people, especially the younger generation, of mobile phones and players.
Electromagnetic fields
Ecology and physics have a close relationship in the study of electromagnetic fields on human health. At the same time, special attention is paid to weak and ultra-weak electromagnetic fields, which are distributed by modern household appliances and various means of communication, including computers, mobile phones and other gadgets.
There are natural EMFs on our planet. In their environment, the formation of the whole variety of forms and types of living organisms took place. There are such fields today. There they are low-frequency (up to hundreds of kilohertz). This includes natural magnetism found in rocks,
atmospheric electricity, tidal and tidal marine phenomena, streams of particles of cosmic origin.
At the same time, there are EMFs of artificial origin. Their study is involved in the physics and ecology of everyday life. Such radiation will be completely safe for humans, if in their absolute value they do not exceed the natural background of the planet. Artificial electromagnetic fields include fields created by electronic devices, television and radio broadcasting, as well as stationary and mobile communications. These factors are exposed to most modern people. As a result of the studies, the negative effect of artificial electromagnetic fields on human health was proved. At the same time, the only highly sensitive indicator of this effect is water, which our body basically consists of. EMFs change its structure, while inhibiting the functional activity of the fluid.
How does physics help ecology in this case? Scientists are tasked with developing effective methods for detecting electromagnetic fields and techniques to ensure the safety of all living organisms.
Computer and office equipment
When considering the degree of harmful effects of PCs, such disciplines as ecology and physics are also involved. Moreover, personal computers negatively affect our health to a greater extent than any other gadgets. According to studies, after 45 minutes of working on a PC, a user who does not have protective equipment receives significant overloads of all the regulatory systems of his body.
Office equipment such as telephone fax and photocopying machines also pose a danger to humans. There are even certain groups of people with psychological and physiological characteristics who are generally not recommended to work at a computer. One such category is children.
Moreover, PCs are dangerous not only for those who are directly sitting behind the monitor screen. Electromagnetic radiation coming from a 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 the electromagnetic safety of people.
Appliances
Today, not a single person can do without faithful electrical assistants. But it should be borne in mind that all household appliances operating on AC power are a direct source of electromagnetic fields. These are microwave ovens and powerful refrigerators, electric stoves and freezers. When purchasing such a device, it is necessary to pay attention to the conformity of its sanitary passport to the requirements of the sanitary standards established by law contained in MSanPiN 001-96.
Ionizing radiation
Where is physics used in ecology? Examples of such a relationship can be observed in the study of radiation. Its effect on biological objects causes either a deterministic threshold effect or a stochastic thresholdless effect.
An acute damaging factor is a single exposure of the 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 the composition of the blood. At a dose of 0.5 to 1.5 Hz, a person has a feeling of fatigue, and sometimes such a negative phenomenon as vomiting.
To date, researchers have well studied the consequences for the human body that carry ionizing radiation. In accordance with the results obtained, there are developments of various medical and preventive measures that can protect the body from the ingestion of radionuclides.
Heat machines
In everyday life, we have to constantly meet with various engines. They serve to propel cars and planes, tractors and ships, as well as railway locomotives. Thermal machines, as a rule, also generate 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.
To date, we can say with confidence that the closest relationship is between heat engines and the environment. Physics as a science considers the heat loss issues of such engines, which are the cause of the increase in internal energy of not only surrounding bodies, but also of the atmosphere. Such an effect causes a greenhouse effect in the atmosphere, which negatively affects the state of nature.
In addition, the internal combustion engines of aircraft, automobiles, as well as the furnaces necessary for the operation of thermal power plants, have a harmful effect on the environment. All of them pollute the atmosphere with substances that are very harmful to our health, which then enter water bodies and soil. All this causes catastrophic changes in our environment.
What physics activities are related to ecology? In our country, air pollution is being actively fought. It consists in increasing the efficiency of engines of heat engines, their use of more efficient fuel, as well as the installation of flue gas traps. At TPPs and other facilities of a similar type, the technology of complex processing of raw materials is being introduced, and long exhaust pipes are being erected.
State of Substances
When studying this topic, one can 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 visible. Indeed, in nature, under any temperature conditions, moisture evaporates from the surface of soils and water bodies.
In this case, the water, passing into a state of steam, condenses in the upper atmosphere. Thanks to this phenomenon, snow-white clouds form, and dew, hail or snow falls on the ground. In nature, there is a certain balance between the amount of water that evaporates from the surface of the earth, and that which is in the atmosphere.
In this case, how does physics affect the environment? A person who has powerful technology created using this science is able to destroy water bodies, which will lead to disruption of natural balance. The new state will be unusual for living organisms living in the area. That is why, before making an invasion of nature, it is important for a person to evaluate all the possible consequences of his actions.
Diffusion
This phenomenon is studied in physics lessons. However, along with its consideration, students should learn about the fact that diffusion in nature is sometimes the reason that pollutants spread in soil, air and water.
An example of this is the work of metallurgical plants. At a low dispersion rate, the gases emitted through their pipes are likely to accumulate harmful substances over the area where the production is located. Further, due to diffusion, hazardous elements penetrate plants, as well as animals and humans.
Forms of training
In which case is the full realization of the opportunities for students to receive environmental education achieved? For this, it is necessary to use all forms of material presentation, which are lesson and extracurricular activities, elective classes, solving problems in physics with environmental content.
An important condition for success will be the children conducting various research works addressing environmental issues and human health. A well-remembered material will be made possible by the ecological fairy tale in physics told by the teacher. Ecology in it should be present in the image of the main and secondary characters, their actions and ways to achieve the goal.
Since the teacher pays great attention to solving problems in physics lessons, it is important not only to give their condition an ecological content, but also to attract students to discuss solutions from the point of view of existing problems regarding the use of fuel and energy resources, greening transport, industry, and rural households.