Question | Answer |
a chemical change occurs when... | a burner on a propane stove is lighted to heat water |
Periodic table layout | 1)A higher atomic weight than the one on its lft. 2)Similar chemical properties to other elements in the same column; Elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number (i.e., the number of protons in the atomic nucleus). Rows are arranged w/similar |
Which is more acidic and will have lowest pH? milk, household ammonia, distilled water, vinegar | vinegar |
difference between C 14 and C 12? (both have atomic number of six) | C 14 has eight neutrons and C 12 has six neutrons |
mass, charge, and location of a proton | Mass = 1; charge = positive; location = nucleus |
example of refraction of light waves | light waves passing through raindrops produces a rainbow |
Newtons 3rd law of motion: every action there is an equal and opposite reaction | inflated balloon moving through the air when it is not tied and it is let go |
Thermal energy vs temperature | a cup of water at 50 degrees Celcius contains less thermal energy than a bathtub full of water at 10 degrees Celcius |
Fresh cut white flowers are put in water with blue dye. 24 hours later, 2 tablespoons of salt are added. What will happen to the flowers after another 24 hours | wilted and light blue |
Left ventricle of the heart | primarily responsible for pumping blood to most of the organs and tissues of the body |
Role of carbon in the functioning of biological systems | carbon combines with a large number of other elements to form a variety of useful compounds |
Mutualism | a biological interaction between two organisms, where each individual derives a fitness benefit |
genetic material is halved when... | a cell in the testes of a male sparrow divides and produces four sperm |
roots grown down and shoots grow up, even if the seed is upside down due to... | gravity |
shape of the Milky Way galaxy is... | a flat central disk with rotating spiral arms |
barometers are used to compare what weather conditions | air pressure |
Summer thunderstorms in Calif are caused by | a cold front moving through the area forcing warm air up, causing condensation of water and forming thunderheads |
the inside, northern portion of Baja Calif would... | experience the greatest daily difference between high tide and low tide |
High salinity of saltwater lakes is caused by... | water does not drain out of saltwater lakes and is removed mainly by evaporation leaving salt behind |
Primary data source for research of the effects of logging on lakes and streams would be... | topographical maps of the area showing logging roads and areas of clear cutting |
position | the location of an object |
displacement | how far an object has moved |
speed | the time-rate displacement |
velocity | speed with a specified direction |
acceleration | the rate of velocity change |
energy | the ability to do work |
potential energy | energy stored within a physical system |
kinetic energy | energy of motion |
activation energy | energy needed by a system to initiate a particular process |
force | either a push or pull on an object |
work | exerting a force on an object over a distance |
energy sources | heat, light, solar radiation, chemical, electrical, magnetic, and sound |
conservation of energy | energy never disappears, it just changes forms |
temperature | a measure of aggregate atomic or molecular activity within an object |
thermometers measure temperature by... | expansion of properties of the fluids (such as mercury or alcohol) because the fluid expands at a specific rate |
ways to measure temperature | thermometers, thermocouples, optical |
conduction | transfer of heat when two objects differing in temperature are placed in contact |
radiation | transfer of heat occurs in a vacuum where there is no possibility of conduction - such as the heat from an iron |
convection | transfer of heat when heating and circulation of a substance that changes its density when heated. (hot air over land near coastal areas) |
light sources | either mixtures of multiple wavelengths or a single wavelength |
white light | the entire spectrum of visible colors |
vision | light in the visible spectrum interacts with the rods and cones of the human eye, producing electrical signals which the brain interprets as color |
photosynthesis | process of chlorophyll-containing organisms (green plants, algae, some bacteria) capture energy in the form of light and convert it to chemical energy |
photoemission | light interacts with certain types of materials(usually alkali metals or combinations thereof) |
tranverse waves | the wave disturbance (amplitude) is perpendicular to the direction of the propagation |
