Terms & Definitions Flashcards
(198 cards)
0
Q
Proteins:
A
Organic molecules composed of strings of carefully folded amino-acids.
1
Q
Biology:
A
The study of life and living organisms.
2
Q
Carbohydrates:
A
Simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose.
3
Q
Lipids:
A
Hydrophobic organic compounds, many of which include fatty acids as a primary component.
4
Q
Nucleic Acids:
A
Organic molecules composed of a nucleotide base attached to a sugar and phosphate backbone. (DNA/RNA)
5
Q
Nucleus:
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A distinct structure within the cell that contains the cell’s DNA.
6
Q
Prokaryotes:
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Organisms whose cells lack a nucleus and organelles, including bacteria and archaea.
7
Q
Eukaryotes:
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Organisms whose cells have a nucleus and organelles including; protists, animals, plants, and fungi.
8
Q
Cytoplasm:
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The portion of the cell outside the nucleus.
9
Q
Chloroplasts:
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Capture energy from sunlight in order to build organic molecules.
10
Q
Active Transport:
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Is used to move many organic molecules, including most proteins, into cells.
11
Q
Mitosis:
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A form of cell division in which one parent cell divides into two daughter cells, each of which contains the same genetic information as the parent cell.
12
Q
Enzymes:
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Binds the reactants of a reaction -the enzyme’s substrate- at its active site and then releases the products of the reaction. (Large complex proteins)
13
Q
Chlorophyll:
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A pigment, meaning it is a molecule that absorbs light, and it is also what gives plants their green color.
14
Q
Genome:
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A complete set of an organism’s genetic material.
15
Q
Motor Neuron:
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A type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract.
16
Q
Strata:
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Layers of sedimentary rock.
17
Q
Radioactivity:
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The process by which an unstable nuclei breaks down and emits radiation.
18
Q
Conservation of Energy and Machines:
A
The work output of any machine cannot exceed the work input. In an ideal machine, where no energy is transformed into heat;
Work Input = Work Output and (Fd) Input = (Fd) Output
19
Q
Transmutation:
A
A change in the identity of a nucleus as a result of a change in the number of its protons.
20
Q
Population:
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A group of organisms of the same species populating a given area.
21
Q
Newton’s FIRST Law of Motion:
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The scientific law that states that an object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion with a constant speed and direction unless acted on by a force.
22
Q
Resultant:
A
The sum of two or more vectors.
23
Q
Interaction:
A
A mutual action between objects where each object exerts an equal and opposite force on the other.
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Force Pair:
The action and reaction pair of forces that occur in an interaction.
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Newton's THIRD Law of Motion:
For every action there is an opposite but equal reaction.
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Newton's SECOND Law of Motion:
The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object, is in the direction of the net force, and is inversely proportional to the mass of the object.
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Terminal Speed:
The speed at which the acceleration of a falling object terminates because air resistance balances its weight.
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Vector Components:
Parts into which a vector can be separated and that act in different directions from the vector.
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Free Fall:
Motion under the influence of gravity pull only.
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Force Vector:
An arrow drawn to scale so that its length represent the magnitude of a force and its direction of the force.
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Technology:
The means of solving practical problems by applying the findings of science.
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Science:
The collective findings of humans about nature, and a process of gathering and organizing knowledge about nature.
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Fact:
A phenomenon about which competent observes can agree.
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Hypothesis:
An educated guess or reasonable explanation.
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Pseudoscience:
A theory or practice that is considered to be without scientific foundations but purports to use methods of science.
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Theory:
A synthesis of a large body of information that encompasses well tested hypotheses about certain aspects of the natural world.
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Scientific Method:
An orderly method for gaining, organizing, and applying new knowledge.
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Law:
A general hypothesis or statement about the relationship of natural quantities that has been tested over and over again and has not been contradicted. AKA: a principle.
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Control:
A test that excludes the variable being investigated in a scientific experiment.
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Velocity:
The speed and direction of a moving object.
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Kilogram:
A unit of mass, equals the mass of 1L (liter) of water @4C.
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Force:
Simply stated a push or pull.
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Weight:
The force of gravity on an object.
