AP Environmental Science Beginning of Year Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering foundational concepts, word roots, ecological levels of organization, chemical concepts, and mathematical tools for AP Environmental Science.

AP Environmental Science (APES)

An advanced science course that combines the disciplines of biology, chemistry, geology, history, global studies, and sociology to investigate global environmental problems and mitigation strategies.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter; nonliving, but can combine to make cells.

Molecule

Two or more atoms joined together.

Cell

The smallest unit of life; made of molecules.

Tissue

A group of similar cells that work together.

Organ

A group of tissues in an organism that work together (e.g., heart, lungs, brain).

Organ system

A group of organs that work together (e.g., circulatory system, respiratory system).

Organism

A living thing or something that is alive; also referred to as an individual.

Population

A group of the same species living in the same area.

Community

The living organisms (i.e., animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, protists) in the same area.

Ecosystem

The living and nonliving components in the same area or environment.

Biome

A large geographic area with a specific climate and plant life (a group of ecosystems).

Biosphere

The planet Earth; all the biomes on Earth combined.

Solar system

A group of planets that orbit a sun.

Galaxy

A system of billions of stars, dust, and gas held together by gravity.

Universe

All existing matter and space; everything.

Autotrophic organisms

Organisms that use photosynthesis to store solar energy in glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$).

Primary producers

Organisms that absorb sunlight to carry out photosynthesis, originating all energy that flows through a food chain.

Trophic level energy transfer

The process where energy passes through successive trophic levels, with about $90\,\%$ used at each level or lost as heat to the environment.

Chemical reaction

A process occurring when atoms separate from molecules or recombine with other molecules, during which no atoms are created or destroyed.

pH

The measure of a solution's hydrogen ion ($H^+$) concentration on a scale from $0$ to $14$.

Acidic solution

A solution with a $pH$ lower than $7$ containing a higher concentration of hydrogen ions ($H^+$).

Basic solution

An alkaline solution with a $pH$ higher than $7$ containing a higher concentration of hydroxide ions ($OH^-$).

Scientific notation

A mathematical method used to write and handle very large or very small numbers.

Dimensional analysis

A process of converting values into different units using a planned pathway and a series of conversion factors.

Metric prefix Giga- ($G$)

A metric system prefix representing $1{,}000{,}000{,}000$ or $1 \times 10^9$.

Metric prefix Mega- ($M$)

A metric system prefix representing $1{,}000{,}000$ or $1 \times 10^6$.

Metric prefix Kilo- ($k$)

A metric system prefix representing $1{,}000$ or $1 \times 10^3$.

Metric prefix Micro- ($\mu$)

A metric system prefix representing $0.000001$ or $1 \times 10^{-6}$.

Metric prefix Nano- ($n$)

A metric system prefix representing $0.000000001$ or $1 \times 10^{-9}$.

Percent change formula

The formula used to calculate relative change, defined as $\frac{\text{difference in values}}{\text{original value}} \times 100$.

radioactive decay

radioactive “parent” isotopes will decay into stable “daughter” atoms at predictable rates. The amount of time it takes for an isotope to decay is its half-life; different isotopes decay at different rates

0 °C

32 F

20 Celsius

68 Fahrenheit

37 Celsius

98.6 Fahrenheit

100 Celsius

212 Fahrenheit

calculating averages

calculate the mean of a set of values

percent of a total value

calculate the percent of a total

percent change

find the difference in the values and divide by the original value, then multiply by 100

A solution becomes blank acidic, the pH is blank

More, decreasing and vice versa

Half-life

The amount of time required for a radioactive parent isotope to decay into stable daughter atoms.