General Education: Basic Knowledge in Science

Vocabulary flashcards covering basic concepts across chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science based on the provided lecture review notes.

Atom

Smallest unit of matter

Element

Pure substance with one type of atom

Compound

Two or more elements chemically combined

Mixture

Physical combination of substances

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded

Proton

Positive charge (nucleus)

Neutron

No charge (nucleus)

Electron

Negative charge (orbitals)

Atomic Number

Number of protons

Mass Number

Protons + neutrons

Isotope

Same element, different neutrons

Ion

Charged atom

Cation

Positive ion

Anion

Negative ion

Valence Electrons

Outermost electrons

Periodic Table

Arranged by atomic number

Group

Vertical column

Period

Horizontal row

Metals

Good conductors

Nonmetals

Poor conductors

Physical Change

No new substance

Chemical Change

New substance formed

Exothermic

Releases heat

Endothermic

Absorbs heat

Catalyst

Speeds up reaction

pH

Acidity/alkalinity scale

Acid

$$\text{pH} < 7$$

Base

$$\text{pH} > 7$$

Neutral

$$\text{pH} = 7$$

Buffer

Resists pH change

Cell

Basic unit of life

Nucleus

Control center

Mitochondria

Powerhouse cell

Ribosome

Protein synthesis

Cell Membrane

Regulates entry/exit

Prokaryote

No nucleus (bacteria, Archaea)

Eukaryote

Has nucleus (fungi)

Photosynthesis

Makes food using light

Respiration

Releases energy

Chlorophyll

Green pigment

DNA

Genetic material

RNA

Protein synthesis helper

Gene

Unit of heredity

Chromosome

DNA structure

Mutation

DNA change

Ecosystem

Living + nonliving interaction

Biotic

Living factors (Producers, Consumers, Decomposers)

Abiotic

Nonliving factors (Climate, physical elements)

Producer

Makes food (Plants, algae)

Consumer

Eats others (animals, humans)

Herbivore

Eats plants

Carnivore

Eats animals

Omnivore

Eats both

Decomposer

Breaks down dead matter

Food Chain

Energy transfer

Gravity

Force of attraction

Friction

Resistance to motion

Force

Push or pull

Mass

Amount of matter

Weight

Force of gravity

Speed

Distance/time

Velocity

Speed with direction

Acceleration

Change in velocity

Newton's 1st Law

Inertia

Newton's 2nd Law

$$F = ma$$

Newton's 3rd Law

Action-reaction

Energy

Ability to do work

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion

Potential Energy

Stored energy

Work

Force $\times$ distance

Power

Work/time

Heat

Energy transfer

Temperature

Measure of heat

Conduction

Heat by contact

Convection

Heat by fluid movement

Radiation

Heat by waves

Wave

Energy transfer without matter

Frequency

Waves per second

Wavelength

Distance between waves

Sound

Mechanical wave

Light

Electromagnetic wave

Reflection

Bouncing of light

Refraction

Bending of light

Lens

Refracts light

Mirror

Reflects light

Earth

Third planet

Moon

Earth's satellite

Sun

Star at center

Solar System

Sun + planets

Gravitation

Universal attraction

Rotation

Earth spins

Revolution

Earth orbits

Eclipse

Shadow event

Tides

Ocean movement

Seasons

Due to tilt

Rock

Solid mineral mass

Igneous

From magma

Sedimentary

From sediments

Metamorphic

Changed rock

Weathering

Breakdown of rocks