Intro to science and ecology Flashcards
what is science?
- a process of inquiry that includes repeatable observations and testable hypothesis
- process used to investigate the world around us
- a systematic approach to understand the universe
what is a hypothesis?
-an explanation that is based on testable observations and experiments
what is an experiment?
it is one way we can test a hypothesis
what is a theory?
- a hypothesis that is supported by a great deal of evidence
what is pseudoscience?
untested or biased ideas presented as sound science (it’s fake science essentially)
what is the scientific method? and what is the order?
- an empirical process that allows us to better the world around us
- observation
- question
- hypothesis
- prediction
- test: experimental or additional observation
what is a model?
an approximation or simplification of the natural world
what are earths 3 systems and what do they include?
- natural systems: air, water, soil and rocks
- biological systems: life or biosphere
- sociocultural systems/human culture sphere: the big part of the natural and biological systems
what are earths major components?
- lithosphere: the upper zone of the earths mantle and the inorganic (non-living) mixture of rocks in the earths crust
- hydrosphere: earths supply of moisture in all its forms. Involves liquid, gaseous and frozen parts of water
- atmosphere: the thin layer of gases that completely surrounds the solid and liquid earth
what are the sub categories in the atmosphere?
- Troposphere: lowest layer of the atmosphere (most weather occurs here)
- Stratosphere: the layer above the troposphere. Contains the ozone layer. It protects life on earth and absorbs most solar radiation (UV radiation)
- Ozone Layer: the part of the stratosphere that filters out harmful UV radiation affected by trioxide and impacted by pollution
What is the biosphere/ecosphere?
- the part of the environment that is inhabited by living organisms
- includes interactions b/w the other components of the planet
what is matter?
it is anything that has mass and takes up space (solid, liquid, gas)
what is energy?
it is the ability or capacity to do work
what is the first law of thermodynamics (first law of energy)?
energy is neither created nor destroyed, but converted from one form to another
what is the second law of thermodynamics (second law of energy)? and what is the equation?
- in any transformation of energy, some amount will be degraded to a more dispersed, less usable form
- energy = work + heat