Science Unit 1; Vocab Packet

Claim

A one sentence opening to your CER stating the argument of the essay.

Evidence

A set with numbers or exact data and the second paragraph of your CER.

Reasoning

The last paragraph of your CER that brings in new theories to explain your evidence and reason why your claim is true.

Atmosphere

The blanket of gases that surrounds the Earth.

Greenhouse gases

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat and warm the air.

CO₂

Carbon Dioxide; Greenhouse gas

CH₄

Methane; Greenhouse gas

N₂O

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas); Greenhouse gas

Greenhouse effect

A natural process that warms the air in our atmosphere by bouncing sun rays back onto the ground.

H₂O

Dihydrogen Monoxide; Water Vapor is a greenhouse gas.

Ozone Layer

A layer of ozone gas (O₃) in the stratosphere that blocks most UV radiation. Earth’s natural sunscreen.

Fossil Fuels

Energy sources that come from the remains of ancient plants and animals deep underground.

Natural oil

Diesel and gasoline. These are fossil fuels.

Coal and charcoal.

Two fossil fuels majority made out of carbon.

Natural gas

Propane. This is a fossil fuel.

Carbon cycle

The carbon cycle is when carbon is passed through multiple organisms and environment to end up at the same spot. For example. trees will take carbon from the air to grow, and then release it through respiration later, forming a small cycle.

Climate

The long-term pattern of weather and temperature in a specific area.

Albedo effect

How much sun something reflects and absorbs.