Class 10 Science — Our Environment Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Class 10 Science 'Our Environment' quick revision notes, including ecosystem components, energy flow, environmental issues, and atmospheric protection.

Ecosystem

A functional unit in which living organisms interact with one another and with non-living surroundings.

Biotic Components

Living organisms in an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Abiotic Components

Non-living factors in an ecosystem, such as air, water, soil, light, and temperature.

Producers

Organisms, mainly green plants, that make their own food using photosynthesis.

Consumers

Organisms that obtain food by feeding on other organisms.

Decomposers

Organisms, mainly bacteria and fungi, that break down dead organic matter and help recycle nutrients.

Food Chain

A sequence that shows the transfer of food and energy from one organism to another.

Trophic Level

Each feeding step in a food chain, typically progressing from producers to primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Ten Percent Law

A law stating that only about 10% of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next level, as much is used in life processes and lost as heat.

Food Web

A network of interconnected food chains that shows an organism can have more than one food source or predator.

Biodegradable Substances

Substances that can be broken down naturally by microorganisms, such as vegetable peels.

Non-biodegradable Substances

Substances that do not break down easily by natural processes, such as many plastics.

Biological Magnification

The increase in concentration of certain harmful, non-biodegradable chemicals as they move to higher trophic levels.

Ozone Layer

A layer in the upper atmosphere that absorbs much of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and helps protect living organisms.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Ozone-depleting substances that can damage the ozone layer, leading to increased UV radiation reaching Earth.

Montreal Protocol

An international agreement aimed at controlling substances that deplete the ozone layer.