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202 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Adrenaline
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A hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla; also called apinephrine.
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Algae
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Simple plants containing chlorophyll.
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Amino Acid
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An organic compound containing an amino and a carboxyl group; the building blocks of proteins.
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Amphibians
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A class of vertebrates capable of living both in water and on land. The larval forms have gills and the adults have lungs; includes frogs and toads.
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Angiosperms
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The class of flowering plants, with seeds inclosed in fruit.
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Antibiotic
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A substance that destroys a microorganism or inhibits its growth.
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Antibody
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A substance produced by the body to combat the injurious effect of a foreign substance (antigen).
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Aorta
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The main artery leaving the heart.
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Arachnids
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A class of arthropods with no antennae and four pairs of legs; includes spirders, scorpions, ticks, mites, and king crabs.
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Arthropods
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The phylum of segmented invertebrates with joined appendages and an extoskeleton
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Bacteria
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Unicellular organisms without a distinct nucleus and usually without chlorophyll
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Bile
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A yellowish-green fluid that helps in the digestion of fats.
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Budding
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Asexual reproduction by the splitting of a new organism from the parent.
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Capillary
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The smallest blood vessel that carries blood between an artery and a vein
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Carbon cycle
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The exchange of carbon between living things and their environment.
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Cell
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The basic unit of organic structure and life.
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Cellulose
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The woody tissue of plants.
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Chordates
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The phylum characterized by a spinal chord; includes the vertebrates.
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Chromosome
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A body in the cell nucleus that is the bearer of genetic information.
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Cross-pollination
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The transfer of pollen from one plant to a flower on another plant
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Crustaceans
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Arthropods with gills and two pairs of antennae like lobsters and crabs.
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Cytoplasm
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The substance of the cell outside the nucleus.
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DNA
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The compound in the chromosomes that stores genetic information as a molecular code.
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Dominant
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The one of two alternative genetic traits that is displayed in a heterozygous individual.
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Ecology
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The study of organisms and their environment.
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Embryo
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An organisms in the early stages of development.
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Enzyme
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A protein that serves as an organic catalyst for metabolic reactions.
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Evolution
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The modification of life forms with the passage of time.
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Exoskeleton
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A hard, jointed case outside the fleshy tissues of an animal.
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Fertilization
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The union of gametes to form a zygote.
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Fossil
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Any naturally preserved remains of ancient life.
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Fungi
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Plants that lack chlorophyll; molds, mushrooms and yeasts.
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Gamete
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A sex cell.
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Gene
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A unit of heredity located on the chromosome.
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Germination
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The sprouting of a seed.
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Gymnosperms
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A class of vascular plants bearing seeds in cones.
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Homology
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The similarity of body structures of different organisms, due to common ancestry; the structures may not have the same function. A bat's wing is homologous to a squirrel's foreleg.
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Hormone
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A chemical substance that regulates body processes.
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Insulin
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A hormone produced by the pancreas, which regulates the body's utilization of sugar.
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Mammals
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A class of warmblooded vertebrates possessing hair and feeding their young milk by means of mammary glands.
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Meiosis
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The mode of cell division that produces gametes, each with one half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.
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Metabolism
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The chemical processes within an organism.
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Mitosis
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Cell division with chromosome duplication, forming offspring cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell; cell splitting.
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Mutation
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An inheritable change in a gene.
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Natural selection
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The survival of the best-adapted organism.
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Nucleus
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The central part of a cell, containing the chromosomes and controlling cellular activities.
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Organ
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A group of cells or tissues functioning as a whole.
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Ovum
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An egg; a female gamete.
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Parasite
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An organism that lives in or on another organism, deriving food at the expense of its host.
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Pasteurization
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The killing of microorganisms in milk by heating it to 145 degrees for 30 minutes.
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Photosynthesis
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The production of carbohydrates by green plants in the presense of light.
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Phylum
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A major group of animals or plants; the main division of a kingdom
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Plasma
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The liquid part of the blood.
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Pollination
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Fertilization by the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma.
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Protein
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An organic compound made up of amino acids.
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Protoplasm
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A general term for the living matter of the cell.
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Recessive
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The one of two alternative genetic traits that is masked in a heteroxygous individual.
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Respiration
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Biological oxidation.
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RNA
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A substance in the cell with the function of making proteins.
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Sexual
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Reproduction involving the union of an egg and sperm.
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Symbiosis
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The close living association of organisms of different species in which both benefit.
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Taxonomy
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The classification of organisms.
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Trait
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An inherited characteristic.
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Transpiration
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The evaporation of water from plants.
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Tropism
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A growth movement in a plant in response to an environmental stimulus.
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Vaccine
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A fluid contraining dead disease germs injected into an animal to produce immunity.
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Vertebrates
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Chordates characterized by a well-developed brain, a backbone, and usually two pairs of limbs; includes the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
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Alluvium
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Loose sediment deposited by a stream.
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Aquifer
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A bed of rock permeable to underground water.
