Introduction to Science
Science - "the search for knowledge", the systematic knowledge of the physical or material
world gained through observation and experimentation; science is dynamic - in a
state of change as new discoveries are made
quantitative observation - use numbers or measurements to describe with one or more of your senses; senses may be enhanced with specialized instruments
qualitative observation - describe with one or more of your senses using the qualities of something like color; senses may be enhanced with specialized instruments
inference - logical process by which new statements are derived from known and observed facts; may or may not be true
procedure - steps used in the experiment
analysis - using math to make meaning of the data
controlled variables - keeping all the other variables the same except the independent variable
control - having a treatment in which nothing was done as a comparison for other treatments in an
experiment
conclusion - a statement about your discoveries in the experiment
theory - a well supported explanation in science in which some aspects are still not fully understood
hypothesis - an educated guess or prediction that can be tested in science
scientific method - the logical process or series of steps by which scientist gather and verify
information
scientific law - facts or a process well documented and understood in science
independent variable - manipulated variable - controlled by the scientist - graphed on the x-axis
dependent variable - responding variable - measured by the scientist - graphed on the y-axis
technology - using science to make useful things
Interactions of Matter
Atom - the smallest unit of an element that maintains the chemical properties of that element; basic building block of matter
Boiling Point - temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas at a given pressure
Density -the measure of mass of a substance per unit volume
Ductility - the ability to be formed or pulled into a wire or tube
Element - a substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler
substances by chemical means; all the same of type atoms
Compound -a substance made of two or more different atoms
Heat - the energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures
Mass - amount of matter contained in a substance
Matter - anything that has mass and volume
Melting Point - the temperature and pressure at which a solid becomes a liquid
Malleability - able to be bended, shaped, or flattened or hammered flat
Motion - an object's change in position relative to a reference point
Particles - a very small piece or part; a tiny portion or speck.
Phase - one of the four states or conditions in which a substance can exist: solid, liquid, gas, or
plasma.
Physical Changes - a change which occurs without changing the identity of the substance.
Pure Substance - a sample of matter, either a single element or a single compound, that has
definite chemical and physical properties
Saturation - a solution that cannot dissolve any more solute under the given conditions
Solubility - the solubility to dissolve in another substance
Solute - in a solution, the substance that dissolves in the solvent
Solvent - in a solution, the substance in which the solute dissolves
Volume - amount of space an object occupies
Mass - a measure of the amount of matter in an object
Crystal Pattern - a solid in which all the atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern.
Evaporation - process in which liquid water changes to water vapor with the addition of energy.
Filtering - a porous material through which a substance is passed in order to separate the fluid from
suspended particulate matter.
Heterogeneous - a mixture that is not mixed evenly and each component retains its own properties
Homogenous - solid, liquid or gas that contains two or more substances blended evenly throughout.
Mixtures - the physical combination of 2 or more substances; can be separated by physical means.
Molecule - the smallest physical unit of a compound that can exist independently, consisting of one or more atoms held together by chemical forces; formed by bonding
Sifting - to separate and retain the coarse parts to remove lumps and large particles
Conductivity - property of metal and alloys that allow heat or electricity charges to pass through the material easily.
Metals - an element below and to the left of the stair-step line of metalloids; about 80% of the known elements are metals; metals are shiny, good conductors, low specific heat, high melting points, malleable, and ductile.
Model - a standard or example used for comparison.
Periodic Table - an arrangement of elements in order of increasing atomic numbers that
demonstrates the periodic patterns that occur among the elements.
Physical Properties - a characteristic of a substance that can be observed without changing the identity of the substance
Reactivity - the ability of an atom or molecule to undergo a chemical reaction with another atom, molecule or compound.
