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Vocabulary words
169
Science
12th Grade
06/08/2010

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Term
Investigation
Definition
A searching inquiry for ascerting facts detailed or careful examination.
Term

Conservation

 

Definition
The protection of the enviorment from the effects of pollution and human activity.
Term
Scientific Method
Definition
A method of research in which a problem is identified.
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
An educated guess that can be tested or investigated.
Term
Data
Definition
A group of measurments facts or statistics.
Term
Inference
Definition
The process of arriving at some conclusion.
Term
Model
Definition
A simplified representation of a system or phenomenom as in science or economics.
Term
Theory
Definition
A general priciple that explains orr predicts facts or events
Term
Eukaryotic Cell
Definition
A cell with a true nucleus; a cell with a nuclear membrane and organelles.
Term
Organelle
Definition
A special part of a cell having some specific function.
Term
Nucleus
Definition
The central part of an atom, which makes up 99.9%of the atoms mess.
Term
Prokayotic cell
Definition
A cell lacking a true membrane bound nucleus.
Term
Cell Membrane
Definition
The semipermable membrane enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell.
Term
Ribosome
Definition
A tiny, somewhat mitten shaped organelle accuming in great numbers.
Term
Cell wall
Definition
The wall that is part of the outer structure of centrum cells.
Term
Endoplasmic reticulum
Definition
is an eukaryotic organelle that forms an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles, and cisternae within cells
Term
Golgi apparatus
Definition
The Golgi apparatus (also Golgi body) is an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells.
Term
Mitochondria
Definition
is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells.
Term
Vacuoles
Definition
A vacuole is a membrane bound organelle which is present in all plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal and bacterial cells.
Term
Lysosomes
Definition
 an organelle found in the cytoplasm of most cells (especially in leukocytes and liver and kidney cells)
Term
Chloroplasts
Definition
are organelles found in plant cells and other eukaryotic organisms that conduct photosynthesis
Term
Chromosomes
Definition
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein that is found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes,
Term
Homeostasis
Definition
metabolic equilibrium actively maintained by several complex biological mechanisms that operate via the autonomic nervous system to offset disrupting changes
Term
Endocytosis
Definition
Endocytosis is the process by which cells absorb molecules (such as proteins) from outside the cell by engulfing it with their cell membrane.
Term
Exocytosis
Definition
infiltration of the epidermis by inflammatory or circulating blood cells
Term
Diffusion
Definition
the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration
Term
Passive transport
Definition
means moving biochemicals and atomic or molecular substances across the cell membrane.
Term
Selectively permeable
Definition
the characteristic of allowing only certain substances from the outside environment to enter the cell.
Term
Osmosis
Definition
diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equal
Term
Facilitated diffusion
Definition
movement of specific molecules across cell membranes through protein channels
Term
Active transport
Definition
active transport involves the transportation of things from a region of lower concentration to a higher concentration.
Term
Protein synthesis
Definition
Protein synthesis is the process in which cells build proteins.
Term
Photosynthesis
Definition
is a process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. ...
Term
Glucose
Definition
a monosaccharide sugar that has several forms; an important source of physiological energy
Term
 Autotroph
Definition
An autotroph is an organism that produces complex organic compounds (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) from simple inorganic molecules using energy from light (by photosynthesis) or inorganic chemical reactions
Term
Heterotrophs
Definition
An organism that requires organic substrates to get its carbon for growth and development.
Term
Stomata
Definition
is a pore, found in the leaf and stem epidermis that is used for gas exchange.
Term
Chlorophyll
Definition
any of a group of green pigments found in photosynthetic organisms; there are four naturally occurring forms
Term
Cellular respiration
Definition
respiration: the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules
Term
Adenosine triphosphate
Definition
a nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue; the major source of energy for cellular reactions
Term
Glycolysis
Definition
The cellular degradation of the simple sugar glucose to yield pyruvic acid, and ATP as an energy source
Term
Krebs cycle
Definition
in all plants and animals: a series of enzymatic reactions in mitochondria involving oxidative metabolism of acetyl compounds to produce high-energy phosphate compounds that are the source of cellular energy
Term
Pyruvate
Definition
Pyruvate is formed when sugar is broken down for energy in the presence of oxygen (aerobic metabolism).
Term
Electron transport chain
Definition
An electron transport chain (ETC) couples a chemical reaction between an electron donor (such as NADH) and an electron acceptor (such as O2) to the transfer of H+ ions across a membrane, through a set of mediating biochemical reactions
Term
Fermentation
Definition
Fermentation is the process of deriving energy from the oxidation of organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, and using an endogenous electron acceptor, which is usually an organic compound, as opposed to Respiration where electrons are donated to an exogenous electron acceptor, such as oxygen
Term
Lactic acid fermentation
Definition
Lactic acid fermentation is a biological process by which sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, are converted into cellular energy and the metabolic byproduct lactate.
Term
Alcohol fermentation
Definition
Ethanol fermentation, also referred to as alcoholic fermentation, is a biological process in which sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose are converted into cellular energy and thereby produce ethanol
Term
Flora
Definition
vegetation: all the plant life in a particular region or period
Term
Bacteria
Definition
single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission; important as pathogens and for biochemical properties; taxonomy is difficult; often considered to be plants
Term
Pathogens
Definition
any disease-producing agent (especially a virus or bacterium or other microorganism)
Term
Biomass
Definition
Biomass, a renewable energy source, is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms, such as wood, waste, and alcohol fuels.
Term
Virus
Definition
ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein
Term
Biological Evolution
Definition
In biology, evolution is the change in the inherited traits of a population of organisms through successive generations.
Term
Fossil Record
Definition
are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past. ...
Term
Divergent evolution
Definition
Divergent evolution is the accumulation of differences between groups which can lead to the formation of new species, usually a result of diffusion of the same species adapting to different environments, leading to natural selection defining the success of specific mutations.
Term
Analogous structures
Definition
Two structures in biology are said to be analogous if they perform the same or similar function by a similar mechanism but evolved separately.
Term
Homologous structures
Definition
In evolutionary biology, homology refers to any similarity between characteristics of organisms that is due to their shared ancestry.
Term
Adaptations
Definition
Adaptation is the evolutionary process whereby a population becomes better suited to its habitat.
Term
Natural selection
Definition
is the process by which heritable traits that make it more likely for an organism to survive and successfully reproduce become more common in a population over successive generations.
Term
Speciation
Definition
is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise
Term
Adaptive radiation
Definition
the development of many different forms from an originally homogeneous group of organisms as they fill different ecological niches
Term
Extinction
Definition
no longer in existence; "the extinction of a species"
Term
Classification
Definition
is a method by which biologists group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species.
Term
Hierarchical classification system
Definition
a classification system where entries are arranged based on some hierarchical structure
Term
Kingdom
Definition
the highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped; one of five biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia
Term
Species
Definition
taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
Term

