Form 2 General Science Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the Botswana Form 2 Science syllabus, including reproduction, magnetism, energy, physics, health, and nutrition.

Reproduction

The biological process by which new individual organisms are produced from their parents.

Gamete

A specialized sex cell, such as a sperm or egg, containing half the genetic material of an organism.

Fertilization

The fusion of a male gamete with a female gamete to form a zygote.

Zygote

The single cell formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg.

Puberty

The period during which adolescents reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction.

Magnet

An object that produces a magnetic field and can attract or repel other magnetic materials.

Magnetic Field

The region around a magnet where magnetic forces can be detected.

Attraction

The force that pulls two opposite magnetic poles (North and South) together.

Repulsion

The force that pushes two like magnetic poles (North-North or South-South) apart.

Electromagnet

A temporary magnet created by passing an electric current through a coil of wire wrapped around a soft iron core.

Kinetic Energy

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated by the formula $\frac{1}{2}mv^2$.

Potential Energy

Stored energy in an object due to its position or state, such as gravitational potential energy calculated as $mgh$.

Law of Conservation of Energy

The scientific principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Solar Energy

Energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy, a significant renewable source in Botswana.

Force

A push or pull upon an object resulting from the object's interaction with another object, measured in Newtons ($N$).

Speed

The rate at which an object covers distance, defined as $\text{distance} / \text{time}$.

Vibration

A rapid back-and-forth motion that produces sound energy.

Frequency

The number of complete vibrations or waves per second, measured in Hertz ($Hz$).

Pitch

The quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations (frequency); high frequency produces a high pitch.

Personal Hygiene

The practice of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body to prevent disease.

Enamel

The hard, protective outer layer of the tooth.

Plaque

A sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth and can cause cavities if not removed.

Communicable Disease

An infectious illness that can be transmitted from one person to another, such as Malaria or Tuberculosis in Botswana.

Pathogen

A disease-causing organism, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus.

Balanced Diet

A diet that contains the correct proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water, and fiber.

Carbohydrates

Nutrients that serve as the primary source of energy for the body.

Proteins

Nutrients essential for growth and the repair of body tissues.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up the chemical breakdown of food during digestion.

Peristalsis

The wave-like muscular contractions that move food along the digestive tract.

Villi

Small, finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for the absorption of nutrients.