Question | Answer |
Radiant Energy | Energy from the Sun that reaches Earth as visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation (heat) |
Photosynthesis | A chemical reaction during which plants convert radiation energy from the Sun to chemical energy;v the reaction converts carbon dioxide into sugar (glucose) |
Chemical Reactions | process by which two or more chemical substances interact and are chemically changed, producing different chemical substances |
Molecule | the simplest unit of a chemical compound that can exist, formed when two or more atoms join together chemically |
Reactants | a substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction |
Products | a substance produced during a chemical reaction |
Glucose | simple carbohydrate; produced by photosynthesis and used to store energy and build structural molecules |
Atom | the smallest a particle of an element; made of electrons, protons, and neutrons |
Biomass | material from living or recently living organisms composed of a mixture or hydrogen, carbon, often nitrogen, and small quantities if other atoms |
Decay | the natural process or result of being slowly broken down or decomposed; mainly done by bacteria and fungi |
Decomposers | organisms such as bacteria and fungi that breakdown the remains of dead plants and animals; without the need for internal digestion |
Water Cycle | the movement of water through the atmosphere, the ground, bodies of water, and living things; the continuous movement of water above, on, and below Earth's surface |
Bacteria | a highly diverse group of single-celled, prokaryotic organisms |
Fungi | microorganisms important as decomposers; widely distributed and can break down just about any type of organic matter |
Microorganisms | organisms too small to be seen by the unaided human eye, such as bacteria and fungi |
Detrivore | an organisms that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter; includes decomposers as well as larger organisms such as insects and worms, serving as primary consumers on a food chain |
Carbon Cycle | the cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the soil, biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth |
Nitrogen Cycle | the process by which nitrogen is converted into various chemical forms as it is exchanged among the soil, biosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth |
Energy Transformation | the change of energy from one form to another |
Heat | energy transferred between two objects of different temperatures, moving continually in a predictable pattern from wearmer site to cooler site until all sites have reached the same temperature |
Chemical Energy | energy stored in chemical bonds and released through chemical reactions |
Digestion | the process of breaking down food into component molecules that can be absorbed into the body and used for energy and nutrients |
Mechanical Energy | the sum of the potential and kinetic energy of an object |
Thermal Energy | the total kinetic energy (motion) of tiny particles that make up matter- the faster the particles, the warmer the matter becomes |