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Acceleration:
The rate at which velocity changes with time. (m/s2)
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Mass:
The quantity of matter in an object.
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Vector Quantity:
Quantity having both magnitude and direction.
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NEWTON:
Scientific unit of force.
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Support Force:
The force that supports an object against gravity. AKA: normal force.
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Net Force:
The combination of all forces acting on an object.
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Friction:
The force that opposes the motion of one surface as it moves across another surface.
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Speed:
Distance traveled per time.
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Inertia:
The property of things to resist changes in motion.
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Equilibrium Rule:
The vector sum of forces acting on a non-accelerating object equals zero. SF=0
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Air Resistance:
The force of friction acting on an object due to its motion through air.
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Potential Energy:
Stored energy.
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Efficiency:
The percentage of the work put into a machine that is converted into useful work output.
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Conservation of Energy and Machines:
The work output of any machine cannot exceed the work input.
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Conservation of Momentum:
In the absence of an outside force, the momentum of a system will remain unchanged.
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Energy:
The property of a system that enables it to do the work.
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Power:
The time rate of work or rate of energy expended. P=Work/Time
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Kinetic Energy:
Energy of motion. K=mv2
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Joule:
The SI unit of energy and work.
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Elastic Collision:
Collision in which colliding objects rebound without lasting deformation or heat generated.
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Work-Energy Theorem:
The work done on an object equals the change in kinetic energy of the object.
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Conservation of Energy:
The principle that energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
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Momentum:
The product of an object's mass and velocity.
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Impulse:
The product of the force acting on an object and the time during which it acts.
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Relationship of Impulse and Momentum:
Impulse is equal to the change in the momentum of the object that the impulse acts upon.
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Inelastic Collision:
A collision in which the colliding objects become distorted, generate heat, and possibly stick together.
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Work:
The product of the force and the distance through which the force moves. W=Fd
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Law of Universal Gravitation:
Everybody in the universe attracts every other body with a mutually attracting force.
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Inverse Square Law:
Law relating to the intensity of an effect to the inverse square of the distance from the cause.
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Centripetal Force:
Any force that is directed at right angles to the path of a moving object that tends to produce circular motion.
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Escape Speed:
The minimum speed necessary for an object to escape permanently from a gravitational field that holds it.
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Parabola:
The curved path followed by a projectile near the Earth under the influence of gravity only.
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Projectile:
Any object that moves through the air or through the space under the influence of gravity.
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Ellipse:
The oval path followed by a satellite.
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Tangential Velocity:
Velocity that is parallel (tangent) to a curved path.
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Satellite:
A projectile or small body that orbits a larger body.
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Universal Constant of Gravitation (G):
The proportionality constant in Newtons Law of Gravitation.
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Weightlessness:
A condition encountered in a free fall wherein a support force is lacking.
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Conduction:
The transfer of thermal energy by molecular and electronic collisions within a substance.
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Radiation:
The transfer of energy by means of electromagnetic waves.
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Temperature:
The measure of hotness or coldness.
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1st Law of Thermodynamics:
A restatement of the law of energy conservation, usually as it applies to systems involving changes in temperature.
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Entropy:
The measure of energy dispersal of a system.
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Thermal (internal) Energy:
The total energy (kinetic plus potential) of the submicroscopic particles that make up a substance.
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Thermodynamics:
The study of heat and its transformation to different forms of energy.
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Convection:
The transfer of thermal energy in a gas or liquid by means of currents in the heated fluid. The fluid flows, carrying energy in it.
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Absolute Zero:
The theoretical temperature at which a substance possesses no thermal energy.
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Specific Heat Capacity:
The quantity of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.
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Heat:
The thermal energy that flows from a substance of higher temperature to a substance of lower temperature, commonly measured in calories or joules.
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2nd Law of Thermodynamics:
Heat never spontaneously flows from a low temperature substance to a high temperature substance.
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Electric Potential Energy:
The energy a charge possesses by virtue of its location in a magnetic field.
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Maxwells Counterpart to Faraday's Law:
A principle that states a magnetic field is induced in any region of space in which an electric field is changing with time. The magnitude of the electrical field is directly proportional to the rate at which the electrical field changes.
