Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP Environmental Science > APES Essential Vocab/Terms > Flashcards

APES Essential Vocab/Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Organic

A

Complex molecules derived from or produced by living organisms that have carbon-hydrogen bonds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Inorganic

A

Simple molecules derived from nonliving components, that have no carbon-hydrogen bonds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Natural

A

Existing in or caused by nature, not by humankind

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Synthetic

A

Not real or genuine; artificial

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Kinetic energy

A

Energy of motion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Potential energy

A

Energy that is stored

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Radioactive decay

A

The random process in which a nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Half life

A

The time it takes for 1/2 of the mass of a radioisotope to decay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Law of Conservation of Matter

A

The amount of matter stays the same, even when matter changes form

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

1st Law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

A

When energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded to lower quality energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Entropy

A

The amount of disorganization present in a system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Organism

A

An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Population

A

All the organisms of the same group or species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Community

A

An interacting group of various species in a shared or common location

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of organisms together with their physical environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Producers/Autotrophs

A

Organisms that make their own food, also known as autotrophs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Consumers/Heterotrophs

A

Organisms that eat other living things, also known as heterotrophs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Decomposers

A

An organisms that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Photosynthesis reactants

A
  • Sunlight
  • Water
  • Co2
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Photosynthesis products

A
  • Glucose
  • Oxygen
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Cellular respiration reactants

A
  • Oxygen
  • Glucose
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Cellular respiration products

A
  • Carbon dioxide
  • ATP
  • Water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Aerobic

A

Living, acting or occurring only in the presence of oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Anaerobic

A

Living, acting, or occurring without oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Adaptation

A

Modification of an organism, making it more fit under the conditions of its environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Mutation

A

A change in the DNA sequence of an organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Gene

A

The basic physical and functional unit of heredity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Trait

A

A specific characteristic of an individual

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Chromosome

A

The vehicle that carries DNA wrapped around by histone proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Gene pool

A

The combination of all the genes, including alleles, present in a reproducing population of species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Natural selection

A

A process by which an organism adapts to its environment through selectively reproducing changes in its genotype

34
Q

Biodiversity

A

The enormous variety of life on Earth

35
Q

Extinction

A

The dying out of a species

36
Q

Plate tectonics

A

A scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements

37
Q

Weathering

A

The breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the surface of the Earth

38
Q

Climate change

A

Significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other measues of climate that occur over several decades or longer

39
Q

Minerals

A

Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition

40
Q

Rocks

A

Solid, naturally formed substances that are found in or on the Earth

41
Q

Weather

A

The state of the air and atmosphere of a particular time and place

42
Q

Climate

A

The long-term pattern of weather in a particular area

43
Q

Clear Air Act (1963)

A

The USA’s primary federal air quality law, intended to reduce and control air pollution nationwide

44
Q

Clean Water Act (1972)

A

The USA’s primary federal law governing water pollution

45
Q

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (1973)

A

International law to protect endangered species from international trade, created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

46
Q

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

A

Industrialized nations will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to below what they were in 1990, created by the UN

47
Q

Montreal Protocol (1987)

A

Protects the stratospheric ozone layer, created by the UN

48
Q

Endangered Species Act (1973)

A

The primary law in the USA for protecting and conserving endangered species and their habitats

49
Q

Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) (1974)

A

The principal federal law in the USA, intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public

50
Q

Delaney Cause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1958)

A

A provision in the Food Additives Amendment that prohibits the addition of cancer-causing chemicals to food

51
Q

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976)

A

The principal federal law in the USA governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste

52
Q

Carbon dioxide

53
Q

Carbon monoxide

54
Q

Glucose

55
Q

Methane

56
Q

Hydrogen

57
Q

Water

58
Q

Hydrogen peroxide

59
Q

Nitrogen

60
Q

Nitrous oxide

61
Q

Nitric oxide

62
Q

Nitrogen dioxide

63
Q

Nitrate

64
Q

Anhydrous ammonia

65
Q

Ammonium cation

66
Q

Oxygen

67
Q

Ozone

68
Q

Phosphorus

69
Q

Phosphate ion

70
Q

Sulfur

71
Q

Sulfur dioxide

72
Q

Chlorine

73
Q

Potassium

74
Q

Sodium chloride

75
Q

Lead

76
Q

Mercury

77
Q

Radon

78
Q

Uranium

79
Q

Nitric acid

80
Q

Sulfuric acid

81
Q

Carbonic acid

AP Environmental Science (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions