Integrated Science Lecture Review - Unit Three and Four

Flashcards covering key concepts from Unit Three and Four of Integrated Science, focusing on the biosphere, lithosphere, ecosystems, and energy.

Biosphere

Part of Earth where all forms of life exist, representing an integrated system including living organisms and environments.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining a stable internal environment in an organism.

Trophic levels

Levels in an ecosystem formed by the feeding relationships among organisms; includes producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms, returning essential nutrients to the ecosystem.

Hydrosphere

All water components on Earth, including oceans, rivers, and lakes.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer part of the Earth consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Rock cycle

The continuous process of formation, breakdown, and reformation of rocks.

Nutrients

Substances that provide essential nourishment for living organisms.

Igneous rock

Rock formed by the cooling and solidification of molten material.

Sedimentary rock

Rock formed by the accumulation and compaction of sediment.

Metamorphic rock

Rock that has been transformed by heat and pressure.

Ecosystem

A biological community interacting with its environment, including living and non-living components.

Energy flow

The transfer of energy through a food chain or web within an ecosystem.

Cellular respiration

The process by which cells convert nutrients into energy, typically involving oxygen.

Nitrogen cycle

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms.

Carbon cycle

The process through which carbon atoms are recycled in the environment; includes photosynthesis and respiration.

Nanotechnology

The manipulation of matter on an atomic or molecular scale to create new materials with unique properties.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.

Nerve impulse

An electrical signal that traverses nerve cells, allowing for rapid communication within the nervous system.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where nerve impulses are transmitted.

Neurons

Specialized cells responsible for transmitting nerve impulses in the nervous system.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses from one neuron to another.

Geothermal energy

Energy derived from the internal heat of the Earth.

Fossil fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of living organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas.