Matter and Energy – AP Environmental Science Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Matter and Energy study guide for AP Environmental Science Semester 1.

matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass.

atom

The smallest unit of an element, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

molecule

A group of atoms bonded together by sharing electrons.

inorganic matter

Matter that makes up non-living things and lacks carbon compounds.

organic matter

Matter that makes up living things and contains carbon compounds.

mixture

A physical combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded.

solution

A homogeneous mixture in which a solute is dissolved in a solvent.

chemical energy

Energy stored in the chemical bonds of compounds.

kinetic energy

Energy associated with an object’s motion.

potential energy

Stored energy related to an object’s position or condition.

light energy

Energy carried by electromagnetic radiation.

thermal energy

Kinetic energy of atomic or molecular motion perceived as heat.

conduction

Heat transfer through direct contact between materials of different temperatures.

convection

Heat transfer by the movement of currents within a liquid or gas.

radiation

Heat transfer via electromagnetic waves (light).

insolation

The amount of sunlight striking a surface.

albedo

The percentage of incoming light that a surface reflects.

closed system

A system that exchanges neither matter nor energy with its surroundings.

open system

A system that exchanges matter and/or energy with its surroundings.

static system

A system whose outputs continuously match its inputs, remaining unchanged over time.

dynamic system

A system with inputs and outputs that vary over time.

equilibrium

A state of balance between opposing forces or actions within a system.

feedback loop

A mechanism that uses output information to regulate the input process.

negative feedback

A feedback mechanism that counteracts change and maintains equilibrium.

positive feedback

A feedback mechanism that amplifies change, driving the system away from equilibrium.

thermodynamics

The study of energy and its transformations.

entropy

A thermodynamic measure of disorder in a system.

radiation balance

The net amount of energy entering Earth.

law of conservation of energy

Principle stating energy cannot be created or destroyed; it only changes forms.