Science: Matter, Atoms, Space, Electricity, and Ecology

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic chemistry, space science, electrical circuits, and ecological principles based on the provided lecture notes.

Physical Property

Something you can observe or measure without changing what the substance is, such as color, melting point, or smell.

Chemical Property

How a substance reacts with something else to create a brand-new substance, such as flammability or reactivity with acid.

Protons

Particles with a positive charge ($+1$) and a mass of $1$ that live inside the center (nucleus) of the atom.

Neutrons

Particles with no charge ($0$) and a mass of $1$ that live inside the nucleus.

Electrons

Particles with a negative charge ($-1$) and almost no mass that fly around the outside of the nucleus.

The Golden Rule (Atoms)

The number of protons is what decides what element the atom is; changing the protons changes the element.

Metals

Shiny materials that can be bent into shapes and conduct heat and electricity well.

Non-Metals

Dull materials that break easily if they are solid and are poor conductors (insulators).

Noble Gases

Elements found on the far right column of the periodic table that are completely calm and do not react with any other elements.

Ionic Compound

A compound formed when a metal gives electrons to a non-metal, sticking together like magnets (Example: Salt, $NaCl$).

Molecular Compound

A compound formed when two non-metals share electrons so they can both be stable (Example: Water, $H_2O$).

Light-year

The distance light travels in one whole year; it is used to measure distance, not time.

Nuclear fusion

The process by which stars and galaxies make their own light.

Microgravity

A state where astronauts feel weightless because they are in a constant state of falling toward Earth while moving so fast sideways that they keep missing the planet.

Asteroids

Space rocks that are too small to be round.

Dwarf Planets

Objects big enough to be round but that share their orbit path with other space rocks (like Pluto).

Planets

Objects that are big, round, and have "cleared their neighborhood," using gravity to push away or scoop up other space rocks in their path.

Star Lifespans

The principle that bigger stars with more hydrogen burn through fuel faster, making them hotter and brighter but causing them to die much younger than smaller stars.

The Big Bang

The theory that the universe started as a single hot, dense point billions of years ago and has been expanding outward ever since.

Voltage (V)

The "push" or force that moves electrons through a wire.

Current (I)

The speed or rate at which the electrons flow through the wire.

Conductor

Material that lets electricity flow easily, such as copper wire.

Insulator

Material that blocks electricity from flowing, such as rubber.

Voltmeter

An instrument used to measure voltage that must be connected in parallel, like a fork in the road around a lightbulb.

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure current that must be connected in series, in a single straight line with the circuit.

Ohm's Law

The formula used to calculate electricity numbers: $V = I \times R$ (Voltage = Current $\times$ Resistance).

Biotic Factors

The living parts of nature, including animals, plants, trees, and bugs.

Abiotic Factors

The non-living parts of nature, including sunlight, water, dirt, and temperature.

Niche

An organism's specific "job" and lifestyle, including all the biotic and abiotic things it needs to survive.

Producers

Plants that make their own food using sunlight, occupying the 1st trophic level.

Consumers

Animals that eat other things for energy, including primary consumers (2nd level) and secondary consumers (3rd level).

The 10% Rule

The principle that when an animal eats something, it only gets about $10\%$ of the energy; the other $90\%$ is lost as heat or used for daily life.