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Atmosphereic pressure
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The pressure exerted by the weight of the air lying directly above the area; at sea level, about 15 pounds per square inch.
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Basalt
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An igneous rock formed from lava.
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Cloud
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A collection of tiny water or ice droplets sufficiently numerous to be seen.
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Coal
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A rock composed of partly decayed and compressed plant material.
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Conglomerate
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A sedimentary rock consisting of pebbles cemented together.
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Continental drift
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The hypothesis of continents moving laterally.
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Crust
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The thin outer zone of the earth above the mantle.
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Cyclone
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A low pressure area around which winds blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Delta
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A triangular deposite of sediment at the mouth of a river.
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Erosion
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The removal of rock debris by water, ice and wind.
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Evaporation
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The process by which a liquid changes to a gas; specifically, when water changes to water vapor.
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Extrusive
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Igneous rock of volcanic origin.
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Fault
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A planar break in rock along which displacement has occured.
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Fold
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Bent or warped rock layers.
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Front
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The boundary between two air masses of different temperature; a common site for cloud formation and precipitation.
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Geothermal energy
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Heat obtained from hot water or steam within the earth.
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Igneous
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Rock formed by the solidification of molten rock material.
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Intrusive
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Igneous rock crystallized beneath the surface of the earth.
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Karst
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Pitted topography due to solution of limestone.
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Laterite
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Iron rich soil caused by tropical weathering.
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Lava
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Molten rock extruded from a volcano.
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Limestone
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Sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate.
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Lithification
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The process by which sediments are consolidated into sedimentary rock.
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Lithology
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Rock type.
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Magma
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Molten rock within the earth.
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Mantle
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The zone of the earth between the core and the crust.
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Metamorphic
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Rock formed by the transformation, under high temperature and pressure, of older sedimentary or igneous rock.
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Mineral
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A naturally occuring inorganic chemical compound.
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Palentology
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The science of fossil life.
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Permafrost
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Ground that is frozen throughout the year.
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Petroleum
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A liquid fuel from the transformation of plant and animal remains.
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Plutonic
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Igneous rock that has crystallized beneath the earth's surface, as opposed to volcanic rock.
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Precipitation
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Any form of water, whether liquid or solid particles, that falls from the atmosphere; rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
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Rainbow
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A circular arc of colored bands produced by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by a sheet of raindrops. The sun must be behind the observer.
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Sedimentary
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Rock formed by the deposition at the earth's surface.
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Specific gravity
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Relative density; the density of a substance divided by the density of water, which therefore has a specific gravity of 1.
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Stalactite
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A cone of calcareous rock hanging from the roof of a cavern.
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Stalagmite
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A pillar of calcareous rock rising from the floor of a cavern.
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Strata
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Layers of sedimentary rock; the singular is stratum.
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Stratosphere
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The atmosphere shell above the troposhere; the stratosphere extends from 6 to 30 miles above the earth's surface.
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Syncline
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The trough of a rock fold.
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Tectonic
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Refers to movements of the earth's crust.
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Troposphere
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the lowest six miles of the atmosphere, characterized by temperature decreasing with height.
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Water Table
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The upper limit of groundwater, below which all pores in the rocks are filled with water.
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Weathering
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The physical and chemical destruction of rock by the atmosphere.
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Acid
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A compound that yields hydrogen ions in solution.
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Alloy
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A metal composed of two or more metallic elements.
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Atom
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The smalled particle of matter that cannot be subdivided by chemical reactions.
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Atomic number
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The number of protons in an atomic nucleus; the different chemical elements have different atomic numbers.
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Base
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A compound that yields hydroxyl ions in solution.
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Boyle's law
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The volume of a gas varies inversely with pressure.
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Carbon dioxide
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CO2 is a colorless, noncombustible gas under normal conditions.
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Catalyst
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A substance that accelerates a chemical reaction, without itself being a reactant.
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Charles' law
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The volume of a gas varies directly with temperature.
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Combustion
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Rapid oxidation that releases heat and light.
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Compound
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A substance formed by the chemical union of several chemical elements.
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Decomposition
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A chemical reaction in which a compound is broken down into simpler compounds or elements.
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Density
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Mass per unit volume of a substance.
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Diffusion
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The mixing of different substances, commonly in a liquid or gas.
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Distillation
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The process of purification in which an impure substance is heated vapors, which are collected and condensed.
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Electron
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A negatively charged, subatomic particle; electrons form a cloud around the atomic nucleus. Electron movement constitutes electrical current.
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Element
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A substance that cannot be decomposed to simpler substances.
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Evaporation
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A change in state from a solid or liquid to gas.
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Freezing point
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the temperature at which a liquid changes to a solid.
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Hydrocarbons
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Compounds of carbon and hydrogen.
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Hydrolisis
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Chemical decomposition of a compound by reaction with water.
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Ion
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A charged atom or group of atoms formed by the gain or loss of electrons.
