Science Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Ecosystems, Particle Theory, Earth's Crust, and Forces & Structures based on lecture notes.

Abiotic Factors

Any non-living part of an ecosystem, such as air, water, sunlight, rocks, and temperature.

Biotic Factors

Any living or once living organisms in an ecosystem, such as mushrooms, trees, plants, fungi, and animals.

Ecological Succession

A series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time.

Primary Succession

A series of community changes over thousands of years where a new ecosystem is formed where nothing previously existed, lacking soil, plants, or animals.

Secondary Succession

A series of community changes over hundreds of years involving the formation and regrowth of an ecosystem after a disturbance like a flood or forest fire.

Organism

The smallest level of ecological organization; any living thing that can only breed with the same species.

Population

A group of organisms of a species in an area; they are the same species but can have different genetic makeup such as eye or hair color.

Community

All of the populations in an area at a given time.

Ecosystem

All living and non-living factors in an area interacting together (Biotic & abiotic).

Biome

A set of ecosystems that share similar characteristics, climate, plant, and animal life with specific adaptations.

Biosphere

The sum of all ecosystems on Earth; the largest level of ecological organization.

Producers

Also referred to as autotrophs; organisms that obtain energy from the Sun through photosynthesis.

Consumers

Also referred to as heterotrophs; organisms that obtain energy by eating other organisms.

Decomposers

Organisms that obtain energy by breaking down dead or decaying organisms, recycling nutrients back into the soil.

Predators

Animals that hunt, kill, and consume other animals to meet energy needs.

Prey

Animals that are hunted, killed, and eaten in order for predators to live.

Parasite

An organism that lives in or on another organism and causes harm to it, such as illness or death.

Host

An organism that parasites live in or on, providing nutrients and blood to the parasite.

Symbiotic Relationships

A relationship between 2 organisms.

Mutualism

A relationship where both organisms are benefited.

Commensalism

A relationship where 1 of the 2 organisms is benefited while the other has no effects.

Parasitism

A relationship where 1 of the 2 organisms is benefited while the other is harmed.

Adaptations

Traits that help an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Structural/Physical Adaptations

Physical traits, like camouflage, that help an organism blend in with its surroundings.

Behavioral Adaptations

Behaviors that help an organism survive, such as birds migrating to warmer climates during winter.

Physiological Adaptations

Internal functions of an organism, such as venom production.

Particle Theory of Matter (Rule 4)

Temperature is the average kinetic energy and affects particle movement.

Solid

A state of matter with fixed shape and fixed volume where particles vibrate in place.

Liquid

A state of matter with a changing shape and fixed volume where particles slide past each other.

Gas

A state of matter with changing shape and changing volume where particles move freely.

Pure Substance

A substance made of only one type of particle.

Mixture

Two or more substances combined together.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture that looks the same throughout, such as salt water.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture where different parts can be seen, such as a salad.

Physical Change

A change where no new substance is formed, such as melting ice.

Chemical Change

A change where a new substance is formed and composition changes, with signs like color change, gas production, or precipitate formation.

Heat

Energy transferred between objects.

Temperature

The average kinetic energy of particles.

Conduction

Heat transfer through direct contact.

Convection

Heat transfer through moving fluids.

Radiation

Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves.

Alfred Wegener's Theory

Continental Drift; the idea that continents were once joined in one supercontinent called Pangaea.

Crust

The thin, solid outer layer of the Earth.

Mantle

The thickest layer of the Earth, made of semi-solid rock.

Outer Core

The liquid layer of the Earth made of iron and nickel.

Inner Core

The solid, hottest layer of the Earth made of iron and nickel.

Minerals

Naturally occurring, inorganic solids identified by tests like color, streak, luster, cleavage, and hardness.

Solid Structure

A strong and stable structure that is heavy and uses lots of material, such as dams or pyramids.

Frame Structure

A lightweight structure that can weaken if parts fail, such as bridges or towers.

Shell Structure

A structure with a strong outer covering that can potentially crack, such as helmets or eggs.

Form

The appearance or shape of a structure.

Function

The job or purpose of a structure.

Tension

A pulling force ($+$, $-$ signs omitted as per instructions for text) such as pulling a stick on both ends.

Compression

A pushing force, such as sitting down on a chair.

Torsion

A twisting force, such as wringing a towel.

Shear

A sliding force, such as scissors cutting.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, measured in Kilograms ($kg$).

Weight

The force of gravity on an object, measured in newtons.

Center of Gravity

The point where weight is evenly balanced on an object; it can be changed by adding weights to one side.

Dead Load

The permanent weight of a structure, including structural elements like beams and columns.

Live Load

A moving or changing weight, such as cars on a bridge or environmental loads like wind and snow.

Beam Bridge

A simple and inexpensive bridge type with a limited span length.

Arch Bridge

A bridge type that is strong in compression but requires a solid foundation at the ground.

Truss Bridge

A very strong bridge capable of withstanding a lot of weight, though it is complex to build and vulnerable to corrosion.

Planned Obsolescence

When a product is intentionally designed to have a limited lifespan to force replacement, such as weakening smartphone batteries.

Perceived Obsolescence

When a consumer is persuaded that a perfectly functional product is no longer usable or is outdated, such as following fashion trends.