GED Science – College Ready Guide

A collection of flashcards summarizing key concepts from the GED Science College Ready Guide, covering Life Science, Physical Science, Earth & Space Science, and Scientific Inquiry.

What are the major topics covered in Life Science according to the GED guide?

Life Science focuses on the study of living organisms and their interactions. Key areas include:

Cells

• Basic Unit of Life: Understand the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

• Cellular Processes: Know about photosynthesis, cellular respiration, mitosis, and meiosis.

DNA/Genes

• Genetic Material: Comprehend DNA structure and its role in carrying genetic information.

• Gene Expression: Understand how genes code for proteins.

Heredity

• Inheritance Patterns: Study Mendelian genetics, dominant and recessive traits, and Punnett squares.

• Genetic Disorders: Basic understanding of how genetic mutations can lead to disorders.

Evolution & Natural Selection

• Theory of Evolution: Understand the concept of descent with modification.

• Natural Selection: Explain how advantageous traits become more common in a population over time.

Human Body Systems

• Major Systems: Know the basic functions of systems like the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous, and endocrine systems.

Homeostasis

• Internal Balance: Understand how organisms maintain a stable internal environment.

What laws and concepts are included in Physical Science for the GED?

Physical Science deals with matter and energy and their interactions. Essential concepts include:

Newton’s Laws of Motion

• First Law (Inertia): An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

• Second Law (F=ma): The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

• Third Law (Action-Reaction): For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Forces & Energy Types

• Forces: Understand different types of forces (e.g., gravity, friction, normal force).

• Energy: Differentiate between potential energy (stored energy) and kinetic energy (energy of motion).

• Work, Power, and Simple Machines: Basic definitions and calculations.

Heat Transfer

• Conduction: Transfer of heat through direct contact.

• Convection: Transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases).

• Radiation: Transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.

Atoms & pH

• Atomic Structure: Know the basic components of an atom (protons, neutrons, electrons) and their charges.

• Elements & Periodic Table: Understand how elements are organized.

• pH Scale: Measure of acidity or alkalinity (acids <7, bases >7, neutral =7).

Conservation of Mass & Energy

• Law of Conservation of Mass: Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

• Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

What are key concepts in Earth & Space Science as per the GED guide?

Earth and Space Science covers the study of Earth's systems, geology, meteorology, and astronomy. Key concepts include:

Rock Cycle

• Formation Processes: Understand how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are formed and transformed over time.

• Plate Tectonics: Basic understanding of how Earth's crustal plates move and interact.

Climate vs. Weather

• Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, wind).

• Climate: Long-term average weather patterns in a region.

Greenhouse Effect

• Natural Process: How certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, warming the planet.

• Human Impact: Understanding the role of human activities in enhancing the greenhouse effect.

Energy Resources

• Renewable: Resources that can be replenished naturally over a relatively short time (e.g., solar, wind, hydro).

• Non-Renewable: Resources that are finite and cannot be replenished on a human timescale (e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear).

Ecosystems

• Components: The interactions between living organisms (biotic factors) and their non-living environment (abiotic factors).

• Food Webs & Energy Flow: How energy moves through different trophic levels in an ecosystem.

What does Scientific Inquiry involve according to the GED?

Scientific Inquiry is the process of asking questions, making observations, and performing experiments to draw conclusions, which forms the basis of the scientific method. It involves:

Hypothesis

• Testable Statement: A proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through experimentation or observation.

Variables

• Independent Variable: The factor that is intentionally changed or manipulated by the experimenter.

• Dependent Variable: The factor that is measured or observed and is expected to change in response to the independent variable.

• Controlled Variables: Factors that are kept constant to ensure a fair test.

Control Groups

• Baseline for Comparison: A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment or manipulation, used to compare with the experimental group to determine the effect of the independent variable.

Data Interpretation

• Analysis: The process of reviewing collected data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships.

• Evidence-Based Conclusions: Drawing logical inferences from the data, supporting or refuting the hypothesis.

Correlation vs. Causation

• Correlation: Indicates a relationship or association between two variables, where they tend to change together.

• Causation: Means that one event or variable directly causes another event or variable to occur. It's crucial not to confuse correlation with causation in scientific findings.