Chemical bond -the "glue" that attracts and keeps atoms held together due to sharing of each atom's electrons
Chemical change - the process in which one or more substances are changed into one or more new substances
Chemical property - property that can be observed only when a substance is changed into a new substance
Chemical reaction - the process in which one or more substances are changed into one or more new substances
Precipitate - the solid that is formed as a result of a precipitation reaction
Closed System - the reactants and products in the reaction that are contained to reduce error
Law of Conservation of Mass - states that the total amount of mass and energy in the universe is
conserved (does not change)
Products - materials present at the end of a reaction
Reactants - the starting materials in a reaction
Cell Processes, Digestion and Disease
Cells -Basic unit of life; smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of functioning
independently
Eukaryotic Cells -Cells that have a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus
Fuel -Something that gives nourishment; food
Molecule -The smallest physical unit of an element or compound, consisting of
one or more like atoms in an element and two or more different atoms in a compound
Organelle -A specialized subunit (cell organ) within a cell that has a specific function and
is usually separately enclosed with its own lipid layer
Prokaryotic Cells -Cells without a nucleus
Respiration -The process in which nutrients are converted into useful energy in a cell
Thermal Energy -The movement of atoms and molecules; portion of energy that is responsible for a
system's temperature
Alcohol -An organic compound that is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid that can be consumed by humans and in other forms used in thermometers, as a solvent, and as a fuel.
Dietary Habits -The decisions an individual makes when choosing what foods to eat
Digestion -Process by which food is broken up physically, by action of teeth, and chemically, by
action of enzymes, and converted into a substance suitable for absorption into the body.
Respiration -The process in which nutrients are converted into useful energy in a cell; process
where organisms take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide
Tobacco Product -processed from the leaves of a plant, it can be consumed, used as a drug,
pesticide, and in some medicines.
Toxic Substance-Any chemical or mixture that may be harmful to the environment and to human health if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin
Antibiotics- drug that kills bacteria and cures bacterial infections and diseases
Bacteria -domain of prokaryotes, some of which cause human diseases. Lacks a nucleus.
Disease- An abnormal functioning of the body or part of body, sometimes caused by infections.
Fungi -kingdom in the domain Eukarya that includes molds, mushrooms, and yeasts
Host Cell -Cell of species that is harmed in a parasitic relationship
Microbiology -The study of organisms which are too small to see without a microscope.
Parasite -Organism that forms symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other species is harmed
Prevention -Methods of reducing the likelihood of contracting a disease. Methods of prevention depend
on the organism that causes the disease.
Treatment -The response to a disease provided through medical professionals
Unicellular -An organism composed of one cell only
Virus -A particle that cannot independently reproduce yet contains genetic information and can evolve.
Viruses may cause disease in the host cell/organism
Antimicrobial -Describing a substance that kills microbes in an effort to prevent the spread of a disease
Epidemic -Occurs when the incidence rate of a disease is higher than expected in a certain area
Microbes -Microscopic organisms
Pandemic -An epidemic that spreads across a large area, like a continent
Pathogen -Disease causing organism; "germ"
Vector - Mechanisms or organisms (excluding humans) that spread diseases without showing symptoms
Biotechnology -The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful products. For thousands of years, humankind has used biotechnology in agriculture, food production and medicine
THE HYDROSPHERE
Adhesion – the tendency of water to stick to other substances
Buoyancy – the ability of a fluid to exert an upward force on an object that is immersed in the fluid
Capillary Action – the process that moves water through a narrow porous space
Cohesion – the attractive force between water molecules
Insoluble – not soluble; will not dissolve
Polarity – uneven distribution of charges across a molecule
Soluble – having the ability to be dissolved in another substance
Specific Heat – the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius; low specific heat means a substance will heat up quickly
Surface Tension – the force that acts on the particles at the surface of a material
Universal Solvent – the quality of water that makes it able to dissolve more substances than any other solvent can
Condensation – the process of warm air cooling as it rises and releasing moisture in the form of a liquid
Evaporation – the process by which a liquid is changed into a vapor from the surface by gaining energy
Groundwater - water located below Earth’s surface in aquifers
Hydrosphere -the portion of the Earth that contains water; all the water on the earth
Impermeable - does not allow water to move through
Infiltration - water that seeps into rocks and between particles of soil; see percolation
Percolation - the downward movement of water through pores and other spaces in soil due to gravity
Permeable - having pores or openings that allow water (or other liquids) to flow through them
Precipitation - the rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls from clouds onto the Earth’s land and oceans
Runoff - is precipitation that flows over land into streams and rivers. This water later enters oceans.
