Unit 1
1. Science - the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations.
2. observation - using one or more of your sense to gather information and take note of what occurs.
3. inference – a logical explanation of an observance that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience.
4. hypothesis – a possible explanation about an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations
5. prediction – a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events
6. technology – the practical use of scientific knowledge, especially for industrial or commercial use
7. scientific theory – an explanation of observations or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations
8. scientific law- describes a pattern or an event in nature that is always true
9. critical thinking – comparing what you already know with the information you are given in order to decide whether you agree with it
10. variable – any factor in an experiment that can have more than one value.
11. dependent variable – the factor measured or observed during an experiment.
12. independent variable – the factor that you want to test.
13. constants – the factors in an experiment that remain the same
Unit 2
14. phloem- the vascular tissue in most plants that transport materials through the plant.
15. photosynthesis – a series of chemical reactions that convert light energy , water and carbon dioxide, into the food-energy molecule glucose and give off energy.
16. epidermal cells – the flat cells that make up the top and bottom layers of a leaf
17. stoma – small openings on the bottom epidermal layer of most leaves that carbon dioxide, water vapor, and oxygen pass through.
18. chloroplast- a membrane-bound organelle that uses light and makes food – a sugar called glucose- from water and carbon dioxide in a process known as photosynthesis.
19. chlorophyll - a green pigment, present in the chloroplasts of all green plants, that absorbs light to provide energy for photosynthesis.
20. carbon dioxide - a colorless, odorless gas made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. It is naturally present in air (about 0.03 percent) and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.
21. glucose - Organic compound, a simplesugar, chemical formula CHO. The product of photosynthesis inplants, it is found in fruits and honey.
22. cellular respiration – a series of chemical reactions that convert the energy in food molecules into a usable form of energy called ATP
23. ATP - An energy-bearing molecule that is composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus atoms.
24. transpiration – the process by which water is lost by the leaves
25. trophic level – the energy levels or steps in a food chain or food web
26. producer – an organism that can produce its own food internally
27. consumer – an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms
28. decomposer – an organism that breaks down the large molecules of food , dead animals, animal body waste, etc to make fresh soil
29. saprotroph – An organism that feeds on or gets nourishment from decaying organic matter
Unit 3
30. Cycle – something that repeats over and over again.
31. water cycle – water continually cycles from the Earth to its atmosphere and back again. This movement is called the water cycle. It involves the processes of evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
32. evaporation – the process in which piqued water changes into a gas
33. condensation – the process in which water vapor changes into liquid water
34. precipitation – water that falls from the sky to the Earth’s surface including rain, sleet, snow and hail
35. nitrogen cycle – the series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are converted in the environment and living organisms, including nitrogen fixation and decomposition
36. nitrogen fixation – the process that changes atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds that are useable by living things. Certain bacteria and soil carry out nitrogen fixation.
37. chemosynthesis – the process during which producers use chemical energy in matter rather that to make food.
38. producer – organisms that internally make their own food. Most producers are photosynthetic but some are chemosynthetic.
39. consumer- organisms that get the energy they need by consuming other organisms. There are four different types of consumers; herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores.
40. herbivore – a consumer that only eats plants
41. carnivore – a consumer that only eats other animals
42. omnivore – a consumer that eats both plants and animals
43. detritivores ( decomposer) – a consumer that feeds only on the decaying remains of other organism
44. food chain – model that shows how energy flows in an ecosystem through feeding relationships
45. food web – a model of energy transfer that scientists use to show how food chains in a community are connected
46. energy pyramid – a model that shows the amount of energy available in each step of a food chain. The steps are called trophic levels.
47. force – the overall force on an object when all the individual forces acting on an object are added together
48. unbalanced forces – a nonzero net force that changes an object’s motion
49. Balanced forces – equal forces acting on an object in opposite directions
50. Inertia – the tendency of a moving object to continue in a straight line or of a stationary object to remain in place
51. Newton – a unit of measure that equals the force required to accelerate one kilogram of mass at a rate of one meter per second per second.