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Isotope
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Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and show the same chemical behavior, but they differ in the number of nuclear neutrons and thus in a atomic weight; isotopes may be stable or radioactive.
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Litmus
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Paper that turns red in acid and blue in alkaline solution.
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Mixture
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Substances mixed without a chemical reaction; the substances can be in any proportion.
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Molecule
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The smallest particle of a compound, composed of several bonded atoms.
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Neutron
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A subatomic particle of zero charge that occurs in the atomic nucleus.
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Organic Compound
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A compound with interconnected carbon atoms.
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Oxidation
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Addition of oxygen to a substance.
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pH
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A number indication the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. A pH of 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and greater than 7 is alkaline (base).
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Proton
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A subatomic particle with a positive charge, occuring in the atomic nucleus.
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Saturated
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Describes a solution that contains as much solute as possible.
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Solute
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The substance dissolved in a solution.
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Solvent
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The pure liquid within a solution.
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Sublimination
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The change from a solid to a gas, without an intermediate liquid.
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Synthesis
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The formation of a compound by combining elements or simpler compounds.
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Absolute zero
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The lowest possible temperature, equal to -273 degrees C or -459 degrees F
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Buoyancy
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The upward force on an object immersed in a fluid.
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Calorie
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A unit of measurement of energy; the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by 1 degree C.
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Capillarity
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The ability of liquids to rise in very tubes.
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Centrifugal
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Toward the perimeter.
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Centripetal
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Toward the center.
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Chain reaction
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Occurs when the fission of one atom causes the fission of other atoms.
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Conduction
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Transfer of heat or electricity.
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Conservation of energy
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Energy may be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
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Density
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Mass per unity volume.
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Doppler effect
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The apparent change of pitch due to differing motion of the sounding source and a listener.
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Electric current
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The flow of electrons; a direct current (DC) flows in one direction, which an alternating current (AC) periodically reverses the direction of flow.
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Energy
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The ability to perform work; kinetic energy is due to a body's motion, whereas potential energy is due to a body's position.
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Fission
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The splitting of an atomic nucleus into several lighter nuclei.
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Fusion
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Nuclear fusion is the union of atomic nuclei to a heavier nucleus.
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Gravitiation
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The attraction of bodies because of their masses.
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Half-life
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The time required for the radioactivity of a substance to drop to half its original level.
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Heat
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Kinetic energy of molecular motion.
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Hypothesis
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A tentative explanation of a phenomenon.
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Inertia
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The ability of a body to resist acceleration and continue at rest or moving with uniform velocity.
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Mass
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The quantity of matter; the measure of inertia.
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Momentum
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The product of mass and velocity; the conservation of momentum is a fundamental law of nature.
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Photon
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A particle of light energy.
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Pitch
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The frequency of a sound wave.
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Prism
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A triangular piece of glass used to disperse white light into a spectrum.
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Radioactivity
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The spontaneous decay of an atomic nucleus with the emission of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays.
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Refraction
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The bending of a light wave at the boundary between two substances.
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Relativity
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The principle that the laws of physics are the same for any two observers, whatever their relative motion.
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Spectrum
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The visible spectrum is the band of colors from the dispersal of while light; the electromagnetic spectrum is the total range of frequencies for electromagnetic waves, including radio and light waves.
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Temperature
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The average kinetic energy of a group of molecules; it determines the direction of heat flow.
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Thermodynamics
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The study of heat energy
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Volt
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A unit of measurement of electric potential; the sound of work necessary to move the charge.
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Watt
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A unit of measurement of electrical power, the rate at which electrical energy is dissipated.
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Weightlessness
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A condition where accelerating forces precisely offset one another.
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Work
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The product of force and distance; it measures the action performed on an object.
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Asteroid
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A minor planet or planetary fragment; most of the thougsands of known asteroids are between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
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Cluster
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A concentration of starts; some globular clusters contrain thousands of stars.
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Comet
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A diffuse body that glows with a prominent tail when its orbit brings it near the sun.
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Constellation
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An aparent group of stars.
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Eclipse
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The obscuring of light from a celestial body by the passage of another body between it and the observer.
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Galaxy
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An astronomical system composed of billions of stars; galaxies are classified as spiral, elliptical, and irregular.
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Latitude
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Refers to the degrees north or south of the equator.
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Light-year
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The distance light trtavels in one year, about 600000000000000 miles.
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Longitude
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Refers to the degrees east or west of the prime meridian at Greenwhich, England.
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Luminosity
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Te intrinsic brightness of a star relative to the brightness of the sun.
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Meteorite
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A rock from interplanetary space found on the earth's surface.
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Milky way
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The spiral galaxy to which our solar system belongs.
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Nebular
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A cloud or dust in interstellar space.
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Quasar
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Quasi-stellar radio source; a distant object with extraordinary luminosity.
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Star
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A large, hot, glowing body of gases.
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Sunspot
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A darker patch observed on the surface of the sun.
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Tide
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The rise and fall of the ocean due to the gravitational attraction by the moon and sun.
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