sci

electrical energy

the energy of charged particles

mechanical energy

the sum of kinetic and potential energy

kinetic energy

the energy of motion

potential energy

stored energy that a system has due to its position or condition

chemical energy

energy stored in chemical bonds and released when a chemical reaction occurs

solar energy

energy carried by electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun

nuclear fusion

new atoms are made as smaller atoms collide and fuse

nuclear fission

new atoms are made by splitting larger atoms

thermal energy

energy due to the rapid motion of particles that make up an object; detected as heat

generator system

a system that transforms kinetic energy to electrical energy

photovoltaic cells

transform the energy of visible light to electrical energy

how do photovoltaic cells work

when visible light strikes electrons in the photovoltaic cells, the electrons absorb enough energy to flow freely and generate electrical energy

action-at-a-distance forces

forces that can have an effect on an object without touching it

charging by conduction

objects become charged through contact

charging by induction

when objects are charged without making any direct contact

conductors

materials that allow electrons to move easily

contact forces

forces that can have an effect only on objects when they touch

coulomb

unit of electric charge

electric force

push or pull between charged objects (action-at-a-distance)

force

a push or pull

grounding

connecting a conductor so that electric charge flows into Earth’s surface

insulators

materials that do not allow electrons to move easily

laws of static

Like charges repel, opposite charges attract, neutral objects are attracted to charged objects

static charge

electric charge that stays in one place until it is discharged (lost) to other objects or to the air

Van de Graaff generator

uses friction to produce a large static charge on a metal dome

amperes

unit of measurement for current

circuit diagrams

diagram that uses symbols to represent different components of an electric circuit

current

the continuous flow of charge in a complete circuit

electric circuit

a complete pathway that allows electrons to flow

load

device that converts electrical energy into other forms of energy

electric potential energy

electrical energy stored in an electrochemical cell

electrical resistance

ratio of the voltage to the current

electrochemical cells

convert chemical energy into electrical energy

electrodes

the two terminals in an electrochemical cell/battery

electrolyte

a substance that conducts electricity

energy

the ability to do work

Ohm’s Law

Voltage = Current * Resistance

voltage

the amount of electric potential energy per coulomb of charge

resistance

the property of a material that slows down the flow of electrons and converts electrical energy into other forms of energy

resistor

an electrical component that has a specific resistance

volt

unit of measure for voltage

electrical power

the rate of change in energy

electric current

the amount of charge passing a point in a conductor every second

series circuit

has only one path for current to travel

joule

measurement of energy

junction point

where a circuit divides into multiple paths, or where multiple paths join

kilowatt-hour

larger unit of energy - 1000W

parallel circuit

has more than one path for current to travel

watt

unit for measuring power

sustainable energy system

sustainable way of perceiving, producing and using energy

non-renewable source

an energy source that is non-replacable in a human lifetime

renewable source

energy source that is available on a continuous basis

phantom load

electrical energy a device uses when it is turned off

smart meter

electrical energy meter that measures how energy use changes in a building over the course of the day

EBM

Respect and Responsibility, Intergenerational Knowledge, Balance and Interconnectedness, Giving and Receiving

biosphere

biotic and abiotic components of the environment

geosphere

crust, mantle, core of earth; landforms: mountains, valleys, rocks, minerals, soil

hydrosphere

all forms of water in the Earth’s environment

atmosphere

the gaseous part of Earth

abiotic factors

non-living parts of an environment

biotic factors

living parts of an environment

biodiversity

variety of life

water cycle

evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration

evaporation

heat from the Sun causes water at Earth’s surface to evaporate

condensation

as warm air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds

precipitation

water falls back to Earth’s surface when it rains or snows

transpiration

water is absorbed by the roots of plants, carried through plant and lost as wate vapour through small pores in the leaves

ecosystems

smaller function within the environment

food chains

model that describes how food energy is passed from one living thing to another

food webs

model that shows network of interacting and overlapping food chains

food pyramids

model how energy is lost at each trophic level of a food chain

producers

living things that make their own food to get energy they need to live

trophic level

each step in a food chain

primary consumers

herbivores

secondary consumers

carnivores that eat herbivores

tertiary consumers

carnivores that eat carnivores and herbivores

food energy

lost to obtain food/digest food, repair tissues, move, heat → lost for survival

decomposers

living things that break down dead material to get energy they need

detrivores

eat bodies of small dead organisms/plant matter, and animal wastes

omnivores

eat both plants and animals

herbivores

primary consumers that eat plants

carnivores

secondary consumers that eat primary consumers

stores

where nutrients are stored; there are short-term and long-term stores

complementary processes

photosynthesis and cellular respiration

decomposition

breaking down of dead organic material

greenhouse gas

absorb solar energy in Earth’s atmosphere - carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide

greenhouse effect

can cause global warming and global climate change

nitrogen fixation

the conversion of N₂ gas into ammonium; lightning can fix nitrogen

denitrification

nitrates are converted back to nitrogen gas through denitrifying bacteria

nitrification

1. ammonium → nitrite

2. nitrite → nitrate

algal blooms

use up all carbon dioxide and oxygen and block sunlight, killing many aquatic organisms

weathering

releases phosphorus from rocks

leaching

when nutrient/chemicals flow into waterways

phosphorus cycle

weathering, then absorbed by soil + plants which are eaten by animals, decomposition

water pollution

any physical, biological or chemical change in water quality that has an adverse effect on organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses

bioaccumulation

gradual build-up of these chemicals/pollutants

biomagnification

increase in concentration of pollutants in tissues of organisms that are at successively higher levels in a food chain/food web

bioremediation

method that uses living organisms to help clean up chemical pollution naturally

ecosystem services

the benefits that organisms receive from the environment and its resources

smart growth

strategy focused on concentrating growth in the centre of a city, rather than in outlying areas