Worldwide climate change mainly due to increase in CO2 levels
global warming
The atmosphere traps solar radiation, because of gases such as CO2, methane and water vapor.
greenhouse effect
An organism whose cells contain a nucleus surrounded by a membrane and whose DNA is bound together by proteins into chromosomes
Eukaryotic
Generally organisms that do not have a well-defined nucleus or other membrane bound organelles and the genetic material occurs generally as a single, circular molecule of DNA.
Prokaryotic
The condition in which an organism's internal environment is kept stable in spite of changes in the external environment.
homeostasis
An inherited behavior or physical characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
adaptation
Moving sediment
erosion
Sinking of the Earth's surface (depletion of groundwater/divergen boundary)
land subsidence
A series of changes in the ecosystem that restores equilibrium over time.
succession
Creates soil in primary succession (lichen/moss) first species to appear.
pioneer species
New crust is formed at divergen plate boundaries (sea-floor spreading)
mid-ocean ridge
movement of Earth's crust
plate tectonics
Transfer of thermal energy by movements of a fluid. (convection currents)
convection
Rivers of hot or cold water within the ocean caused by planet rotation, wind, temperature and salinity.
ocean currents
Transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves (light waves)
radiation
The chemical and physical processes that break down rock and other substances.
weathering
The way an organism monitors its needs and maintains equilibrium.
feedback mechanisms
Water pressure against a cell wall of a plant cell (firm leaf/wilted leaf)
turgor pressure
Genetic trait that is represented with a capital letter and will always show if it is present.
dominant trait
Genetic makeup; written with symbols (Tt, TT, tt)
genotype
Having both the dominant and recessive allele for a trait (Tt)
heterozygous
Having the same allele for a trait (TT, tt)
homozygous
Physical traits (tall/short)
phenotype
Relationship between organisms in which one or both benefit.
symbiosis
The measure of an element's ability to combine with other elements, dictated by the number of electrons in the outermost shell.
valence
The tendency of a substance to undergo chemical changes.
reactivity
Evidence of a new substance; observed when substances interact such as flammability and rusting.
chemical properties
The measure of how tight particles of a substance are packed (mass per volume).
density
What you can observe without the material changing to a new substance (melting, freezing, getting smaller)
physical properties
Can be dissolved.
solubility/soluble
Allowing to pass through.
conductor/conductivity
Not allowing to pass through.
insulator
Two or more elements chemically combined.
compound
One or more elements in the same place at the same time, but not chemically combined (like a tossed salad).
mixture
Takes in heat during a chemical reaction, will feel cold (ice pack)
endothermic
Releases heat during a chemcial reaction, will feel warm (decomposition, hand warmers)
exothermic
Energy of motion (roller coaster increases kinetic energy as it comes down the hill)
kinetic energy
Energy that is stored (stress in a fault zone, roller coaster at the top of a hill).
potential energy
Water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground.
runoff
The distance an object travels divided by the time it takes to travel that distance.
average speed
A graph showing the relationship between time and distance.
distance-time graph
An objects resistance to a change in motion.
inertia
The total amount of force acting on an object (all the individual forces are added together).
net force
Force that will cause a change in an objects motion.
unbalanced force
The change in an objects speed and/or direction; speeding up slowing down, or change in direction.
acceleration
The shape of the Earth's surface and the way its physical features are arranged; positions and elevations.
topography
Total mass of living organisms in a given area.
biomass
The measure of speed and direction.
velocity
The range of electromagnetic waves placed in a certain order.
electromagnetic spectrum
F = M X A; If an object is acted on by a net force, the change in velocity will be in the direction of the force.
Newton's Second Law of Motion
The land area that supplies water to a river system
watershed
A giant structure that contains gas, dust, and billions of stars.
galaxy
A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars.
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Distance light travels in one year.
light year
An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force; an object moving at a constant velocity will remain in the same motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
Newton's First Law of Motion
(also known as the manipulated variable) the variable that you change during an experiment.
independent variable
(also known as the responding variable) the variable that you expect to change as a response to the manipulated variable.
dependent variable
The variable that you keep the same (no change)
controlled variable
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Newton's Third Law of Motion
An explanation or model based on observations, experiments, and reasoning, which uses facts to explain and predict natural phenomena.
theory