52. Friction – a force that one surface exerts on another when the two rub against each other.
53. Sliding friction - friction that occurs when one solid surface slides over another.
54. Rolling friction – the friction that occurs when an object rolls over a surface.
55. Fluid friction – the friction that occurs as an object moves through a fluid
56. Gravity – a force that pulls objects toward each other.
57. Free fall – the motion of a falling object when the only force acting on it is gravity.
58. Projectile – an object that is thrown
59. Air resistance – the fluid friction experienced by objects falling through the air.
60. Terminal velocity – the maximum velocity a falling object achieves.
61. convection - the circulation of rising, less dense, warm air, and sinking, more dense cool air
62. evaporation – the process of a liquid , such as water, changing into a gas, such as water vapor
63. condensation- the process of water vapor gas changing into liquid water
64. humidity – the amount of water vapor in the air
65. precipitation – liquid or solid water that falls from clouds to Earth’s surface
66. thunderstorm – a weather event that includes rain, strong winds, thunder and lightening
67. lightening- is electrically discharged within a cloud , between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground
68. tornado – a violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground
69. hurricane – an intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 119 km/h
70. storm surge - as a hurricane approaches land, its wind can push ocean water
higher along the coast creating storm surge
71. drought – a period of below average precipitation in an area that can last for months or years
72. ecoregion – a large area of land that has a distinct group of plants, animals and other species
73. climate – the long term weather conditions in an area
74. ground water – precipitation that soaks into the cracks and pores beneath Earth’s surface
75. surface water – the water that fills lakes and rivers
76. watershed – an area of the land where all the runoff drains to the same body of water
77. erosion – the process of moving weathered material from one location to another
78. deposition – as water slows down, eroded material is laid down and settles in a new place
93. equilibrium – as state in which opposing forces in a system are equally balanced or stable
94. Ecological Succession – the changing sequence of communities that live in an ecosystem during a given period of time
95. Primary succession – the changes that occur in an area over time where no ecosystem existed before
96. Secondary succession – the changes that occur after a disturbance in an ecosystem
97. Biodiversity – variety of organisms that live in an ecosystem or biome
98. Species - a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
99. Pioneer species – the first species to populate an area
100. Keystone species – a species that influences the survival of many other species in that area
101. population - A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time (e.g. deer population)
102. Climax community – a community of plants and animals that has reached equilibrium because the species have adapted to conditions in that region
103. Limiting factor – things that prevent a population from growing any larger; like climate, elevation, food supply, water supply
104. Microhabitat – a small localized habitat within a larger ecosystem that has specific living conditions that sustain a limited range of animals
105. Interaction – relationships between members of an ecological community
106. Ecosystem – a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
107. Biome – a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat
108. Niche – The role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem.
109. habitat-the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
110. Biotic – living things in an ecosystem; animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists
111. abiotic- non-living things in an ecosystem; water, soil, rocks, minerals, and air
112. Sustainability – ability to maintain ecological processes over long periods of time; ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time
113. Natural environment – all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth.
114. cell- The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism
115. Tissue- Groups of similar cells that work together to carry out specific tasks
116. Organ- Groups of tissues made of similar cells that work together to perform a particular job
117. Organ system – groups of organs that work together to complete a series of tasks
118. organism – multicellular beings that have many organ systems that work together to perform all the jobs that are necessary for survival of the organism
119. cell membrane- the outer layer that surrounds a cell, letting substances in — or keeping them out.
120. cell wall- the protective, semi-permeable outer layer of a plantcell
121. nucleus - a cell structure that contains hereditary information, or DNA, and controls cellular growth and reproduction.
122. cytoplasm - the clear, gel-like substance outside the nucleus of the cell of plants and animals
123. mitochondria - an organelle in the cytoplasm of cells that functions in energy production.
124. chloroplast - part of a plant that has chlorophyll and conducts photosynthesis
125. vacuole - a fluid-filled cavity within the cytoplasm of a cell, surrounded by a membrane that usually encloses food, water, or air.
126. skeletal system – body system that consists of 206 bones, joints and connective tissue, that provide structure, shape and support of your body
127. vertebra – 26 small bones that make up your spine
128. cartilage – connective tissue that is more flexible thatn bone
129. joint – a place in your body where two bones come together
130. moveable joint – joints that allow for a range of motion
131. ball and socket – joints that allow for greatest range of motion; found in shoulder and hip
132. pivot joint – allows one bone to rotate around another bone; found in neck
133. gliding joint – allows one bone to slide over another; found in the wrists and ankles
134. hinge joint – allows for extensive forward and backward motion like a door hinge; found in the knees and elbows
135. ligaments – strong connective tissue that hold moveable joints together
136. bone marrow – soft connective tissue in the spaces of bone that stores fat that serves as energy reserve; red marrow is where blood cells are made
137. Involuntary muscle- Not under your conscious control; used for actions like digestion and your heartbeat.
138. Voluntary muscle- Muscles that you have control over; used in movement.
139. Cardiac muscle – the heart muscle; has characteristics of smooth muscle (it is involuntary) and skeletal muscle (it is striated or striped). It is unlike skeletal muscle because it never tires out.
140. Smooth muscle – Muscles that are found in the inside of many internal organs and blood vessels; they are involuntary muscles.