Core Subjects Vocabulary: Science (Part 2)

Individual/Organism

one individual organism of a given species

Light-Independent Reaction

reactions that can occur without light being present

Interspecific Competition

competition between different species

Chloroplast

organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis takes place; contains chlorophyll

Internal Stimuli

something that occurs within an organism and can cause a response by the organism

Biome

A classification of similar ecosystems. Biomes are classified by their types of plants, animals, soil, temperature, climate, and location.

Food Web

show the flow of energy through an ecosystem through a complex network of overlapping food chains

Tropical Rainforest

An area with high temperature and precipitation year round. Often has high humidity.

Population

a group of the same organisms in a specific habitat

Autotrophs

make their own food using nutrients in the soil and energy from the sun; also known as producers

Migration/Gene Flow

movement of individuals of a species

Heterotrophs

depend on producers to provide the energy they need to survive; also known as consumers

Chlorophyll

pigments that capture energy from solar radiation and power the chemical process

Acquired Behaviors/Learned Responses

behaviors that an organism exhibits because they were taught either by their parents or learned as a response to their environment.

Symbiosis

two dissimilar organisms living in a close relationship

Keystone Species

species that plays a key role in the ecosystem by providing balance in most of the other populations, such as keeping omnivores in check by preying on them.

Food Chain

show the flow of energy from one organism from each trophic level, from producers to the highest level consumer

Biosphere

region of the Earth in which all life exists. It extends from deep in the oceans into the atmosphere.

Secondary Consumer

an organism in a food chain that eats primary consumers. May be omnivores or carnivores.

Mutualism

close relationship between two organisms where both organisms benefit from the relationship

Commensalism

close relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits and the other is not affected.

Calvin Cycle

stage of photosynthesis in which carbon dioxide is synthesized into sugar

Community

a small group of interacting species

Decomposer

an organism that breaks down dead matter for energy and nutrients. Returns unused nutrients to the soil.

Apex Predator

an organism at the top of the food chain with little or no natural enemies

Niche

the relationships and activities of an organism within its habitat

Competitive Exclusion Principle

the idea that two species competing for the same resource cannot share the same niche

Producer

an organism that uses abiotic resources (like the sun's rays) to make food

Photosynthesis

process by which plants use light, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food (sugar) and oxygen

Ecosystem

A specific area with interaction of living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) factors.

Carrying Capacity (K)

the number of organisms an ecosystem can support without breaking down

Competition (Ecology)

struggle among organisms for basic needs such as space, water, food, and sunlight

Carnivore

an organism that eats only other animals for energy and nutrients.

Temperate Rainforest

An area with moderate temperature and high precipication year round

Adaptation

A feature that has become common in a population because it provides some improved function which makes the organism better able to survive and reproduce. It can be structural or behavioral.

Deciduous Forest

An area with moderate temperatures and precipitation

Primary Consumer

an organism in a food chain that eats the plants (producers). Herbivores.

Limiting Factor

a resource whose presence or absence determines the growth of a population

Tertiary Consumer

an organism in a food chain that eats secondary consumers. May be omnivores or carnivores.

Consumer

an organism which depends on another organism to provide the energy it needs to survive; assigned a trophic level depending on what kinds of organisms it eats

Tundra

An area with cold temperatures and little to no precipitation. Generally found near the poles.

Risk Assessment

the process of identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing potential risks and uncertainties that may affect the achievement of objectives, allowing organizations to make informed decisions and implement mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts

Non-Renewable Resources

resources which will be depleted faster than they can be replenished

Renewable Resources

resources which replenish at the same (or faster) rate than the rate at which they are used

Term,Global Warming/Climate Change

an overall increase in average global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect (the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere trapping more heat)

Deforestation

clearing land of trees and other vegetation in order to use it for other purposes like agriculture or urban development

Diffuse Reflection

a reflection in which no image is seen

Excited Electrons

electrons in orbitals higher than the ground state

Short Circuit

a dangerous circuit in which a conducting wire is connected directly across the two battery terminals

Refraction (of Light)

the bending of a light ray's direction of travel as it passes from one material to another

Electricity (Science)

the flow of electrons

Longitudinal Wave

a wave in which the direction of the vibration is parallel to the direction the energy travels

Neutral (Charge)

a material without a net positive or negative charge

Wavelength

the length (in space) of one complete wave cycle, measured in distance units

Ion

an atom with a net electrical charge because it lost or gained an electron

Current

The flow rate of charge, measured in amps (A).