Genus

 

Definition
a rank in the classification of organisms, below family and above species; a taxon at that rank;
Term
Angiosperms
Definition
A large group of flowering plants that includes deciduous trees, therefore all hardwoods, but not pine trees.
Term
Perennials
Definition
is a plant that lives for more than two years.
Term
Annual plants
Definition
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed.
Term
Nastic movements
Definition
The movement can be due to changes in turgor or changes in growth
Term
Phototropism
Definition
A phenomenon describing the tendency of African Violets and other plants to bend toward the light.
Term
Thigmotropism
Definition
Thigmotropism is a movement in which an organism moves or grows in response to touch or contact stimuli.
Term
Herbivores
Definition
any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants; "horses are herbivores"; "the sauropod dinosaurs were apparently herbivores"
Term
Food chain
Definition
a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member
Term
Food web
Definition
a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains
Term
Trophic levels
Definition
 A food chain represents a succession of organisms that eat another organism and are, in turn, eaten themselves. ...
Term
Density
Definition
A measure of the amount of matter contained by a given volume
Term
Cohesion
Definition
the process in some plants of parts growing together that are usually separate
Term
Surface tension
Definition
Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid.
Term
 Adhesion
Definition
abnormal union of bodily tissues; most common in the abdomen
Term
Capillary action
Definition
a phenomenon associated with surface tension and resulting in the elevation or depression of liquids in capillaries
Term
Viscosity
Definition
resistance of a liquid to shear forces
Term
Buoyancy
Definition
the tendency to float in water or other liquid
Term
Archimedes principle
Definition
In physics, buoyancy is the upward force, caused by fluid pressure, that keeps things afloat.
Term
Semimetals
Definition
 electronic band theory, solids can be classified as insulators, semiconductors, semimetals, or metals.
Term
Atomic radius
Definition
The atomic radius of a chemical element is a measure of the size of its atoms
Term
Ionization energy
Definition
is most commonly used to refer to the energy required to remove (to infinity) the outermost electron in the atom or molecule when the gas atom or molecule is isolated in free space and is in its ground electronic state.
Term
Shielding effect
Definition
The effective nuclear charge, is the net positive charge experienced by an electron in a multi-electron atom.
Term
Electron affinity
Definition
The Electron affinity of a molecule or atom is the energy change when an electron is added to the neutral species to form a negative ion.
Term
 Electronegativity
Definition
the tendency of an atom or radical to attract electrons in the formation of an ionic bond
Term
Ionic bond
Definition
An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond that involves a metal and a nonmetal ion (or polyatomic ions such as ammonium) through electrostatic attraction.
Term
Covalent bond
Definition
a chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
Term
Metallic bond
Definition
a chemical bond in which electrons are shared over many nuclei and electronic conduction occurs
Term
Chemical change
Definition
In a chemical change, bonds are broken and new bonds are formed between different atoms. This breaking and forming of bonds takes place when particles of the original materials collide with one another.
Term
Precipitate
Definition
separate as a fine suspension of solid particles
Term
Oxidation
Definition
the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons
Term
Chemical property
Definition
A chemical property is any of a material's properties that becomes evident during a chemical reaction; that is, any quality that can be established only by changing a substance's chemical identity.
Term
Chemical reaction
Definition
 is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another
Term
Mole
Definition
  • gram molecule: the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams; the basic unit of amount of substance adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
  • Term
    Activation energy
    Definition
    catalysts are said to reduce the energy of activation during the transition phase of a reaction"
    Term
    Endergonic reaction
    Definition
    In chemical thermodynamics, an endergonic reaction (also called an unfavorable reaction or a nonspontaneous reaction) is a chemical reaction in which the standard change in free energy is positive, and energy is absorbed.