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Electric Current:
The flow of electrical charge that transports energy from one place to another. It's measured in amperes.
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Direct Current (DC):
An electrical current flowing in one direction only.
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Alternate Current (AC):
An electrical current that repeatedly changes direction. Vibrational rate 60Hz.
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Potential Difference:
The difference in potential between two points, measured in volts often called voltage difference.
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Electrical Potential (voltage):
The electric potential energy per amount of charge, measured in volts often called voltage.
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Electromagnetic:
A magnet whose field is produced by an electric current.
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Magnetic Domains:
Clustered regions of aligned magnetic atoms.
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Semi Conductor:
A material that can be made to sometimes behave as an insulator and sometimes a conductor.
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Insulator:
Any material without free charged particles and through which current does not easily flow.
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Coulombs Law:
The relationship among Force, Charge and Distance,; if charges are alike in sign the forces are repelling, if the charges are unlike the forces are attracting (opposites attract).
F=kq1q2/d2
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Series Circuit:
The electric circuit with devices connected in such a way that the same electric current flows through each of them.
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Electric Resistance:
The property of a material that resists the flow of electric current through it. It is measured in Ohms.
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Electrically Polarized:
The term applied to an atom or molecule in which the charges are aligned so that one side has a slight excess of negative charge.
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Electric Field:
A force per unit charge, it can be considered an energetic aura surrounding charged objects.
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Magnetic Field:
The region of magnetic influence around a magnetic pole or a moving charged particle.
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Conductor:
Any material having free charge particles that easily flow through it when an electric force acts on them.
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OHMS Law:
The statement that the current in a circuit varies in direct proportion to the potential difference or voltage and inversely with the resistance.
CURRENT=VOLTAGE/RESISTANCE
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Magnetic Force:
It is the attraction of unlike poles for each other and the repulsion between like poles.
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Faradays LAW:
An electric field is induced in any region of space in which a magnetic field is changing with time. The magnitude in which the electric field is proportional to the rate at which the field changes.
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Dispersion:
The separation of light into colors arranged by frequency.
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Amplitude:
The distance from midpoint to the crest (or to the trough) of the wave.
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Wavelength:
The distance from the top of one crest to the top of the next one.
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Interference:
The combined effect of two or more waves overlapping.
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Diffraction:
Any bending of light by means other than by reflection and refraction.
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Wave:
The disturbance that travels from one place to another, transporting energy but not necessarily matter along with it.
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Longitudinal Wave:
A wave in which the medium vibrates in a direction parallel with the direction in which the wave travels.
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Refraction:
The bending of waves due to the change in the medium.
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Natural Frequency:
A frequency at which an elastic object naturally tends to vibrate.
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Resonance:
A dramatic increase in the amplitude of a wave that results when the frequency of forced vibrations matches an objects natural frequency.
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Opaque:
The term applied to materials that absorb light without re-emission.
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Transparent:
The term applied to materials through which light can travel in straight lines.
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Frequency:
The number of to and fro vibrations an oscillator makes in a given time.
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Electromagnetic Wave:
A wave of energy produced when an electric charge accelerates.
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Doppler Effect:
The change in frequency of a wave due to the motion of the source (or due to the motion of the receiver).
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Law of Reflection:
The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.
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Reflection:
The returning of a wave to the medium from which it came when it hits a barrier.
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Forced Vibration:
The setting up of vibrations in an object by a vibrating source.
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Transverse Wave:
A wave in which the medium vibrates in a direction perpendicular (transverse) to the direction in which the wave travels.
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Period:
The time required for a vibration or a wave to make a complete cycle.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum:
A continuous range of electromagnetic waves extending from radio waves to gamma rays.
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Atomic Nucleus:
The core of an atom, consisting of two basic subatomic particles. Protons and neutrons.
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Shell:
A set of overlapping atomic orbitals of similar energy levels.
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Nucleon:
A nuclear particle, a proton or a neutron in an atomic nucleus.
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Valence Electron:
An electron that is located on the outermost occupied shell of an atom and can participate in chemical bonding.