Photon

a particle of light energy

Voltage/Potential Difference/Potential

The difference in energy per charge across any two points in a circuit, measured in volts (V).

Wave Speed

a measure of how fast the wave energy moves from one place to another

Decibel

The unit for the loudness of sound and is abbreviated dB.

Series Circuit

An electrical circuit in which all components are on the same continuous electrical path.

Amplitude

the maximum displacement of a particle of the medium during a vibration (measured from non-vibrating position to one crest)

Compression Wave

a longitudinal wave with areas of high and low pressure, or density

Electromagnetic Waves

Waves consisting of vibrating electric and magnetic fields. Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum because they do not require a medium. Emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero.

Dual Nature

light has both a wave nature and a particle nature

Period

the time it takes to complete one full wave cycle, measured in seconds

Loudness

human perception of the intensity of a sound

Static Charge/Static Electricity

a buildup of electrons that are not flowing

Threshold of Pain

sound at 120 dB

Permanent Magnet

a piece of material in which most molecules align with the others, giving the piece of material a north pole and a south pole resulting in a magnetic field (force field)

Specular Reflection

a reflection that looks like the image

Magnetic Poles

the north and south ends of a magnet

Electromagnet

a coil of wire that is magnetic because current flows through it

Medium

the material that carries a mechanical wave

Farsightedness

A vision problem in which a person cannot see nearby objects without correction. Farsightedness is corrected with converging lenses.

Magnetic Field

the potential magnetic force in the space surrounding a magnet; proportional to the force on a magnetic pole in the space around the magnet

Charge

an electric property of matter that produces interactions with an electric field; can be positive or negative

Troughs (of a Wave)

the valleys, or lowest points, of a vertically vibrating transverse wave

Transverse Wave

a wave in which the direction of the vibration is perpendicular to the direction the energy travels

Frequency

the number of ocurrences of an observed behavior over a set time period

Pitch

a description of the frequency of a sound wave; high-pitched sounds have high-frequency waves

Mechanical Waves

Physical waves that travel through a medium.

Temporary Magnet

a piece of material that acts like a magnet after being placed in a magnetic field; may lose its magnetic alignment immediately after the magnetic field is removed or may slowly lose magnetism over time

Resistor

A device that opposes the flow of electricity such as a lamp or a motor.

Reflection (of Light)

The bouncing of light off of a surface

Compound Microscope

A free-standing microscope that uses two lenses and produces a 2-d image of the magnified sample

Resistance

A device that reduces/limits/controls the current in a circuit, measured in ohms (Ω).

Telescope

An optical instrument that often uses two convex lenses to form a virtual image of a distant object.

Circuit Diagram/Schematic

a drawing that uses symbols to show how components should be connected in a circuit

Magnetism

the response of a mineral when exposed to magnetic materials; a physical property

Ohms (Ω)

the unit for resistance

Conducting Path

A continous route for electricity to flow through a material that conducts electricity.

Intensity

the amount of energy transported by the wave and is measured in decibels (dB)

Electromagnetic Spectrum

the entire range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays

Nearsightedness

A vision problem in which a person cannot see distant objects without correction because their eyeball is too long. Nearsightedness is corrected with diverging lenses.

Threshold of Hearing

0 dB, the softest sound a human can hear

Electron Transitions

the movement of electrons from the ground state in atoms to higher orbitals and back due to the absorption and emission of energy

Crests

the peaks, or highest points, of a vertically vibrating transverse wave

Wave

a disturbance that transports energy as it moves through space and time

Electric circuit

A continuous path for the flow of electricity.