Surface Water - water found on the surface of the Earth
Transpiration - water vapor given off by plant photosynthesis via water vapor through the pores in the leaves (stomata)
Aquifer - an underground layer of rock or soil that holds water
Artesian Well - a well in which water rises because of pressure within aquifer from water above
Drought - a long period of scarce rainfall
Glaciers - a large mass of moving ice and snow on land
Hydrology - the study of water
Icecaps - a glacier forming on an extensive area of relatively level land and flowing outward from its center; ex. Greenland or Antarctica
Icebergs - a large floating mass of freshwater ice detached from a glacier
Reservoir - a man made lake that stores water for human use
River Basin - the region of land drained by a large river and its tributaries
Watershed - the land area that supplies water to a river system from smaller areas
Wetland - land area that is covered with a shallow layer of water during some or all of the year
Tides -the change in depth of the ocean due to the moon’s and sun’s gravitational pull of the water on
earth
Ocean Wave - a disturbance in ocean water caused by wind
Tsunami - a seismic sea wave
Surface Current - a circulation or movement of water due to the winds; warm or cool
Deep Current - an underwater circulation or movement of water due to changes in the water’s density
Abiotic Factor the non-living factors of the environment that an organism lives in.
Abyssal Plain - mostly flat portion of ocean floor which provides a home to a variety of unique organisms
that are adapted to the extreme conditions of this habitat.
Aphotic Zone or Deep Zone - lowest layer of the ocean, where light does not reach.
Benthos - organisms that live on or in the ocean floor.
Bioluminescence - the production of non-thermal light by creatures' converting chemical energy to
light energy to lure prey, attract a mate, or assist in keeping like species together. An estimated 75 percent of benthic creatures glow
Consumer - feed on other organisms (plant or animal) because they cannot make their own food, a
heterotroph
Continental Shelf - extends from the edge of the continent outward to where the bottom sharply drops
off into a steep slope.
Continental Slope - the steep incline between the continental shelf and the abyssal plain.
Ecosystem - a community of different but interdependent species and their non-living environment.
Estuary - body of water where a river meets the ocean
Fauna - animals
Flora - plants
Food Chain - a hierarchy of food relationships from the simplest to most complex
Habitat - the immediate space where an animal or plant lives and has food, water and protection.
Intertidal Zone - the area that lies between the low-tide and the high-tide line.
Mid-Ocean Ridge - a chain of undersea mountains that circles the earth through every ocean at diverging tectonic plate boundaries
Nekton - free-swimming organisms whose movements are independent of the tides, currents, and waves.
Neritic Zone - the first 200 meters (656 feet) of ocean water, which includes the seashore and most of the continental shelf.
Oceanic Zone - extends from 200 meters (656 feet) deep all the way down to the bottom of the ocean.
Ocean trench - the deepest parts of the ocean. The deepest one is the Marianas Trench (located in the South Pacific Ocean - almost 5 miles (8.05 kilometers) deep.
Photic Zone - the top layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, above 200 meters
Phytoplankton - the plant and algae component of the plankton; the primary producers of
most ocean food webs.
Producer - a living thing that produces its own food within itself, usually by using sunlight energy
in photosynthesis; an autotroph
Salinity - the amount of dissolved solids in seawater approximately 35 parts per thousand
Upwelling - the upward movement to the ocean surface of deeper, cold and usually nutrient-rich waters, especially along some shores, due to the offshore movement of surface waters
Echo sounder - a device used to determine depth by sound waves.
Oceanography - the study and exploration of the world's ocean.
ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) - unmanned submersible tethered to a mother ship and operated by pilots using a joy stick.
Scuba - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus - device that allows divers to breathe underwater for long periods of time.
SONAR - SOund NAvigation Ranging - used to measure ocean depth by sending sound to bounce off the ocean floor.
Submersible - a small submarine used to explore the ocean depths; equipped with windows, lights, mechanical arms, cameras and other scientific instruments capable of seeing and recording data.
Populations
Abiotic- are those non-living physical and chemical factors which affect the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce ex. Sunlight, temperature, soil or rocks, availability of water, pollutants
Biotic- all the living factors that impact an organism ex. Disease, parasitism, predation
Biome- a division based on climate, plants and animals; an environment that has a characteristic
type of climax community ex. Freshwater biome—all of the lake, pond, stream, & river communities on
Earth
Carrying Capacity- is the maximum number of organisms the resources of an ecosystem can
support. The carrying capacity of the environment is limited by the available abiotic and biotic resources (limiting factors), as well as the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organisms
through the activities of bacteria and fungi
Commensalism- a form of symbiosis in which one organism benefits and the other is not
harmed
Community- the living part of an ecosystem composed of many species
Competition- the type of interaction among organism s; the struggle to obtain needed resources of
food, water, shelter
Consumer- an organism that CANNOT make its own food
Decomposer-an organism that breaks down the bodies of dead organisms into simpler substances ex.
