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Cycles of Matter
(Kennedy M) Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| The Law of Conservation of Mass | States that matter is neither created nor destroyed during chemical or physical changes. |
| The Law of Conservation of Energy | States that energy can neither be created nor destroyed - only converted from one form of energy to another. |
| Photosynthesis | The process in which producers, mainly plants, take in carbon dioxide and water with the aid of sunlight to produce food and oxygen.. |
| Cellular Respiration | The process in which producers, consumers, and decomposers convert food and oxygen to produce energy, carbon dioxide, and water. |
| Water Cycle | Describes the movement of water from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back in various forms/states. |
| Evaporation | The process of water changing to water vapor due to increased heat. |
| Condensation | The process of rising water vapor cooling and changing into water droplets. |
| Dew | A form of condensation that can take place on plants or other objects on a cool morning. |
| Precipitation | The process in which heavy droplets of water fall to the ground in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. |
| The Carbon Cycle | Describes the movement of carbon atoms through the ecosystem between living organisms and the atmosphere. |
| The Oxygen Cycle | Describes the movement of oxygen atoms through the ecosystem between living organisms and the atmosphere. |
| The Nitrogen Cycle | Describes how Nitrogen moves between plants, animals, bacteria, and the atmosphere, and soil in the ground. |
| Nitrogen Fixation | The process of changing free nitrogen gas (N2) into a usable form of nitrogen called nitrogen compounds. |