longitudinal waves | the wave disturbance (amplitude) is parallel to the direction of the propagation |
reflection/reflected waves | wave incident bounces off the surface and is redirected |
refraction/refracted waves | wave penetrates the surface |
cell | the fundamental unit of all living organisms; composed mainly of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen |
cytoplasm | part of a cell that is enclosed within the plasma membrane |
membrane | separates the interior of a cell from the outside environment |
DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid; cannot leave the nucleus; tightly coiled as a chromosome |
somatic nervous system | allows voluntary control over the skeletal muscle |
autonomic nervous systems | controls involuntary movements such as cardiac and glandular functions |
exteroceptors | nerve receptors for pain, temperature, touch, and pressure |
interoceptors | internal environment receptors |
proprioceptors | movement, position, and tension receptors |
circulatory system | pumps blood; |
lympthocytes and antibody molecules | part of the immune system to defend against foreign proteins and infectious microorganisms |
respiration | expansion and contraction of the lungs; oxygen enters tiny capillaries combining with hemoglobin in red blood cells and is carried to tissues; carbon dioxide passes thru capillaries into the lungs |
digestion | food is chewed and mixed w/saliva, then moves thru the esophogus to the stomach; involuntary muscle movements called peristalsis continues moving the food thru |
eukaryotic cells | an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes. Almost all species of large organisms are eukaryotes, including animals, plants and fungi, |
ecology | the study of the relationship of plants and animals to their physical and biological environment |
ecosystems | 4 major parts: producers(green plants), consumers (herbivores and carnivores), decomposers (fungi and bacteria), nonliving or abiotic components(dead organic matter and nutrients in soil and water) |
ecosystem inputs | solar energy, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, other elements and compounds |
ecosystem outputs | heat of respiration, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrient losses |
habitat | place where particular animals or plants live |
niche | the functional role of a species in a community (a lion's niche is preying on the animals in his habitat) |
population growth factors | birth rate vs. death rate;competition, predation, and coevolution |
predation | consumption of one living organism, plant, or animal by another |
coevolution | joint evolution of two unrelated species that have a close ecological relationship; the evolution of one species depends in part on the evolution of the other |
reproduction | process whereby living plant or animal cells or organisms produce offspring |
asexual animal propogation | reproductive processes in which only one parent gives rise to offspring; offspring are identical to the parent |
fission | the parent organism splits into two or more daughter organisms |
sexual animal propogation | sperm uniting with ova for fertilization; by means of insemination/copulation or cross fertilization (such as sperm and ova deposited in water by fish) |
evolution | change in the genetic material of a population of organisms from one generation to the next |
Darwin | 1809-1892; evolution proceeds by the natural selection of well adapted individuals over a span of many generations |
Gregor Mendel | laws of heredity; pea plants; genetic discoveries |
solar system | the sun and the eight orbiting planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) |
asteroids | generally carbonaceous or rocky-metallic |
comets | ices and water; dirty snowballs |
earth's rotation | 24 hour spinning |
earth's revolving | 365ish day turning around the sun |
the sun | medium sized star; one of billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy |
galaxies | large collections of stars which are composed of not just stars but also hydrogen, dust particles, and other gases |
stars | large masses of hydrogen pulled together under the influence of gravity |
minerals | most common form of solid material in the earth's crust; the element must be found in nature and must neven have been part of any living organism; quartz, calcite, mica |
rock | igneous (granite); metamorphic (marble); sedimentary (limestone) |
igneous rock | fire rock; magma that hardens and solidifies |
metamorphic rock | rocks that changed from igneous or sedimentary rocks |
sedimentary rock | formed over thousands of years when little pieces of earth are broken down and worn away by wind and water |