Bacteria & fungi
Dispersal- the movement of living things from one place to another
Ecosystem-a unit consisting of all the living and nonliving things in a given area that interact
with one another
Endangered- in danger of becoming extinct
Environment- all the living and nonliving things with which an organism may interact
Food Web- a diagram that show many overlapping food chains
Habitat- the place in which an organism lives and obtains the resources it needs to survive
Host- an organism that provides a home to another organism
Earth History
Absolute (radioactive) Dating - measurement of the known rates of decay of radioactive materials that an object contains in order to determine the age of the object
Index Fossil - fossil known to have lived in a particular geologic age that can be used to determine
the date of the rock layer in which it was found
Law of Superposition - states that in undisturbed rock layers that newer layer will be deposited over
older layers
Law of Crosscutting Relationships = states rock layers that cut across other rock layers
are younger than those they cut
Relative Dating - determining the age or order of things from the past or past events without
knowing or calculating the actual age
Sedimentary rock - rock formed by deposition of sand, clay and other pieces of rock that are compacted
together under pressure
Uranium - radioactive heavy metal that is an abundant source of nuclear energy that has 14 known
isotopes used in radioactive dating
Fault - fracture along which blocks of the Earth's crust that can be caused by the shifting or
dislodging of the Earth's crust. Types include normal, strike slip, or reverse
Fossils - remains or traces of animals, plants and other organisms from the past; usually at least
10000 years old
Geologic Time Scale = system of chronological measurement that relate to the history
of events in Earth's past, consisting of fossils and major events
Ice Core - a core sample of ice removed from a sheet of ice. Properties of the ice and the
crystallized components in the ice are used to reconstruct climatic record
Igneous rocks - type of rock formed under or above ground when magma or lava cools
Metamorphic rock - rock created from the transformation of other types of rock through heat and
pressure
Adaptation - an inherited mutation in an organism's DNA that provided an advantage for survival for a
species.
Biologic Change - change in an organism's genetic makeup, DNA, that occurs through natural
selection of advantageous traits for survival over an extended period of time.
Biological classification- the organization and identification of an organism from general to specific by identifying the organisms' Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus, and Species
Comparative anatomy -the analysis of body structures (body systems , skeletal systems) between two
or more different species that provides insight into the genetic/biologic similarities and differences across
species
Continental Plate - the crust that makes up the continents
Embryological similarities - likenesses in the embryonic stage of development between different species; evidence for evolution.
Extinction -the complete elimination (dying out) of a species due to the species inability to survive and therefore adapt to its environment.
Geographic Change - the change in a geographic area caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains
forming, and other natural phenomena.
Geologic Time Scale - timeline that illustrates Earth's past. This timeline includes the divisors of
the 4.6 billion years of Earth's geologic and biologic existence, and divides time into eons, eras, periods, and epochs. The divisions of the time scale are based on major events that have caused major geologic or biologic change throughout history, such as mass extinctions.
Geology - the study of the rocks, processes, and history of Earth
Homologous Body Structures - Similar body structures and systems between different
species; evidence for biologic evolution
Oceanic Plate - the part of Earth's crust that underlies the oceans
Plate Tectonics -the Earth's lithosphere is broken into major and minor plates of continental or
oceanic crust that are in constant motion due to their position above the convection currents of the asthenosphere. The movement of the tectonic plates is responsible for geologic and subsequent biologic change over time.
Theory of Evolution- the theory that organisms/species change over time, caused by the natural selection of advantageous traits for survival in a particular environment. This theory
also proposes that all organisms evolved from a common ancestor.
Adaptation - a beneficial trait that helps an organism survive in its environment.
Genetic Variation - the characteristics that make members of the same species different from one
another.
Variations - are the different forms of a trait.
Genotype - the genetic makeup of a cell or organism; defined by certain alleles for a particular
trait.
Offspring - a child or animal in relation to its parent or parents.
Phenotype - the physical appearance that is a result of the genotype.
Natural Selection - explanation of how organisms in a population develop traits that allow them to survive and reproduce
Science - "the search for knowledge", the systematic knowledge of the physical or material
world gained through observation and experimentation; science is dynamic - in a
state of change as new discoveries are made
quantitative observation - use numbers or measurements to describe with one or more of your senses; senses may be enhanced with specialized instruments
qualitative observation - describe with one or more of your senses using the qualities of something like color; senses may be enhanced with specialized instruments
inference - logical process by which new statements are derived from known and observed facts; may or may not be true
procedure - steps used in the experiment
analysis - using math to make meaning of the data
controlled variables - keeping all the other variables the same except the independent variable
control - having a treatment in which nothing was done as a comparison for other treatments in an
experiment
conclusion - a statement about your discoveries in the experiment
theory - a well supported explanation in science in which some aspects are still not fully understood
hypothesis - an educated guess or prediction that can be tested in science
scientific method - the logical process or series of steps by which scientist gather and verify
information
scientific law - facts or a process well documented and understood in science
independent variable - manipulated variable - controlled by the scientist - graphed on the x-axis
dependent variable - responding variable - measured by the scientist - graphed on the y-axis
technology - using science to make useful things
Interactions of Matter
Atom - the smallest unit of an element that maintains the chemical properties of that element; basic building block of matter
Boiling Point - temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas at a given pressure
Density -the measure of mass of a substance per unit volume
Ductility - the ability to be formed or pulled into a wire or tube
Element - a substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler
substances by chemical means; all the same of type atoms
Compound -a substance made of two or more different atoms
Heat - the energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures
Mass - amount of matter contained in a substance
Matter - anything that has mass and volume
Melting Point - the temperature and pressure at which a solid becomes a liquid
Malleability - able to be bended, shaped, or flattened or hammered flat
Motion - an object's change in position relative to a reference point
Particles - a very small piece or part; a tiny portion or speck.
Phase - one of the four states or conditions in which a substance can exist: solid, liquid, gas, or
plasma.
Physical Changes - a change which occurs without changing the identity of the substance.
Pure Substance - a sample of matter, either a single element or a single compound, that has
definite chemical and physical properties
Saturation - a solution that cannot dissolve any more solute under the given conditions
Solubility - the solubility to dissolve in another substance
Solute - in a solution, the substance that dissolves in the solvent
Solvent - in a solution, the substance in which the solute dissolves
Volume - amount of space an object occupies
Mass - a measure of the amount of matter in an object
Crystal Pattern - a solid in which all the atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern.
Evaporation - process in which liquid water changes to water vapor with the addition of energy.
Filtering - a porous material through which a substance is passed in order to separate the fluid from
suspended particulate matter.
Heterogeneous - a mixture that is not mixed evenly and each component retains its own properties
Homogenous - solid, liquid or gas that contains two or more substances blended evenly throughout.
Mixtures - the physical combination of 2 or more substances; can be separated by physical means.
Molecule - the smallest physical unit of a compound that can exist independently, consisting of one or more atoms held together by chemical forces; formed by bonding
Sifting - to separate and retain the coarse parts to remove lumps and large particles
Conductivity - property of metal and alloys that allow heat or electricity charges to pass through the material easily.
Metals - an element below and to the left of the stair-step line of metalloids; about 80% of the known elements are metals; metals are shiny, good conductors, low specific heat, high melting points, malleable, and ductile.
Model - a standard or example used for comparison.
Periodic Table - an arrangement of elements in order of increasing atomic numbers that
demonstrates the periodic patterns that occur among the elements.
Physical Properties - a characteristic of a substance that can be observed without changing the identity of the substance
Reactivity - the ability of an atom or molecule to undergo a chemical reaction with another atom, molecule or compound.
