Introduction to SystemsBefore the video try to answer the following questions:

1. What is a system?

2. What are some examples of systems?

Watch the video: Answer the following questions after the video.

3. How is the human body and example of a system?

4. The video says that all systems are part of a bigger system. What is one bigger system that the human body is a part of?

Name____________________________________

LS29

The two parts of a system are: 1) Each part of a system can itself be

described as a smaller system or subsystem.

2) A system can be very different from its parts.

Goal, inputs, process, outputs, and feedback

Systems (especially those designed by humans, which we call technological systems) can also be thought of as including a goal, inputs, processes, outputs and sometimes feedback.

A goal is a purpose or an outcome.

An input is something that is put into the system in order to reach the goal. (What gets the system started?) More than one input may be needed to meet the goal.

The process is a sequence of actions that the system undergoes. (What happens?)

An output is a result or product. If the system works correctly, the outputs should match the goal. Again, there may be more than one output that helps the system meet its goal.

Some systems have feedback. Feedback is information a system uses to monitor the input, process, and output so that the system can adjust to meet the goal.

**See the diagram of an oven as a system on the board to get a specific example.**

Yesterday you had a chance to really get to know your windup toy. See if you can answer the following to demonstrate how well you understand this system.

1. What was the goal of the windup toy?

2. What is the input of the windup toy?

3. What is the process of the windup toy?

4. What is the output of the windup toy?

5. Does the windup toy have feedback? Explain.

6. Last year you learned about ecosystems. Give your best definition of an ecosystem. (You will only lose points if you do not answer.)