Scale it up! Flashcards
Scientific notation.
Definition: Scientific notation is a way of expressing very large or very small numbers using powers of 10. It simplifies calculations and helps represent numbers in a more manageable form.
Example: 6.2 × 10⁶ represents 6,200,000.
How to Identify: Numbers in scientific notation are written as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.
Resolution
Definition: Resolution refers to the ability of an optical system (like a microscope) to distinguish between two points that are close together.
Example: A microscope with high resolution can distinguish between two small cells that are very close together.
How to Identify: Resolution is about the clarity and sharpness of the image, and it determines how much detail can be seen.
Magnification
Definition: Magnification is the process of enlarging the appearance of an object or image through a lens or microscope.
Example: A microscope that magnifies an object 100 times will make it appear 100 times larger than its actual size.
How to Identify: Magnification is typically expressed as a multiple (e.g., 10x, 100x, etc.) and refers to how much larger the object appears compared to its actual size.
Microscopic Scale
Definition: The microscopic scale refers to objects or structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and require a microscope to be observed.
Example: Cells, bacteria, and viruses are studied at the microscopic scale.
How to Identify: This scale involves measurements in micrometers (µm) or nanometers (nm), which are smaller than millimeters.
Scaling in Biological Applications
Definition: Scaling in biology refers to how the size of biological structures changes with the size of the organism. Larger organisms often have larger structures, but their physiology may scale differently.
Example: A blue whale has a much larger heart than a human, but its heart beats slower relative to its size.
How to Identify: Scaling involves comparing biological features of organisms of different sizes and examining how their characteristics, like metabolism or structure, change as size increases.
Structural Organization in Living Things
Definition: The microscopic scale refers to objects or structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and require a microscope to be observed.
Example: Cells, bacteria, and viruses are studied at the microscopic scale.
How to Identify: This scale involves measurements in micrometers (µm) or nanometers (nm), which are smaller than millimeters.
Atomic Structure
Definition: Atomic structure refers to the arrangement of protons, neutrons, and electrons within an atom.
Example: An atom of carbon has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons.
How to Identify: Atomic structure involves understanding the nucleus (protons and neutrons) and electron shells (electrons).
Electron Configuration
Definition: Electron configuration is the distribution of electrons in the electron shells or energy levels around the nucleus of an atom.
Example: The electron configuration of oxygen is 1s² 2s² 2p⁴.
How to Identify: Electron configuration describes how electrons fill the orbitals in the atom according to specific rules (e.g., Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle).
Avogadro’s Constant
Definition: Avogadro’s constant (6.022 × 10²³) is the number of atoms, ions, or molecules in one mole of a substance.
Example: One mole of carbon-12 contains 6.022 × 10²³ atoms.
How to Identify: Avogadro’s constant is used to convert between moles and the number of particles (atoms, molecules, etc.) in a substance.
Models in Science
Definition: Models in science are simplified representations of complex systems or phenomena that help explain and predict how things work.
Example: The Bohr model represents the atom as a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons in orbits.
How to Identify: Look for simplified or symbolic representations that illustrate scientific concepts or processes.
Tools for Measurement - Vernier Calipers
Definition: Vernier calipers are precision instruments used to measure the length, width, and depth of an object with high accuracy.
Example: A vernier caliper can measure the diameter of a small pipe to the nearest 0.01 mm.
How to Identify: Look for an instrument with two scales (main scale and vernier scale) used for precise measurements of dimensions.
Newton Meter (Spring Balance)
Definition: A Newton meter (or spring balance) is a tool used to measure force or weight by the displacement of a spring.
Example: A spring balance can be used to measure the weight of an object by noting how much the spring stretches when the object is attached.
How to Identify: A Newton meter typically consists of a spring and a scale, and the force applied causes the spring to stretch, indicating the magnitude of the force in newtons.