Chemical bond -the "glue" that attracts and keeps atoms held together due to sharing of each atom's electrons
Chemical change - the process in which one or more substances are changed into one or more new substances
Chemical property - property that can be observed only when a substance is changed into a new substance
Chemical reaction - the process in which one or more substances are changed into one or more new substances
Precipitate - the solid that is formed as a result of a precipitation reaction
Closed System - the reactants and products in the reaction that are contained to reduce error
Law of Conservation of Mass - states that the total amount of mass and energy in the universe is
conserved (does not change)
Products - materials present at the end of a reaction
Reactants - the starting materials in a reaction
Cell Processes, Digestion and Disease
Cells -Basic unit of life; smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of functioning
independently
Eukaryotic Cells -Cells that have a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus
Fuel -Something that gives nourishment; food
Molecule -The smallest physical unit of an element or compound, consisting of
one or more like atoms in an element and two or more different atoms in a compound
Organelle -A specialized subunit (cell organ) within a cell that has a specific function and
is usually separately enclosed with its own lipid layer
Prokaryotic Cells -Cells without a nucleus
Respiration -The process in which nutrients are converted into useful energy in a cell
Thermal Energy -The movement of atoms and molecules; portion of energy that is responsible for a
system's temperature
Alcohol -An organic compound that is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid that can be consumed by humans and in other forms used in thermometers, as a solvent, and as a fuel.
Dietary Habits -The decisions an individual makes when choosing what foods to eat
Digestion -Process by which food is broken up physically, by action of teeth, and chemically, by
action of enzymes, and converted into a substance suitable for absorption into the body.
Respiration -The process in which nutrients are converted into useful energy in a cell; process
where organisms take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide
Tobacco Product -processed from the leaves of a plant, it can be consumed, used as a drug,
pesticide, and in some medicines.
Toxic Substance-Any chemical or mixture that may be harmful to the environment and to human health if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin
Antibiotics- drug that kills bacteria and cures bacterial infections and diseases
Bacteria -domain of prokaryotes, some of which cause human diseases. Lacks a nucleus.
Disease- An abnormal functioning of the body or part of body, sometimes caused by infections.
Fungi -kingdom in the domain Eukarya that includes molds, mushrooms, and yeasts
Host Cell -Cell of species that is harmed in a parasitic relationship
Microbiology -The study of organisms which are too small to see without a microscope.
Parasite -Organism that forms symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other species is harmed
Prevention -Methods of reducing the likelihood of contracting a disease. Methods of prevention depend
on the organism that causes the disease.
Treatment -The response to a disease provided through medical professionals
Unicellular -An organism composed of one cell only
Virus -A particle that cannot independently reproduce yet contains genetic information and can evolve.
Viruses may cause disease in the host cell/organism
Antimicrobial -Describing a substance that kills microbes in an effort to prevent the spread of a disease
Epidemic -Occurs when the incidence rate of a disease is higher than expected in a certain area
Microbes -Microscopic organisms
Pandemic -An epidemic that spreads across a large area, like a continent
Pathogen -Disease causing organism; "germ"
Vector - Mechanisms or organisms (excluding humans) that spread diseases without showing symptoms
Biotechnology -The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful products. For thousands of years, humankind has used biotechnology in agriculture, food production and medicine
THE HYDROSPHERE
Adhesion – the tendency of water to stick to other substances
Buoyancy – the ability of a fluid to exert an upward force on an object that is immersed in the fluid
Capillary Action – the process that moves water through a narrow porous space
Cohesion – the attractive force between water molecules
Insoluble – not soluble; will not dissolve
Polarity – uneven distribution of charges across a molecule
Soluble – having the ability to be dissolved in another substance
Specific Heat – the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius; low specific heat means a substance will heat up quickly
Surface Tension – the force that acts on the particles at the surface of a material
Universal Solvent – the quality of water that makes it able to dissolve more substances than any other solvent can
Condensation – the process of warm air cooling as it rises and releasing moisture in the form of a liquid
Evaporation – the process by which a liquid is changed into a vapor from the surface by gaining energy
Groundwater - water located below Earth’s surface in aquifers
Hydrosphere -the portion of the Earth that contains water; all the water on the earth
Impermeable - does not allow water to move through
Infiltration - water that seeps into rocks and between particles of soil; see percolation
Percolation - the downward movement of water through pores and other spaces in soil due to gravity
Permeable - having pores or openings that allow water (or other liquids) to flow through them
Precipitation - the rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls from clouds onto the Earth’s land and oceans
Runoff - is precipitation that flows over land into streams and rivers. This water later enters oceans.