layers of the earth | 1) atmosphere (gaseous); 2)hydrosphere (liquid); 3)lithosphere (largely solid); 4)mantle (largely solid); 5)core (largely solid) |
plate tectonics | movement of lithospheric plates |
volcano | mountain that shoots out magma which then hardens into lava; created when two tectonic plates collide, form a mtn. and blow their tops |
weather | due to heating from the sun |
hydrologic cycle | storage, evaporation, precipitation, and runoff |
river | large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or ocean |
estuary | where a river meets an ocean or sea |
ocean | large body of salt water that surrounds a continent; cover more than 2/3 of the earth's surface |
lake | large body of water surrounded by land on all sides |
tides | alternating rise and fall in sea level; produced by the gravitional attraction of the moon and sun |
hypotheses | an educated guess that states there is some measurable relationship between two quantifiable variables |
observation | act of sensing some measurable phenomenon |
organization | relating parts to a coherent whole |
experimental | testing the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable in a controlled environment |
inference | deducing a conclusion from a measurement or observation that is not explicit to either |
prediction | stating the outcome of an experiment in advance of doing it |
evidence | data or observations that are relevant factors in testing hypotheses |
opinion | an explanation of phenomena that may or may not be supported by evidence |
theory | systematically organized knowledge that explains scientific phenomena |
law | statement of observable behavior based on consistent experience (the law of gravity) |
cell | smallest amount of life that is capable of reproductions; plant and animal cells have membranes; reproduce in 5 stages |
prokaryotes | cells that are bacteria, including cyanobacteria |
eukaryotes | plant and animal cells |
nucleus | the cell's brain; contains genetic material |
cytoplasm | gel-like substance in the interior of the cell contains organelles |
prophase | mitosis begins as the cell begins to divide |
metaphase | chromosomes align around the equator of the cell |
anaphase | sister chromosomes are formed and move toward opposite ends of the cells |
telophase | mitosis ends as two new nuclei are formed |
cytokinesis | cell splits into 2 daughter cells in the final stage of reproduction |
meisosis | creates sperm cells and egg cells, each with half the # of chromosomes (haploid) found in the human cell |
zygote | when a sperm cell and an egg cell combine, creating a complete set of chromosomes |
chlorophyll in a plant's chloroplasts | captures energy from the sun; the solar energy combines the CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere with H2O (water)to make glucose (sugar) |
respiration | energy created through cells |
aerobic respiration | the oxidation of food, which takes place in the presence |
anaerobic respiration | like fermentation which takes place without respiration |
ingestion | take in food |
digestion | break down food to usable forms |
secretion | create and release useful substances |
excretion | eliminate waste material |
homeostasis | maintain the cell's equilibrium |
chromosome | a rodlike structure in the cell nucleus |
RNA | ribonucleic acid; the messenger that carries the genetic code thru out the cell |
vertebrate | animals with backbone |
invertebrate | animals without backbone |
bacilli | rod-shaped bacteria |
cocci | circular or spherical bacteria |
spirilla | coiled bacteria |
angiosperms | largest groups of plants; have flowers and true leaves |
gymnosperms | plants that have no flowers and have needles for leaves |
flower | reproductive unit of most plants |
arthropods | include insects (ants, beetles, butterflies), arachnids (spiders), and crustaceans (crabs, lobsters) |
insects | cold blooded; mature insects have 3 body parts-head, thorax, abdomen; make up 25% of all animals on earth; |
metamorphosis | distinct changes of individual development from an egg to an adult; stages- 1)egg, 2) larva emerges from egg 3)pupa (cocoon) 4) adult (emerges from cocoon0 |
23 pairs of chromosomes | # of chromosome pairs humans have; females have 23 similar pairs including a pair of X chromosomes; males have 22 similar pairs plus and X and Y chromosome |
bones | consist of living marrow, blood vessels, and nerves surrounded by a hard calcium exterior |
thorax | the ribs and the sternum |
pelvis | hip bones and the sacrum |
patella | kneecap |
tibia | shinbone |
tarsal | seven anklebones |
metatarsals | the sole and instep of the foot |
