Term | Definition |
convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation of a liquid or gas |
design constraint | something that limits an engineer during the engineering design process |
prototype | a model of a product |
potential energy | stored energy |
kinetic energy | energy of motion |
gravitational | potential energy based on distance above the earth |
elastic | potential energy based on stretching an object out of shape |
chemical | potential energy stored in food or fuels |
conductor | a substance that easily transfers energy |
insulator | a substance that reduces the transfer of energy |
meteorological data | temperature, wind speed, wind direction, air pressure, and relative humidity |
air currents | large-scale movements of air caused by a flow from high to low pressure |
water currents | large-scale movements of water caused by wind and density differences |
coriolis effect | the apparent curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path |
density | mass per unit of volume of a material |
high pressure | the atmospheric pressure is higher than the surrounding area |
low pressure | the atmospheric pressure is lower than the surrounding area |
sea breeze | the wind blows from the sea toward the land |
land breeze | the wind blows from the land toward the sea |
front | the boundary between air masses |
humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air |
hygrometer | a device for measuring the relative humidity of the air |
competition | the active seeking after and use of an environmental resource in limited supply by two or more organisms |
biodiversity | the variety of biotic elements in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species |
biome | a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain biotic elements |
control variable | everything you want to remain unchanged in an experiment |
independent variable | something changed on purpose in an experiment |
dependent variable | the result that is measured or observed in an experiment |
anemometer | a device for measuring wind speed |
barometer | a device for measuring air pressure |
biotic | living parts of an ecosystem |
abiotic | nonliving parts of an ecosystem |
producer | an organism that makes its own food |
energy pyramid | a triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem's loss of energy, which results as energy passes through an ecosystem |
thermal energy | total amount and kinetic energy of an object's molecules |
radiation | transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves |
conduction | transfer of thermal energy by direct contact |
symbiosis | the act of living together when at least one organism benefits |
nonrenewable | a natural resource that cannot be replaced in a reasonable time |
consumer | an organism that eats other living things to get energy |
population | the group of organisms of the same species living in the same area |
food web | a model that shows many different feeding relationships |
decomposer | an organism that breaks down dead organisms |
renewable | a natural resource that can be replaced |
weather | the properties of the atmosphere at a given time and location |
deforestation | the clearing of trees in a forested area |
erosion | the process by which natural forces move sediment over Earth's surface |
climate | the average weather conditions in an area |
transpiration | the release of water vapor through plant leaves |
endangered | at serious risk of extinction |
habitat management | a practice that seeks to conserve, protect, and restore habitat areas for native plants and animals |
conservation | planned management of a natural resource |
native species | a plant or animal that occurs naturally within a region |
pollutant | a substance that pollutes water or air |
invasive species | a plant or animal that is not native to a region |
extinct species | a plant or animal that no longer exists |
sustainability | the ability to use a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged |