Ecology, Chemistry, Electricity, and Astronomy Lecture Review

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering Fundamental Ecology, Chemistry, Electricity, and Astronomy based on lecture transcript pages 1-16.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth, including oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

Lithosphere

The solid outer layer of Earth consisting of the crust and upper mantle, including rocks, minerals, and soil.

Hydrosphere

All water found on Earth in liquid, solid, and gas forms.

Biosphere

All regions on Earth where life exists, including parts of the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.

Ecosystem

Living organisms (biotic factors) interacting with their non-living environment (abiotic factors).

Biotic factors

Living or once-living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, bacteria, and decomposing matter.

Abiotic factors

Non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem, including sunlight, temperature, water, wind, and soil nutrients.

Sustainable ecosystem

An ecosystem that is capable of maintaining itself over time without collapsing.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain ecological balance without exhausting natural resources.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight to convert $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ into glucose and $O_2$.

Cellular respiration

The process where cells break down glucose and $O_2$ to release energy, producing $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ as byproducts.

Ecological niche

The specific role an organism plays in its environment, including its diet, what eats it, its habitat, and its behaviour.

Food web

A system of interconnected food chains that show the transfer of energy through an ecosystem.

Biogeochemical cycle

The movement of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and water between living and non-living systems.

Anthropogenic factors

Environmental changes caused by human activity, such as pollution and deforestation.

Limiting factor

Any factor that restricts the growth of a population, such as food availability, space, or temperature.

Tolerance range

The range of abiotic conditions under which a specific organism can survive.

Carrying capacity

The maximum population of a species that an ecosystem can support sustainably.

Optimal zone

The range of conditions where an organism thrives best and its population is at its highest.

Stress zone

The range of conditions where organisms can survive but struggle, leading to a lower population.

Intolerance zone

Extreme conditions where a population cannot survive, resulting in a population of $0$.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has acquired an electric charge by losing or gaining electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when a atom loses electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when a atom gains electrons.

Ionic compound

A compound composed of a metal and a non-metal held together by electrostatic attraction.

Ionic bond

A strong attraction between opposite charges occurring when electrons are transferred from a metal to a non-metal.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed when non-metals share electrons to fill their outer shells.

Metal

A substance that is typically shiny, malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of heat and electricity.

Non-metal

A substance that is typically dull, brittle, and a poor conductor of heat and electricity.

Metalloid

An element that possesses properties intermediate between those of metals and non-metals.

Chemical family

A column in the periodic table containing elements with the same number of valence electrons.

Alkali metals

Group $1$ elements in the periodic table that are known for being very reactive.

Alkaline earth metals

Group $2$ elements in the periodic table that are reactive.

Noble gases

Group $18$ elements in the periodic table that are stable and non-reactive.

Halogens

Group $17$ elements in the periodic table that are very reactive.

Period

A horizontal row in the periodic table representing the number of electron shells in an atom.

Atomic number

The total number of protons located in the nucleus of an atom.

Mass number

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Bohr-Rutherford diagram

A visual representation showing the nucleus and the arrangement of electrons in their shells.

Proton

A subatomic particle in the nucleus with a $+1$ charge and a mass of $1\,u$.

Neutron

A subatomic particle in the nucleus with a $0$ charge and a mass of $1\,u$.

Electron

A subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus with a $-1$ charge and a negligible mass.

Conductor

A material, such as a metal, that allows electrons to move freely through it.

Insulator

A material, such as plastic or rubber, that blocks the flow of electrons.

Grounding

The process of connecting a charged object to Earth to safely release excess electrons.

Ammeter

A device used to measure electric current ($I$) that must be connected in series in a circuit.

Voltmeter

A device used to measure voltage ($V$) that must be connected in parallel across a component.

Voltage

An electrical quantity measured in Volts ($V$) with the symbol $V$.

Current

An electrical quantity measured in Amperes ($A$) with the symbol $I$.

Resistance

An electrical quantity measured in Ohms ($\Omega$) with the symbol $R$.

Ohm’s Law

The relationship between voltage, current, and resistance defined by the formula $V = I \times R$.

Energy Efficiency

Calculated as $(\text{Useful energy} / \text{Total energy}) \times 100$.

Nuclear Fusion

The process where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium and release energy, such as $H^2 + H^1 \rightarrow He^3 + E$.

Photosphere

La couche visible du Soleil, the visible layer that emits the light we see.

Chromosphère

The inner atmosphere of the Sun.

Couronne

The outer atmosphere of the Sun (Corona).

Taches solaires

Specifically sunspots, which are changing regions on the Sun that are slightly cooler than their surroundings.

Éruption solaire

A high-energy solar flare occurring near sunspots.

Protubérance solaire

A large, low-energy gas eruption covering millions of kilometers that does not reach Mercury.

Vent solaire

Charged particles launched by the Sun that reach Earth, causing auroras and satellite disturbances.

Lunar Eclipse

An event occurring during a full moon when Earth is between the Sun and Moon, casting Earth’s shadow on the Moon.

Solar Eclipse

An event occurring during a new moon when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, blocking sunlight from reaching parts of Earth.

Neap Tides

Smaller tides that occur when the Sun and Moon pull in different directions ($90^\circ$ angle) during quarter moons.

Spring Tides

Extreme high and low tides occurring when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned during new and full moons.

Summer solstice

Occurs around June $21\text{st}$ in the Northern Hemisphere when it is tilted toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day.

Winster solstice

Occurs around December $21\text{st}$ in the Northern Hemisphere when it is tilted away from the Sun, resulting in shorter, colder days.

Mercury

The closest planet to the Sun, characterized by extreme temperature changes and no atmosphere.

Venus

The hottest planet in the solar system, possessing a thick $CO_2$ atmosphere.

Earth

The only known planet with life, containing liquid water and a protective atmosphere.

Mars

Known as the red planet due to iron oxide (rust) and home to the largest volcano.

Jupiter

The largest planet in the solar system, featuring the Great Red Spot storm.

Saturn

A planet famous for its extensive ring system.

Uranus

A very cold planet that spins on its side at a $98$ degree angle.

Neptune

The farthest planet from the Sun, known for having the fastest winds.

Planetary Nebula

The glowing gas cloud created when a medium star expels its outer layers into space.

Dark matter

Invisible mass that provides the gravity necessary to hold galaxies together.

Dark energy

The force responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Big Bang

The theory that the universe began from a hot, dense point approximately $13.8$ billion years ago.

Protostar

A star in its early formation stage before it begins to shine through nuclear fusion.