Energy, Health, and Scientific Inquiry Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary list covering energy sources, human health, pathogens, homeostasis, and scientific investigation terminology based on the lecture notes.

Energy

The ability to do work or cause change.

Renewable energy

Energy from sources that can be naturally replaced.

Non-renewable energy

Energy from sources that will eventually run out.

Fossil fuels

Fuels formed from dead organisms over millions of years.

Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$)

The gas that mainly causes the greenhouse effect.

Sustainability

Using resources in a way that protects future generations.

Energy efficiency

How much useful energy is produced compared to wasted energy.

Kinetic energy

Energy of movement.

Potential energy

Stored energy.

Thermal energy

Heat energy.

Solar energy

A renewable energy source that depends on sunlight and produces little pollution.

Wind energy

A renewable energy source that produces no greenhouse gases while operating but can be noisy.

Coal

A non-renewable energy source that releases large amounts of greenhouse gases.

Disease

A condition that stops the body from functioning normally.

Pathogen

A microorganism that causes disease.

4 types of pathogens

Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa.

Infection

When pathogens enter and multiply in the body.

Contagious disease

A disease that spreads from person to person.

Immune system

Protects the body from pathogens.

Vaccine

A substance that helps the immune system recognise and fight pathogens.

Antibiotics

Medicines used for killing bacteria.

Virus

A pathogen that needs a host cell to reproduce.

Bacteria

Single-celled organisms, some of which cause disease.

Hygiene

Practices that prevent the spread of disease, such as hand washing.

Pandemic

A disease outbreak across many countries.

Epidemic

A disease outbreak in one area or population.

Homeostasis

Maintaining stable internal body conditions, such as body temperature, blood sugar and water levels.

Stimulus

A change in the environment.

Response

How an organism reacts to a stimulus.

Receptor

A structure that detects a stimulus.

Feedback loop

A system that helps maintain stability in the body.

Negative feedback

A response that reverses a change to maintain stability, such as sweating to cool the body.

Nervous system

A communication system using fast electrical signals.

Endocrine system

A communication system using hormones that provides slower, long-lasting responses.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction.

Independent variable

The variable you change.

Dependent variable

The variable you measure.

Controlled variables

Variables kept the same.

Reliability

Getting consistent results.

Validity

Whether the experiment measures what it should.

Accuracy

How close results are to the true value.

Describe

Give characteristics or features.

Explain

Give reasons how or why.

Compare

Show similarities.

Contrast

Show differences.

Evaluate

Give strengths, weaknesses and a judgement.

Analyse

Look for patterns or trends in data.