clavicle | the shoulder bone |
scapula | shoulder blade |
humerus | upper arm bone |
radius and ulna | the two bones that form the forearm |
carpal | the eight wrist bones |
metacarpal | the five bones that form the palm |
joint | where two or more bones meet; held together by ligaments; |
cartilage | substance between the bones that absorbs the shock of the bones moving against one another |
cranium | skull atop the body that contains the brain |
spinal column | vertebra; partitioned into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx sections |
central nervous system | the brain and the spinal cord |
cerebrum | 3/4 of the brain's mass; partitioned into left and right hemispheres; temporal lobe controls hearing and smell, occipital lobe controls sight |
cerebral cortex | surrounds the cerebrum |
cerebellum | controls muscle activity and is located below the cerebrum |
respiratory system | introduces oxygen into the body from the air |
pharynx | the throat |
trachea | the windpipe |
atrium | upper portion of the heart |
ventricle | lower portion of the heart |
heart contracts | oxygen poor blood goes from right ventricle thru lungs to left atrium; oxygen rich blood goes from left ventricle thru lungs to right atrium |
heart relaxes | oxygen-rich blood enters left atrium from lungs; oxygen poor blood enters right atrium from the body |
arteries | strong tubes that carry blood away from the heart |
capillaries | tiny blood vessels that carry oxygen to individual cells |
plasma | transports red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets |
red blood cells | carry oxygen |
white blood cells | part of the immune system |
platelets | aid in clotting |
3 types of muscles | skeletal muscles; smooth muscles; cardiac muscles |
skeletal muscles | control voluntary acts such as chewing, jumping, and turning the head |
smooth muscles | control involuntary activities and are found in blood vessels and the urinary tract |
cardiac muscles | found only in the heart |
pituitary gland | near the brain; controls other endocrine glands, sex glands, milk production, and pigmentation |
adrenal glands | near the kidney; affect heart rate, blood pressure, blood vessels, and blood sugar |
thyroid | in the neck; regulates mental and physical alertness |
antigens | disease causing agents |
lymphocytes | control the immune system and kill antigens directly |
granulocytes | numerous; ingest antigens already killed by cell enzymes |
monocytes | small numbers; ingest and kill antigens, alter antigens in a way that makes it easier for lymphocytes to destroy them |
immunoglobins | antibodies; combine with antigens to disable them |
cytokines | complement proteins and aid the immune response |
ecology | the relationship between organisms and their ecosystem |
aquatic biomes | ocean, shallow water, tidal marshes |
land biomes | forest, grassland, and desert |
water cycle | evaporation, condensation, and precipitation |
evaporation | when heat from the sun changes ocean water and other sources into water vapor |
condensation | when water vapor turns into water droplets which form clouds |
precipitation | when the droplets become too heavy and water falls as rain, snow, sleet, or hail |
astronomy | study of space and the relationship of objects in space |
sun | a turbulent mass of incredibly hot gases exploding with repeated nuclear fusion reactions; about 1,000,000 earths could fit inside it; surface temp 10,000 degrees Fah. |
earth | third planet from the sun; about 91-95,000,000 miles from sun; 7,900 miles in diameter; tilted at about 23 degrees |
lunar eclipse | when the moon is in the earth's shadow |
solar eclipse | when the sun is 'hidden' behind the moon |
cosmology | the study of the universe |
andromeda galaxy | over 2 million light years from earth |
meteorology | the study of the earth's atmosphere |
high pressure systems | usually associated with good weather |
low pressure systems | usually associated with bad weather |
humidity | the percent of water vapor in the air |
dew point | the temp below which the air will become so humid that it is saturated with water |
fog | a cloud that touches the ground |
stratus clouds | low hanging clouds; rain or snow may fall from nimbostratus clouds ; a few thousand feet above ground |
cumulus clouds | puffy, cotton like; strong convective, upward wind currents; about 1 mile above ground |
cirrus clouds | high wispy clouds made up of ice crystals; frequently 3-5 miles above ground |
lightning | an instantaneous, high energy electrical discharge in the atmosphere; occurs when positive and negative charges are separated in the atmosphere; can be from cloud to cloud or cloud to ground |
