Lab, Ecology, Chemistry, Electricity, and Astronomy Review

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the Scientific Method, Ecology, Chemistry, Electricity, and Astronomy based on the lecture notes.

Scientific Method

A set of steps to follow in order to properly perform a science experiment, starting with making an observation.

Independent variable

The variable in an experiment that is changed by the experimenter.

Dependent variable

The variable that changes as a result of the independent variable.

Controlled variables

Factors that are kept constant to ensure the accuracy of an experiment.

Qualitative observations

Information that cannot be measured, collected through the senses to describe qualities.

Quantitative observations

Information based on measurements and counting.

Sustainability

The ability to meet the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations.

Biodiversity

The variation of biological organisms, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Atmosphere

The layers of gases surrounding Earth that regulate temperature and protect life with oxygen and ozone.

Lithosphere

Earth's solid outer layer extending up to $100\,km$ down, including soil.

Hydrosphere

The component of the biosphere including all of Earth's water, of which $97\%$ is salt water.

Abiotic components

Non-living factors in an ecosystem such as sunlight, temperature, rainfall, climate, and water.

Biotic components

Living factors in an ecosystem such as bacteria, plants, animals, fungi, and disease.

Biomes

Large geographical areas with similar climate conditions, vegetation, and organisms, such as the tundra or rainforest.

Producers (Autotroph)

Organisms that create chemical energy (glucose) from light energy through photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

The process defined by the chemical equation: $6CO_2 + 6H_2O + ATP \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$.

Consumers (Heterotroph)

Organisms that eat other organisms for energy and use cellular respiration.

Cellular Respiration

The process defined by the chemical equation: $C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + ATP$.

Trophic Levels

The categorization of autotrophs and heterotrophs based on how they gain energy in a food chain.

Decomposers

Organisms like bacteria and fungi that feed on detritus (waste and dead remains) and return nutrients to the ecosystem.

Bioaccumulation

The slow build-up of chemicals, such as PCBs or DDT, in the bodies of organisms.

Biomagnification

The process where consumers at each trophic level receive larger doses of accumulated chemicals than the level before them.

Keystone Species

Species that greatly affect population numbers and the health of an ecosystem, such as amphibians.

Bioremediation

The use of living organisms, such as microbes or plants, to break down or neutralize environmental pollutants.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Malleability

The physical property describing a substance's ability to be beaten into sheets.

Ductility

The physical property describing a substance's ability to be drawn or stretched into wires.

Combustibility

A chemical property describing a substance's ability to react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Density

The ratio of mass to volume, calculated as $\text{mass} / \text{volume}$.

Archimedes Principle

The principle stating the buoyant force on a submerged object is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.

Atomic Number

The number of protons or electrons in an atom, defining the element.

Mass Number

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

Isotopes

Forms of an element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements that are highly reactive, silver metals with 1 valence electron.

Halogens

Group 17 non-metals that are highly reactive, poisonous, and corrosive with 7 valence electrons.

Noble Gases

Group 18 elements with a full valence shell that are stable, non-reactive, odourless, and colourless.

Covalent compounds

Compounds formed between non-metals where electrons are shared.

Ionic compounds

Compounds formed between metals and non-metals where electrons are lost or gained.

Static Electricity

An imbalance of positive and negative charges on an object.

Law of Electric Charges

States that opposite charges attract, like charges repel, and charged objects attract neutral objects.

Charging by Induction

Process where a charged object transfers a charge to a neutral conductor without physical contact.

Electric Current ($I$)

The amount of charge moving past a point per second, calculated as $I = Q/t$ and measured in Amperes ($A$).

Potential Difference ($V$)

The difference in electrical potential energy in electrons across a source or load, measured in Volts ($V$).

Resistance ($R$)

The force that opposes a current of electricity, measured in Ohms ($\Omega$).

Ohm's Law

The relationship where voltage equals current multiplied by resistance: $V = IR$.

Series Circuit

A circuit where components are connected one after another, and current stays the same ($I_T = I_1 = I_2...$).

Parallel Circuit

A circuit where components are in different branches, and voltage stays the same ($V_T = V_1 = V_2...$).

Efficiency

The calculation: $(\text{useful energy output} / \text{total energy input}) \times 100\%$.

Astronomical units

The unit of distance from the Sun to Earth, approximately $150\,\text{million km}$.

Big Bang Theory

The theory that the universe formed $13.7\,\text{billion years}$ ago after a small, hot mass expanded outward.

Cosmic Background Radiation

Radiation left over from the Big Bang that can be detected everywhere in the universe using radio telescopes.

Redshift

The phenomenon where light from distant galaxies shifts to the red end of the spectrum, indicating they are moving away.

Nuclear fusion

The process in the Sun where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium nuclei, releasing energy.