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Conceptual Model:
A representation of a system that helps in making predictions about how the system behaves.
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Quantum Hypothesis:
The idea that light energy is contained in discrete packets called quanta.
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Neutron:
An electrically neutral subatomic particle in an atomic nucleus.
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Atomic Mass:
The mass of an elements atoms listed in the periodic table as an average value based on relative abundance of the elements isotopes.
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Spectroscope:
A device that uses a prism or a diffraction grating to separate light into its component colors.
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Isotopes:
Different forms of an element whose atoms contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
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Principal Quantum Number (n):
An integer that specifies the quantized energy level of an atomic orbital.
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Probability Cloud:
The pattern of an electron position plotted over time to show the likelihood of an electron being at a given position at a given time.
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Atom:
The smallest part of an element that has all the elements chemical properties.
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Proton:
The positively charged particle in an atomic nucleus.
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Atomic Orbital:
A position in an atom in which an electron has a 90% chance of being located.
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Mass Number:
The total number of nucleons in an atomic nucleus.
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Atomic Mass Units (AMU):
The standard unit of atomic mass, which is equal to 1/12th the mass of a common atom of carbon.
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Physical Model:
A representation of an object on some convenient scale.
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Electron:
The negatively charged particle in an atom.
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Quantum:
A small, discrete packet of light energy.
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Photon:
A particle of light.
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Atomic Spectrum:
The pattern of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the atoms of an element, considered to be the atoms fingerprint.
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Periodic Table:
A chart in which all known elements are listed in order of atomic number.
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Atomic Symbol:
An abbreviation for an element or atom.
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Element:
Any material that is made up of only 1 type of atom.
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Atomic Number:
The number that designates the identity of an element, which is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom; in a neutral atom it is also the number of electrons.
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Alpha Particles:
Helium nuclei consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
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Chain Reaction:
A self-sustaining reaction in which the products of one reaction event stimulate further reaction events.
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Nuclear Fusion:
The combining of nuclei of light atoms to form heavier nuclei, with the release of much energy.
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Gamma Ray:
High-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by the nuclei of radioactive atoms.
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Thermonuclear Fusion:
Nuclear fusion produced by high temperature.
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Nucleon:
A nuclear proton or neutron.
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Radioactivity:
The process by which an unstable nucleus gives off nuclear radiation.
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Transmutation:
The conversion of an atomic nucleus of one element into an atomic nucleus of another element through a loss or gain in the number of protons.
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Nuclear Fission:
Nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons.
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Inner Planets:
The planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
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Nebular Theory:
The idea that the Sun and planets formed from a cloud of gas and dust, a nebula.
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Comet:
A small body of ice, rock, and cosmic dust loosely packed together that gives off gas and dust in the form of a tail as it passes close to the Sun.
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Outer Planets:
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
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Meteorite:
The part of a large meteoroid that survives its trip through the atmosphere and strikes Earth's surface.
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Meteoroid:
Any of the small bodies often remnants of comets traveling through space.
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Chemical Bond:
The force that holds two atoms together.
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Matter:
Anything that occupies space.
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Metaloid:
Something that has some metal properties in it and some other non-metal properties.
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Chemistry:
The study of matter and the transformation it undergoes.
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Evaporation:
The transformation of liquid to gas.
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Compound:
A material in which atoms of different elements are bonded together.
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Chemical Formula:
A notation used to indicate the composition of a chemical compound.
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Liquid:
Matter that has no shape, defined by its volume.
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Latent Heat:
Energy that is changed or absorbed in a change of phase.
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Condensation:
Gas to a liquid.
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Melting:
Solid to a liquid.
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Period:
Horizontal row on the periodic table.
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Gas:
Always filling any space available, not defined by shape or volume.
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Solid:
Matter that is defined by shape and volume.
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Metal:
An element able to conduct heat and electricity, shiny and opaque.
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Diffusion:
A tendency of molecules to move from a high concentration to a low concentration.
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Covalent Bond:
Bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.
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Molecule:
Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
195
Polar Bond:
A chemical bond that has a dipole.
196
Dipole:
A molecule or part of a molecule that contains both positively and negatively charged regions.
197
Solution:
A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
