AP Environmental Science Summer Quiz Material

Organic

Generally carbon-based compounds, especially those containing carbon bonded to hydrogen; examples include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Inorganic

Substances that generally lack carbon-hydrogen bonds; examples include water, oxygen, minerals, and salts.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with nonliving components of their environment.

Natural

Something that occurs in nature without being manufactured by humans.

Synthetic

Something manufactured or produced by humans, often using chemical processes.

Producer

An organism that makes its own food, usually through photosynthesis; also called an autotroph.

Autotroph

An organism that produces its own food, usually using sunlight or chemical energy.

Consumer

An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter; also called a heterotroph.

Heterotroph

An organism that cannot make its own food and must obtain energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter.

Decomposer

An organism, such as a fungus or bacterium, that breaks down dead organisms and waste and returns nutrients to the environment.

Photosynthesis

The process in which plants and other autotrophs use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Cellular Respiration

The process in which cells break down glucose, usually using oxygen, to release usable energy in the form of ATP.

Aerobic

A process that requires oxygen.

Anaerobic

A process that does not require oxygen.

Kinetic Energy

Energy associated with motion.

Potential Energy

Stored energy that has the potential to be released or transformed into another form.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or transformed.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Energy transfers are not 100% efficient; some usable energy is dispersed as heat and entropy increases.

Population

All individuals of the same species living in a particular area.

Community

All the populations of different species living and interacting in a particular area.

Natural Selection

The process in which individuals with advantageous heritable traits tend to survive and reproduce more successfully, causing those traits to become more common over generations.

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in an area, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Mutation

A change in an organism's DNA that can introduce new genetic variation.

Species

A group of organisms that can generally interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Gene Pool

All of the genes and alleles present in a population.

Photosynthesis Equation

6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Cellular Respiration Equation

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP)

Percentage

Part ÷ Whole × 100

Percentage of a Number

Convert the percentage to a decimal and multiply by the total; example: 20% of 50 = 0.20 × 50 = 10.

Percent Change

(Final Value − Initial Value) ÷ Initial Value × 100

Scientific Notation

A way of expressing a number as a value between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10.

Scientific Notation Multiplication

Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents.

Scientific Notation Division

Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents.

Kilo (k)

10^3 = 1,000

Centi (c)

10^-2 = 0.01 = 1/100

Milli (m)

10^-3 = 0.001 = 1/1,000

Mega (M)

10^6 = 1,000,000

Giga (G)

10^9 = 1,000,000,000

Tera (T)

10^12 = 1,000,000,000,000

Dimensional Analysis

A method of converting units by multiplying by conversion factors so unwanted units cancel.

Significant Figures

Digits in a measurement that convey meaningful precision.

Population Growth Rate

(Births + Immigration − Deaths − Emigration) ÷ Population × 100