Is Our Climate Headed for a Mathematical Tipping Point?
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by TED-Ed
What it is
- This TED-Ed animated video illustrates the concept of mathematical tipping points using billiards as an example.
- The video shows how the chaotic motion caused by slight changes to a billiards table is conceptually similar to how small changes in global temperatures can have massive climate impacts.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The video uses animated diagrams to convey key concepts.
- There are questions, additional resources, and discussion prompts that accompany the video.
Prerequisites
- Students over 13 years old can create a free account to save their answers and participate in discussion boards.
- Teachers can create a free account to customize the lesson and view student work.
- The video assumes students have a strong foundational understanding of geometry.
- In the Dig Deeper section, the link to the Nature article summary and the link to the Bill Nye videos are broken.
Differentiation & Implementation
- In a math course, students can create their own mathematical models for how the billiard ball would move on a circular table from different starting points, as described in the video. The Dig Deeper section includes multiple links to programs that can help students digitally explore these types of models.
- In a science course, students can gather additional evidence to decide if or when they think we will reach a climate change tipping point. Students can then present their findings to the class.
- Other resources about tipping points include this video by Our Changing Climate and this course by Climate Science.
From the scientist review
The video spotlights the impact of human activities on the climate. CO2 levels have increased and the earth is gradually shifting to a tipping point in the coming years, more chaotic events will occur if collective actions are not taken urgently to stabilize the climate system. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Ready to use it?
Hosted on ed.ted.com
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
