Marine Science Vocab

Question 1

osmosis

Answer 1

Osmosis is the process by which water or other solvents move through a semipermeable membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

ex. Potatoes in salt water
The water inside the potato moves out to join the salt water outside

Question 2

osmoregulation

Answer 2

Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining an organism’s fluid balance by regulating the osmotic pressure of its body fluids

Question 3

hypertonic

Answer 3

Hypertonic means having a higher osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or fluid

Question 4

hypotonic

Answer 4

Hypotonic can mean having low tone or tension, or having a lower osmotic pressure than a surrounding fluid.

Question 5

isotonic

Answer 5

Isotonic means having the same concentration of water and solutes as another solution, or having the same osmotic pressure

Question 6

atom

Answer 6

the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of a chemical element,

Question 7

polarity

Answer 7

the distinct asymmetry or uneven distribution of structures or molecules within a cell or organism

Question 8

molecule

Answer 8

a group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.

Question 9

cohesion

Answer 9

the sticking together of particles of the same substance

Question 10

adhesion

Answer 10

the attraction of molecules of one kind for molecules of a different kind

Question 11

surface tension

Answer 11

The property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force

ex. water on a leaf

Question 12

solvent

Answer 12

a substance with the ability to dissolve other substances to form a solution

Question 13

solute

Answer 13

a dissolved substance

Question 14

density

Answer 14

the degree of compactness of a substance

Question 15

heat capacity

Answer 15

the amount of heat to be supplied to an object to produce a unit change in its temperature

Question 16

heat

Answer 16

energy that is transferred from one body to another as the result of a difference in temperature

Question 17

kinetic energy

Answer 17

the energy an object has because of its motion

Question 18

temperature

Answer 18

a measure of the average kinetic energy (heat) of the particles in an object

Question 19

salinity

Answer 19

the dissolved salt content of a body of water

Question 20

thermocline

Answer 20

the transition layer between the warmer mixed water at the surface and the cooler deep water below

Question 21

halocline

Answer 21

vertical zone in the oceanic water column in which salinity changes rapidly with depth

Question 22

pycnocline

Answer 22

combination of halo and thermo cline

Question 23

mixed layer

Answer 23

surface layer (200 m)

Question 24

vertical stratification

Answer 24

when two distinct layers occupy the vertical water column in the sea