    Term

    Exergonic reaction

    Definition

    a reaction that is thermodynamically favorable and will occur spontaneously.

    Term
     Ionic dissociation
    Definition
    Dissociation in chemistry and biochemistry is a general process in which ionic compounds (complexes, or salts) separate or split into smaller particles, ions, or radicals, usually in a reversible manner.
    Term
    Ionization
    Definition
    the process of ionizing; the formation of ions by separating atoms or molecules or radicals or by adding or subtracting electrons from atoms by strong electric fields in a gas
    Term
    Solubility
    Definition
    the quantity of a particular substance that can dissolve in a particular solvent (yielding a saturated solution)
    Term
    Saturated solution
    Definition
    a solution in which the solvent can dissolve no more of a specific solute at a particular temperature
    Term
    Concentration
    Definition
    the strength of a solution; number of molecules of a substance in a given volume
    Term
     Molarity
    Definition
    concentration measured by the number of moles of solute per liter of solution
    Term
    Acid
    Definition
    any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
    Term
    Base
    Definition
    nucleotide: a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)
    Term
    pH
    Definition
    is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
    Term
    Neutralization
    Definition
    a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water
    Term
    Electrolyte
    Definition
    a solution that conducts electricity; "the proper amount and distribution of electrolytes in the body is essential for health"
    Term
    Motion
    Definition
    a state of change; "they were in a state of steady motion
    Term
    Speed
    Definition
    distance travelled per unit time
    Term
    Velocity
    Definition
    velocity is the rate of change of position. It is a vector physical quantity; both speed and direction are required to define it.
    Term
    Newton's first law of motion
    Definition
    a body remains at rest or in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force
    Term
    Force
    Definition
    the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity
    Term
    Inertia
    Definition
    is the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion
    Term
    Mass
    Definition
    the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
    Term
    Acceleration
    Definition
    an increase in rate of change; "modern science caused an acceleration of cultural change"
    Term
    Net force
    Definition
    A net force, Fnet = F1 + F2 + … (also known as a resultant force) is a vector produced when two or more forces { F1, F2, … } act upon a single object. on it calculated by vector addition of the force vectors acting upon the object
    Term
    Newton's second law of motion
    Definition
    second law of motion: the rate of change of momentum is proportional to the imposed force and goes in the direction of the force
    Term
    Friction
    Definition
    the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
    Term
     Gravity
    Definition
    (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface; "the more remote the body the less the gravity"; "the gravitation between two bodies is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely
    Term
    Weight
    Definition
    the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
    Term
    Projectile
    Definition
    A projectile is any object propelled through space by the exertion of a force which ceases after launch.
    Term
    Centripetal force
    Definition
    the inward force on a body moving in a curved path around another body
    Term
    Newtons third law of motion
    Definition
    Newton's laws of motion are three physical laws that form the basis for classical mechanics. They have been expressed in several different ways over nearly three centuries, and can be summarised as follows: # In the absence of a net force, the center of mass of a body either is at rest or moves
    Term
    Momentum
    Definition
    the product of a body's mass and its velocity; "the momentum of the particles was deduced from meteoritic velocities"
    Term
    Conservation of momentum
    Definition
    the principle that the total linear momentum in a closed system is constant and is not affected by processes occurring inside the system
    Term