Surface Water - water found on the surface of the Earth
Transpiration - water vapor given off by plant photosynthesis via water vapor through the pores in the leaves (stomata)
Aquifer - an underground layer of rock or soil that holds water
Artesian Well - a well in which water rises because of pressure within aquifer from water above
Drought - a long period of scarce rainfall
Glaciers - a large mass of moving ice and snow on land
Hydrology - the study of water
Icecaps - a glacier forming on an extensive area of relatively level land and flowing outward from its center; ex. Greenland or Antarctica
Icebergs - a large floating mass of freshwater ice detached from a glacier
Reservoir - a man made lake that stores water for human use
River Basin - the region of land drained by a large river and its tributaries
Watershed - the land area that supplies water to a river system from smaller areas
Wetland - land area that is covered with a shallow layer of water during some or all of the year
Tides -the change in depth of the ocean due to the moon’s and sun’s gravitational pull of the water on
earth
Ocean Wave - a disturbance in ocean water caused by wind
Tsunami - a seismic sea wave
Surface Current - a circulation or movement of water due to the winds; warm or cool
Deep Current - an underwater circulation or movement of water due to changes in the water’s density
Abiotic Factor the non-living factors of the environment that an organism lives in.
Abyssal Plain - mostly flat portion of ocean floor which provides a home to a variety of unique organisms
that are adapted to the extreme conditions of this habitat.
Aphotic Zone or Deep Zone - lowest layer of the ocean, where light does not reach.
Benthos - organisms that live on or in the ocean floor.
Bioluminescence - the production of non-thermal light by creatures' converting chemical energy to
light energy to lure prey, attract a mate, or assist in keeping like species together. An estimated 75 percent of benthic creatures glow
Consumer - feed on other organisms (plant or animal) because they cannot make their own food, a
heterotroph
Continental Shelf - extends from the edge of the continent outward to where the bottom sharply drops
off into a steep slope.
Continental Slope - the steep incline between the continental shelf and the abyssal plain.
Ecosystem - a community of different but interdependent species and their non-living environment.
Estuary - body of water where a river meets the ocean
Fauna - animals
Flora - plants
Food Chain - a hierarchy of food relationships from the simplest to most complex
Habitat - the immediate space where an animal or plant lives and has food, water and protection.
Intertidal Zone - the area that lies between the low-tide and the high-tide line.
Mid-Ocean Ridge - a chain of undersea mountains that circles the earth through every ocean at diverging tectonic plate boundaries
Nekton - free-swimming organisms whose movements are independent of the tides, currents, and waves.
Neritic Zone - the first 200 meters (656 feet) of ocean water, which includes the seashore and most of the continental shelf.
Oceanic Zone - extends from 200 meters (656 feet) deep all the way down to the bottom of the ocean.
Ocean trench - the deepest parts of the ocean. The deepest one is the Marianas Trench (located in the South Pacific Ocean - almost 5 miles (8.05 kilometers) deep.
Photic Zone - the top layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, above 200 meters
Phytoplankton - the plant and algae component of the plankton; the primary producers of
most ocean food webs.
Producer - a living thing that produces its own food within itself, usually by using sunlight energy
in photosynthesis; an autotroph
Salinity - the amount of dissolved solids in seawater approximately 35 parts per thousand
Upwelling - the upward movement to the ocean surface of deeper, cold and usually nutrient-rich waters, especially along some shores, due to the offshore movement of surface waters
Echo sounder - a device used to determine depth by sound waves.
Oceanography - the study and exploration of the world's ocean.
ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) - unmanned submersible tethered to a mother ship and operated by pilots using a joy stick.
Scuba - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus - device that allows divers to breathe underwater for long periods of time.
SONAR - SOund NAvigation Ranging - used to measure ocean depth by sending sound to bounce off the ocean floor.
Submersible - a small submarine used to explore the ocean depths; equipped with windows, lights, mechanical arms, cameras and other scientific instruments capable of seeing and recording data.
Populations
Abiotic- are those non-living physical and chemical factors which affect the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce ex. Sunlight, temperature, soil or rocks, availability of water, pollutants
Biotic- all the living factors that impact an organism ex. Disease, parasitism, predation
Biome- a division based on climate, plants and animals; an environment that has a characteristic
type of climax community ex. Freshwater biome—all of the lake, pond, stream, & river communities on
Earth
Carrying Capacity- is the maximum number of organisms the resources of an ecosystem can
support. The carrying capacity of the environment is limited by the available abiotic and biotic resources (limiting factors), as well as the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organisms
through the activities of bacteria and fungi
Commensalism- a form of symbiosis in which one organism benefits and the other is not
harmed
Community- the living part of an ecosystem composed of many species
Competition- the type of interaction among organism s; the struggle to obtain needed resources of
food, water, shelter
Consumer- an organism that CANNOT make its own food
Decomposer-an organism that breaks down the bodies of dead organisms into simpler substances ex.