warm front | the air behind the front is warmer than the air in front |
cold front | the air behind the front is colder than the are in front |
oceanography | study of the worlds oceans and ocean beds; encompasses about 71% of earth's surface |
seawater | 3.5% salt; the sea provides about 25% of the protein needed in the world |
geology | the study of the earth, its development and origin |
earth's five parts | atmosphere, crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core |
atmosphere | the gaseous region surrounding the earth; 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, remaining 1%=carbon dioxide, argon, water vapor, and other gases; extends out 650 miles |
ozone layer | about 20 miles into the atmosphere; protects from ultraviolet rays |
hydrosphere | layer of water that covers about 3/4 of earth's surface; salt water makes up about 95% of earths water; ocean depth's average 12,400 feet |
lithosphere | the rigid crust (20 miles thick) and upper mantle (40 miles thick); tectonic plates drift on asthenosphere which separate the lithosphere from the mantle |
rigid mantle | reaches a depth of 1800 miles |
outer core | about 1400 miles thick; made of dense rigid materials |
inner core | radius of 800 miles; very dense and hot w/temps over 10,000 degrees Fah. |
chemistry | the composition, properties, and interactions of matter |
atoms | so small they cannot be seen even with microscopes; contain 3 subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons |
nucleus | contains positively charged protons and neutrons with a neutral charge; negatively charged electrons revolve around the nucleus |
periodic table | elements, either natural or artificially produced, that cannot be broken by chemical means into other elements; atoms are the smallest piece of an element |
periodic table breakdown | each cell shows the atomic symbol and the atomic number of an element; the atomic number shows how many protons are in the nucleus; generally elements have the same # of protons and electrons |
atomic mass | shows the total number of protons and neutrons |
amu | atomic mass unit |
matter | anything that has mass and takes up space; can be solid, liquid, or gas; can change from one form to another; made up of atoms; is conserved - cannot be created or destroyed but can be converted into energy |
compound | formed when two or more elements unite chemically; |
molecule | the smallest part of a compound with the properties of that compound |
three types of chemical compounds | acids, bases, and salt; acids dissolved in water produce hydrogen; bases dissolved in water produce hydroxide; acids and bases combined form salt |
a solution | formed when elements or compounds are dissolved in another substance (lemon juice + sugar dissolved in water is a solution of lemonade) |
chemical reaction | when one or more new substances are formed (cement mixed with water creates concrete) |
physics | seeks to describe nature thru a number of general statements or laws; these laws are often stated in mathematical form |
mass | the amount of matter in a body; a measure of the body's inertia(resistance to change of motion) |
weight | the measure of the force of gravity on a body |
density | how compact the matter is |
force | energy that causes a change in an objects motion or shape |
velocity | magnitude (ex: miles per hour) and direction (ex: from 220 degrees) |
newtons 1st law of motion (inertia) | a body maintains its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an outside force |
newtons 2nd law of motion (constant acceleration) | as force is applied to an object, the object accelerates in the direction of the force |
newtons 3rd law of motion (conservation of momentum) | for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (if two objects bump into each other, they are both pushed away) |
wave frequency | the vibrations per second |
wavelength | the distance between crests |
light | produced by heated electrons vibrating at high frequencies; travels in straight lines; spreads out as it travels; black surfaces absorb light, white surfaces scatter light |
sounds | are waves; must travel thru a medium(gas, solid, or liquid) for the human ear to hear it; travels thru air @ 1,110 ft/second, thru water @ 5,000 ft/second, thru stone @ 20,000 ft/second |
protons | positive charge |
neutrons | neutral charge |
electrons | negative charge |
electricity | like charges repel (ex: 2 positive charges repel); unlike charges attract (ex: positive and negative attract); |
volt | measures the force of the current |
ampere (amp) | measures the rate of current flow |
ohm | tells the resistance in the wire to the flow of electricity |