    Work

     

    Definition
    function: perform as expected when applied
    Term
    Potential energy
    Definition
    the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its position; stored energy
    Term
    Kinetic energy
    Definition
    The kinetic energy of an object is the extra energy which it possesses due to its motion
    Term
    Power
    Definition
    the rate of doing work; measured in watts
    Term
    Efficiency
    Definition
    the ratio of the output to the input of any system
    Term
    Machine
    Definition
    any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
    Term
    Resistance force
    Definition
    In physics, resistance force is the force which an effort force must overcome in order to do work on an object. Resistance force, like most other forces, is measured in newtons or in pounds-force.
    Term
    Mechanical advantage
    Definition
    the ratio of the force exerted by a machine to the force applied to it
    Term

    Reflection

     

    Definition
    the phenomenon of a propagating wave (light or sound) being thrown back from a surface
    Term
    Refraction
    Definition
    the change in direction of a propagating wave (light or sound) when passing from one medium to another
    Term
    Principle of superposition
    Definition
    the displacement of any point due to the superposition of wave systems is equal to the sum of the displacements of the individual waves at that point; "the principle of superposition is the basis of the wave theory of light"
    Term
    Interference
    Definition
    electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication
    Term
    Standing wave
    Definition
    a wave (as a sound wave in a chamber or an electromagnetic wave in a transmission line) in which the ratio of its instantaneous amplitude at one point to that at any other point does not vary with time
    Term
    Resonance
    Definition
    an excited state of a stable particle causing a sharp maximum in the probability of absorption of electromagnetic radiation
    Term
    Electromagnetic wave
    Definition
    radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge
    Term
    Sound wave
    Definition
    the longitudinal wave of pressure that is transmitted through any plastic material; audible sound
    Term
    Thermal energy
    Definition
    In thermodynamics, the internal energy of a thermodynamic system, or a body with well-defined boundaries, denoted by U, or sometimes E, is the total of the kinetic energy due to the motion of particles (translational, rotational, vibrational) and the potential energy associated
    Term
    Heat
    Definition
     a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
    Term
    Conduction
    Definition
    In heat transfer, conduction (or heat conduction) is the transfer of thermal energy between neighboring molecules in a substance due to a temperature gradient.
    Term
    Convection
    Definition
    the transfer of heat through a fluid (liquid or gas) caused by molecular motion
    Term
    Thermal radiation
    Definition
    Thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation emitted from a material which is due to the heat of the material, the characteristics of which depend on its temperature
    Term
    Specific heat
    Definition
    the heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree centigrade
    Term
    Heat engine
    Definition
    any engine that makes use of heat to do work
    Term
    First law of thermodynamics
    Definition
    conservation of energy: the fundamental principle of physics that the total energy of an isolated system is constant despite internal changes
    Term
    Second law of thermodynamics
    Definition
     law stating that mechanical work can be derived from a body only when that body interacts with another at a lower temperature; any spontaneous process results in an increase of entropy
    Term
    Accuracy vs. Precision
    Definition
    If the actual value is 5.321 and you say that it is 5.30, then you are precise to 3 places but inaccurate by .021. If a value is represented as a bullseye on a target, a group of guesses or measurements represented by closely grouped points have a high degree of precision.
    Term
    Meniscus
    Definition
    the curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a vertical tube
    Term
    Replication
    Definition
    the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division
    Term
    Transcription
    Definition
    the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA
    Term
    Transition
    Definition
     an event that results in a transformation
    Term
    Commensalism
    Definition
    the relation between two different kinds of organisms when one receives benefits from the other without damaging it
    Term
    Fossil fuels
    Definition
    Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural resources such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms.
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