Science Knowledge Organiser: The Zoo, Explorers, and Superheroes

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key scientific terms, definitions, and formulas from the lecture notes on Biology (Plants and Food Chains), Physics (Forces, Energy, and Astronomy), and Chemistry (Materials and Reactions).

Diffusion

Process in which particles move from a region of a liquid or gas where they are high concentration, to a region where they are low in concentration.

Photosynthesis

Process in which plants use light energy, carbon dioxide and water to make glucose.

Guard Cells

Cells surrounding the stomata that open and close to control the exchange of gases and water loss.

Palisade Cells

Plant tissue containing closely packed cells in the upper layer of a leaf.

Spongy Mesophyll

The plant tissue in a leaf which has loosely packed cells and air spaces between them to allow gas exchange.

Chlorophyll

Green Pigment found in plants, which collects light energy for photosynthesis.

Seed

Structure produced during plant reproduction, contains an embryo, a food store and a protective coat.

Stomata

Small holes on the underside of leaves that allow gases to move in and out.

Stigma

Part of the carpel on which pollen grains land.

Stamen

Male reproductive structures of flowering plants.

Ovule

Structure in plants that contain eggs.

Sepal

Structures that protect the unopened flower.

Fertilisation

Process where a male sex cell joins with a female sex cell.

Density

Measure of the concentration of mass in an object or material; calculated as: $density = \frac{mass}{volume}$

Chemical Equation

Shows reactants and products of a chemical reaction by using chemical formulas.

Anthers

Produce male sex cells (pollen grains).

Particles

Small pieces such as atoms or molecules that make up a substance.

Petal

May be brightly coloured to attract insects.

Pollination

Movement of pollen from one flower to another.

Food chain

A way of showing what eats what in a habitat.

Energy flow

Movement of energy between levels in a food chain.

Food web

Many food chains linked together.

Aerobic Respiration

Process in which energy is released from food (glucose) when oxygen is available.

Anaerobic respiration

Process in which energy is released from food (glucose) when oxygen is not available.

Fermentation

Type of reaction (anaerobic respiration) in which sugars are converted to either gases (to make bread rise) or alcohol (to make alcoholic drinks).

Kilojoules

Energy unit where $1\,kilojoule$ is the same as $1000\,joules$ ($kJ$).

Pyramid of numbers

The total numbers of organisms at each level in a food chain.

Pyramid of biomass

Shows the biomass at each trophic level, rather than the population.

Bio-magnification

Process in which small amounts of a harmful chemical add up to cause damage higher up a food chain.

Biodiversity

The range of animals and plants in a given area.

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce a fertile offspring; individuals of different species are not able to interbreed successfully.

Extinction

A species that has completely died out.

Speed

The distance travelled in a fixed time period, calculated as: $average\,speed = \frac{distance}{time}$

Distance-time graph

A graph with distance travelled plotted on the vertical axis against time taken on the horizontal axis.

Energy resource

Useful supply or store of energy.

Discontinuous variation

Differences between individuals in a characteristic that can only be put into different categories.

Continuous variation

Variation that shows a wide range of intermediate values between two extremes that can be measured.

Simple machine

A lever or gear that reduces the force required to do something, but increases the distance travelled.

Microbe

A microorganism, especially a bacterium causing disease or fermentation.

Decay

A process that occurs when organic material rots or decomposes through the action of bacteria and fungi.

Mummification

The process where a body is preserved by embalming and wrapping it in cloth.

Reactivity series

A list of metals in order of how vigorously they react.

Extraction

Process used to remove a metal.

Ore

A rock that you can extract a metal from.

Thermometer

An instrument used to measure temperature.

Temperature

A measure of how hot an object is.

Hypothermia

A condition of having a lower body temperature than normal body temperature.

Mass

The amount of material a thing is made up of, measured in kilograms ($kg$).

Fuel

A material that burns to transfer useful energy.

Force

A push or pull measured in Newtons ($N$).

Friction

The force that resists movement because of contact between surfaces.

Weight

The force of the Earth on an object due to its mass; calculated as: $Weight = mass \times gravity$

Energy

A quantity that shows whether a process can or cannot happen, needed for work to be done; measured in Joules ($J$).

Insulator

A material that does not conduct heat well.

Filtration

A way of separating pieces of solid that are mixed with a liquid or solution.

Sedimentary

Rock made from sediments.

Igneous

Rock made when liquid rock (magma or lava) cools and freezes.

Metamorphic

Rock formed by the action of heating and/or pressure.

Evolution

Development of a species over time.

Heliocentric

A model of the Solar System with the Sun at the centre.

Geocentric

A model of the Solar System with the Earth at the centre.

Comet

Dust particles frozen in ice that orbit the Sun.

Meteorite

A stony or metallic object that has fallen to Earth from outer space.

Pressure

The force exerted on a certain area; calculated as: $Pressure = \frac{Force}{area}$

Corrosion

The process by which metal, stone, or other materials are damaged by their environment.

Rusting

A reaction where iron oxide is formed when iron reacts with water and oxygen.

Diffuse scattering

Reflection from a rough surface.

Elastic limit

The point beyond which a spring will not return to its original length when the force is removed.

Extension

The amount by which an object gets longer when a force is applied; related by $F = k \times x$

Potential difference

The measure of the push of a cell or battery, or the energy that a cell or battery can supply.

Specular reflection

Reflection from a smooth surface.

Voltage

The measure of the strength of a cell or battery used to send a current around a circuit; related by $I = \frac{V}{R}$

Work

A way of transferring energy that does not involve heating.

Alkali metal

A metal located in the first group of the periodic table that is very reactive and forms metal hydroxides with water.

Conduction

The way in which energy travels through a solid.

Convection

The transfer of energy by the movement of liquids or gases.

DNA

A chemical that contains all the information to make an organism.

Gene

Section of DNA that contains the information for a characteristic.

Halogen

The name of the elements located in group 7 of the periodic table.

Noble gas

The name for the elements located in group 0 of the periodic table.