SNC1W1 Final Test Review Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering ecology, chemistry, climate change, and electricity for the SNC1W1 final test.

Abiotic

Non-living components of an ecosystem.

Biotic

Living components of an ecosystem.

Ecology

The study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment.

Autotroph

An organism that produces its own food (producer).

Heterotroph

An organism that must consume other organisms for food (consumer).

Herbivore

A consumer that eats only plants.

Carnivore

A consumer that eats only animals.

Omnivore

A consumer that eats both plants and animals.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organic matter.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy are transferred from one to another, beginning with a producer and ending with a consumer.

Food Web

A complex network of interconnecting food chains in an ecological community.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Albedo Effect

The measure of how much light hits a surface and is reflected without being absorbed; light surfaces have high reflectivity while dark surfaces absorb more heat, contributing to arctic melting and feedback loops.

Eutrophication

A process stimulated by excess nutrients (linked to the nitrogen cycle) that causes excessive plant and algae growth in water bodies.

Nitrogen Fixation

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can absorb and use.

Nitrification

The biological process of converting ammonia into nitrites and subsequently into nitrates.

Denitrification

The process where nitrates are converted back into nitrogen gas and released into the atmosphere.

Assimilation

The process by which plants and animals incorporate nitrogen compounds into their own bodies, such as in proteins.

Carbon Sink

Anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases, such as oceans or forests.

Subatomic Particles

The three components of an atom: protons (positive, in nucleus), neutrons (neutral, in nucleus), and electrons (negative, orbiting the nucleus).

Physical Change

A change in the form, state, or shape of a substance where NO new substance is formed.

Chemical Change

A change where a new substance is produced.

Valence Electron

An electron located in the outermost shell or energy level of an atom.

Pure Substance

A substance made of only one type of particle (atoms or molecules).

Mixture

A substance made by combining two or more different materials in such a way that no chemical reaction occurs.

Current

The flow of electric charge, represented by the symbol $I$ in Ohm's Law.

Voltage

The difference in electric potential energy per unit charge, represented by the symbol $V$ in Ohm's Law.

Resistance

The opposition to the flow of electric current, represented by the symbol $R$ in Ohm's Law.

Insulator

A material that does not allow electric current to flow through it easily.

Conductor

A material that allows electric current to flow through it easily.

Short Circuit

An electrical circuit that allows current to travel along an unintended path with very low electrical resistance.

Series Circuit

A circuit where components are connected end-to-end to form a single path for current flow.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit where components are connected in branches, providing multiple paths for current.

Static Electricity

The buildup of electric charge on the surface of an object.

Electrostatic Series

A list of materials ranked according to their ability to gain or lose electrons when rubbed against another material.

Particle Theory

A theory describing the nature of matter, stating all matter is made of tiny particles that are constantly moving and have spaces between them.

Ohm's Law

A law stating that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, expressed as $V = I \times R$.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases (specifically carbon dioxide) produced by human activities and lifestyle choices.