Bacteria & fungi
Dispersal- the movement of living things from one place to another
Ecosystem-a unit consisting of all the living and nonliving things in a given area that interact
with one another
Endangered- in danger of becoming extinct
Environment- all the living and nonliving things with which an organism may interact
Food Web- a diagram that show many overlapping food chains
Habitat- the place in which an organism lives and obtains the resources it needs to survive
Host- an organism that provides a home to another organism
Earth History
Absolute (radioactive) Dating - measurement of the known rates of decay of radioactive materials that an object contains in order to determine the age of the object
Index Fossil - fossil known to have lived in a particular geologic age that can be used to determine
the date of the rock layer in which it was found
Law of Superposition - states that in undisturbed rock layers that newer layer will be deposited over
older layers
Law of Crosscutting Relationships = states rock layers that cut across other rock layers
are younger than those they cut
Relative Dating - determining the age or order of things from the past or past events without
knowing or calculating the actual age
Sedimentary rock - rock formed by deposition of sand, clay and other pieces of rock that are compacted
together under pressure
Uranium - radioactive heavy metal that is an abundant source of nuclear energy that has 14 known
isotopes used in radioactive dating
Fault - fracture along which blocks of the Earth's crust that can be caused by the shifting or
dislodging of the Earth's crust. Types include normal, strike slip, or reverse
Fossils - remains or traces of animals, plants and other organisms from the past; usually at least
10000 years old
Geologic Time Scale = system of chronological measurement that relate to the history
of events in Earth's past, consisting of fossils and major events
Ice Core - a core sample of ice removed from a sheet of ice. Properties of the ice and the
crystallized components in the ice are used to reconstruct climatic record
Igneous rocks - type of rock formed under or above ground when magma or lava cools
Metamorphic rock - rock created from the transformation of other types of rock through heat and
pressure
Adaptation - an inherited mutation in an organism's DNA that provided an advantage for survival for a
species.
Biologic Change - change in an organism's genetic makeup, DNA, that occurs through natural
selection of advantageous traits for survival over an extended period of time.
Biological classification- the organization and identification of an organism from general to specific by identifying the organisms' Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus, and Species
Comparative anatomy -the analysis of body structures (body systems , skeletal systems) between two
or more different species that provides insight into the genetic/biologic similarities and differences across
species
Continental Plate - the crust that makes up the continents
Embryological similarities - likenesses in the embryonic stage of development between different species; evidence for evolution.
Extinction -the complete elimination (dying out) of a species due to the species inability to survive and therefore adapt to its environment.
Geographic Change - the change in a geographic area caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains
forming, and other natural phenomena.
Geologic Time Scale - timeline that illustrates Earth's past. This timeline includes the divisors of
the 4.6 billion years of Earth's geologic and biologic existence, and divides time into eons, eras, periods, and epochs. The divisions of the time scale are based on major events that have caused major geologic or biologic change throughout history, such as mass extinctions.
Geology - the study of the rocks, processes, and history of Earth
Homologous Body Structures - Similar body structures and systems between different
species; evidence for biologic evolution
Oceanic Plate - the part of Earth's crust that underlies the oceans
Plate Tectonics -the Earth's lithosphere is broken into major and minor plates of continental or
oceanic crust that are in constant motion due to their position above the convection currents of the asthenosphere. The movement of the tectonic plates is responsible for geologic and subsequent biologic change over time.
Theory of Evolution- the theory that organisms/species change over time, caused by the natural selection of advantageous traits for survival in a particular environment. This theory
also proposes that all organisms evolved from a common ancestor.
Adaptation - a beneficial trait that helps an organism survive in its environment.
Genetic Variation - the characteristics that make members of the same species different from one
another.
Variations - are the different forms of a trait.
Genotype - the genetic makeup of a cell or organism; defined by certain alleles for a particular
trait.
Offspring - a child or animal in relation to its parent or parents.
Phenotype - the physical appearance that is a result of the genotype.
Natural Selection - explanation of how organisms in a population develop traits that allow them to survive and reproduce