Chapter 1: Characteristics of living things

Question 1

How do scientists test their ideas?

Answer 1

They test their ideas with the scientific method. The steps are
1. As a Question
2. Obsereve
3.Research
4. Hypothesis
5. Test
6. Make a conclusion

Question 2

How many variables can be tested at one time?

Answer 2

You can only test variables at a time.

Question 3

What is the difference between a theory and a law?

Answer 3

A Theory is a possible explanation of something that happens.
A Law is a description of something that always happens.

Question 4

1-2 How Scientists Work
Key ideas

Answer 4

Whenever possible, a hypothesis should be tested by an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time. All the other variables should be kept unchanged or CONTROLLED.
In a controlled experiment, only one variable is tested at a time.
In science, the word theory applies to a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

Question 5

Use the characteristics of living things to argue whether an item is living or nonliving.

Answer 5

Stable environment
Cells
Reproduce
Genetic code
Respond to environment
Homeostasis (Balance)
Grow and develop
Change over time
Materials and energy

Question 6

What non-living things satisfy several of the characteristics of living things?

Answer 6

Mechanical toys, automobiles, clouds. Other things may include viruses which exist on the border between organisms and nonliving things.

Question 7

Why are they not classified as something living?

Answer 7

Mechanical toys cannot reproduce for example.
Automobiles cannot reproduce.
Clouds are not able to reproduce and they don’t have a genetic code.

Question 8

Describe the 13 Levels of Organization and be able to define each level.

Answer 8

13. Atom- helium
    
    12. modules- H2O
    13. Organelle- mitochondria
    14. Cell- Red blood cell
    15. Tissue- skin
    16. Organ- Liver
    17. Organ system- respiratory system
    18. Organism- Human
    19. Population - Geese
    20. Community- mice & swan
    21. Ecosystem- Backyard
    22. Biome- Savanna
    23. Biosphere- Earth

Question 9

Outline (list) the hierarchy that describes where each level is in relationship to the others.

Answer 9

1. Biosphere- Earth
   The part of Earth that contains all
   living things
2. Biome- Savanna
   a particular physical environment defined by a unique set of abiotic factors (region, climate)
3. Ecosystem-different species living in the same area and their non-living surrounding
4. Community- different species living in the same area and their non-living surroundings
5. Population - same species living in the same area and their non-living surroundings
6. Organism- An individual living thing
7. Organ system - A group of working together to perform on a common function.
8. Organ- A group of working together to perform a common function.
9. Tissue- A group of working together to perform a common function.
10. Cell - Basic unit of living things
11. Organelle- part of a cell
12. molecules- group of covalently bonded together
    Atom- Basic unit of matter

Question 10

1-3 Studying Life
key ideas

Answer 10

Key Ideas:
Living things share several characteristics.
(List of the characteristics)
The many levels at which life can be studied include molecules, cells, organisms, populations of a single organism, communities of populations living in the same area, and the biosphere.
Living things may be studied on many different levels.

Question 11

what is a metric system?

Answer 11

Metric System: Know which units are used for which quantity. Convert one unit to another.

Question 12

Metric system

Answer 12

King Henry Died Drinking Chocolate Milk

kilo (1,000x), hecto (100x) , deca (10x) , deci (1/10), centi(1/100), and milli(1/1,000).

Question 13

Microscopes (light vs. electron)

Answer 13

Light
2-D: compound light mirror (1200x)
3-D: Dissecting/ stem microscope
Electron
2-D: Transmission electron microscope (100x)
3-D: Scanning electron microscope (Sem)

Question 14

How are images produced?

Answer 14

The light microscope- produces a magnification image by focusing on the visible light rays

The electron microscope- produces magnified images by focusing on the beams of electron

Compound light microscope- allows light to pass Do the specimen and use two lens to form an image

Question 15

How is magnification calculated?

Answer 15

Takes the power of an object lens and multiplies it by the power of the eyepiece.

Question 16

Describe the focusing technique. Identify which type of microscope produced which image.

Answer 16

Focus on the technique, look through the eyepiece at the top of the microscope and move the knob on the slide until the image gets clear.

Question 17

How does each microscope type compare with others regarding: magnification & # dimensions?

Answer 17

Microscope two image:
light microscope- 2 dimension image
electron light microscope- 3 dimension image

Question 18

Which can/cannot be used to view living specimens? Why/why not?

Answer 18

The Electron Microscope cannot be used to view living specimens because it is too powerful (beams of electrons) and will kill the live organism.
The light microscope can because it allows the light to pass through the live specimen without injuring/killing it.

Question 19

1-4 Tools and Procedures
Key ideas:

Answer 19

Most scientists use the metric system when collecting data and performing experiments.
Light microscopes produce magnified images by focusing visible light rays. Electron microscopes produce magnified images by focusing beams of electrons.
Light microscopes produce magnified images by focusing visible light rays.