TExES #136 Flashcards
Science terminology
Radiation
The transfer of energy through waves and particles; emission and propagation of energy in the form of rays or waves without the requirement of a connective medium.
The sum of two or more vectors.
Resultant Vector
Barometer
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting.
Weathering
The process of disintegration of rocks, soils and their minerals through direct, or indirect contact with the atmosphere. Weathering occurs ‘in situ’, or ‘without movement’, and thus should not to be confused with erosion, which involves the movement and disintegration of rocks and minerals by processes such as water, wind, ice or gravity.
A fundamental principle in physics which states that every action will create a reverse, or opposite, but equal reaction.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. It was created, in 1812, by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs and is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science.
Moh’s Hardness Scale
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
Small RNA molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated.
The genetic identity of an individual that does not show as outward characteristics.
Genotype
Measurement of the amount of heat evolved or absorbed in chemical reaction, change of state, or formation of a solution.
Calorimetry
The amount of heat released per unit mass or unit volume of a substance when the substance is completely burned.
Heat of Combustion
Not dissolving in, absorbing, or mixing easily with water.
Hydrophobic
Heat of Formation
The increase in enthalpy resulting from the formation of 1 mole of a substance from its elements at constant pressure.
Diploid Cell
A cell that contains both sets of homologous chromosomes.
Frameshift Mutation
A genetic mutation that inserts or deletes a number of nucleotides that is not evenly divisible by three from a DNA sequence. Due to the triplet nature of gene expression by codons, the insertion or deletion can disrupt the reading frame, or the grouping of the codons, resulting in a completely different translation from the original. Frameshift mutations frequently result in severe genetic diseases.
Convection
The process by which large amounts of energy are transferred through the movement of gas and liquid.
Alpha Decay
The radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus accompanied by emission of an alpha particle.
Intramolecular Bonds
Forces which keep atoms held together in molecules and in solids, such as covalent, ionic, and aromatic bonds.
Holds that different strata contain particular types of fossilized flora and fauna, and that these fossil forms succeed each other in a specific and predictable order that can be identified over wide distances. This allows for any period of time in the history of the Earth to be identified by the fossils found in a particular stratum.
Faunal Succession Theory
Gradualism
A slow, steady change in a particular line of decent, rather than rapid change over a relatively short period of time.
The normal cycle of infection of a cell by a virus or bacteriophage, in which mature virus or phage particles are produced and the cell is then lysed.
Lytic Infection
The series of metabolic processes by which living cells produce energy through the oxidation of organic substances.
Cellular Respiration
A fundamental principle in physics which states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion, moving at the same velocity, unless an unbalanced force is applied to it.
Newton’s First Law of Motion
Describes the process whereby organisms not closely related independently acquire similar characteristics while evolving in separate and sometimes varying ecosystems.
Convergent Evolution
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic Number
A chemical similar to a single strand of DNA. In RNA, the letter U, which stands for uracil, is substituted for T in the genetic code. RNA delivers DNA’s genetic message to the cytoplasm of a cell where proteins are made.
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Any of the aspects or appearances presented by the Moon as seen from Earth, determined by the portion of the Moon that is visibly illuminated by the Sun.
Lunar Phase
Hydrosphere
Describes the collective mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion
A fundamental principle in physics which states that every action will create a reverse, or opposite, but equal reaction.
A genetic mutation that inserts or deletes a number of nucleotides that is not evenly divisible by three from a DNA sequence. Due to the triplet nature of gene expression by codons, the insertion or deletion can disrupt the reading frame, or the grouping of the codons, resulting in a completely different translation from the original. Frameshift mutations frequently result in severe genetic diseases.
Frameshift Mutation
A systematically arranged collection of computer data, structured so that it can be automatically retrieved or manipulated.
Database Software
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA)
The chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms. All known cellular life and some viruses have DNA. DNA is a long polymer of nucleotides (a polynucleotide) that encodes the sequence of amino acid residues in proteins, using the genetic code: each amino acid is represented by three consecutive nucleotides (a triplet code).
A process whereby over time one species evolves into a different species (anagenesis) or whereby one species diverges to become two or more species (cladogenesis).
Speciation
A double layer of regularly arranged phospholipid molecules that is widely accepted as forming the basic structure of cell membranes and other biological membranes.
Lipid Bi-layer
Third Harmonic
A sine wave having three times the frequency of the fundamental wave.
Mutualism
Any interaction between two species that benefits both; typically involves the exchange of substances or services.
A specialized semiconductor diode that converts visible light into direct current.
Photovoltaic Cell
A chemical compound nucleotide found in all living organisms that releases energy for cellular reactions when it converts to ADP.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
Scientific Method
A systematic process of learning that includes observations, stating the problem, hypothesizing, experimentation, gathering and analyzing data, and stating a conclusion.
Fossil Fuels
Hydrocarbons formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. A general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years.
Photovoltaic Cell
A specialized semiconductor diode that converts visible light into direct current.
Heat Capacity
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one mole or one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius without change of phase.
Faunal Succession Theory
Holds that different strata contain particular types of fossilized flora and fauna, and that these fossil forms succeed each other in a specific and predictable order that can be identified over wide distances. This allows for any period of time in the history of the Earth to be identified by the fossils found in a particular stratum.
Waves in which the disturbance takes place in the direction of propagation.
Compression Wave
The outer covering of protein surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus, also called the capsid.
Protein Coat
Specific Heat
The amount of heat, measured in calories, required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one Celsius degree. Also known as heat capacity.
Cellular Respiration
The series of metabolic processes by which living cells produce energy through the oxidation of organic substances.
Conduction
The transfer of energy that occurs when a body of high temperature transfers its heat through a connecting medium to one of lower temperature.
Conservation of Mass
A fundamental thermodynamics principle which states that reactions and interactions which change the properties of substances leave their total masses unchanged.
The association between two organisms of different species in which one derives some benefit while the other is unaffected.
Commensalism
Parasitism
Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
Also known as the fundamental frequency; has two nodes at each end and one antinode in the middle, forming a single hill or trough.
First Harmonic
The amount of heat, measured in calories, required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one Celsius degree. Also known as heat capacity.
Specific Heat
Gamma Decay
A radioactive process in which an atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting a gamma ray without a change in its atomic or mass numbers.
Protein Coat
The outer covering of protein surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus, also called the capsid.
Second Harmonic
A sine wave having two times the frequency of the fundamental wave.
Cephalization
In humans the concentration of nervous tissues at one end of the human embryo to produce the brain and head is called cephalization.
The combining of the nuclei of small atoms to form the nuclei of larger ones, with a resulting release of large quantities of energy; the process that makes the sun shine, and hydrogen bomb explode.
Nuclear Fusion
Mitochondrial Membrane
The membrane surrounding the mitochondrion, containing proteins having ATP synthase, which make ATP in the mitochondrial matrix.
Also known as sedimentation, is the geological process whereby material is added to a landform. This is the process by which wind, water or ice create a sediment deposit, through the laying down of granular material that has been eroded and transported from another geographical location.
Deposition
The opening up of the capillaries of the skin in response to warm temperatures, thus increasing the flow of blood to the surface of the body.
Vasodilation
Heat of Combustion
The amount of heat released per unit mass or unit volume of a substance when the substance is completely burned.
Cretaceous Period
From 135 million to 63 million years ago marked by the end of the age of reptiles and the appearance of modern insects and flowering plants.
Describes an evolutionary pattern marked by long stable periods that are interrupted by rapid changes, and involving many lines of descent.
Punctuated Equilibrium
A computer program that displays numerical data in cells in a simulated accountant’s worksheet of rows and columns in which hidden formulas can perform calculations on the visible data. Changing the contents of one cell can cause automatic recalculation of other cells.
Spreadsheet Software
Describes a process by which a population of a species becomes geographically isolated from the remainder, and over time evolves characteristics different from the parent population (due to natural selection).
Geographical Isolation
Homeostasis
The ability of a living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a stable equilibrium; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a constant temperature.
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting.
Barometer
The time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about September 22.
Fall Equinox
Eukaryote
Any organism with one or more cells that have visible nuclei and organelles. The group contains all living and fossil cellular organisms except bacteria and cyanobacteria.
Word Processing Software
An application that provides the user with tools needed to write and edit and format text and to send it to a printer.
Primary Phases
A term used to categorize phases consisting of the new moon, first quarter moon, full moon, and last quarter.
A cell that contains both sets of homologous chromosomes.
Diploid Cell
Compression Wave
Waves in which the disturbance takes place in the direction of propagation.
Lipid Bi-layer
A double layer of regularly arranged phospholipid molecules that is widely accepted as forming the basic structure of cell membranes and other biological membranes.
The transfer of energy through waves and particles; emission and propagation of energy in the form of rays or waves without the requirement of a connective medium.
Radiation
Any interaction between two species that benefits both; typically involves the exchange of substances or services.
Mutualism
Wavelength
The distance (measured in the direction of propagation) between two points in the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave.
The force one surface exerts on another surface. It is perpendicular to the surface of contact.
Normal Force
Ionization Constant
Analog of the dissociation constant, where k = [H+][A-]/[HA]; used for the application of the law of mass action to ionization; in the equation HA represents the acid, such as acetic acid.
First Harmonic
Also known as the fundamental frequency; has two nodes at each end and one antinode in the middle, forming a single hill or trough.
Ionic Bond
A chemical bond between two ions with opposite charges, characterized by the unequal sharing of electrons.
Precision
Describes the degree of reproducibility of a measurement.
A radioactive process in which an atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting a gamma ray without a change in its atomic or mass numbers.
Gamma Decay
Normal Force
The force one surface exerts on another surface. It is perpendicular to the surface of contact.
Density-dependent Limiting Factor
A limiting factor is one that controls a species population size or distribution. A density-dependent limiting factor is dependent on population density (example: the availability of food limiting the size of a local deer population).
Conservation of Energy
A fundamental thermodynamics principle which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, although it can be changed from one form to another.
Molarity
The molar concentration of a solution, usually expressed as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.
Manometer
A pressure gauge for comparing pressures of a gas.
Occurs when one object is moving with respect to the surface with which it is in contact. It has magnitude given by FK = uKN. (uK is the coefficient of kinetic friction and N is the magnitude of the Normal Force).
Kinetic Friction
Forces which keep atoms held together in molecules and in solids, such as covalent, ionic, and aromatic bonds.
Intramolecular Bonds
An inborn sequence of behavior in which variations do not normally occur.
Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)
A chemical bond between two ions with opposite charges, characterized by the unequal sharing of electrons.
Ionic Bond
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one mole or one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius without change of phase.
Heat Capacity
A limiting factor is one that controls a species population size or distribution. A density-dependent limiting factor is dependent on population density (example: the availability of food limiting the size of a local deer population).
Density-dependent Limiting Factor
The molar concentration of a solution, usually expressed as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.
Molarity
Comet
A diffuse body of gas and solid particles (such as CN, C2, NH3, and OH), which orbits the Sun. The orbit is usually highly elliptical or even parabolic.
The distance between the pole of a lens or mirror to the principal focus and is always equal to half of the radius of curvature of lens or mirror. f = R/2.
Focal Length
Wave Amplitude
The magnitude of the greatest departure from equilibrium of the wave disturbance.
In humans the concentration of nervous tissues at one end of the human embryo to produce the brain and head is called cephalization.
Cephalization
Any organism which brings energy into an ecosystem from inorganic sources. Most plants and many protists are producers.
Producers
A region of space-time which cannot be seen by distant observers because light is trapped by a strong gravitational field.
Black Hole
Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)
An inborn sequence of behavior in which variations do not normally occur.
Accuracy
The correctness of a single measurement, assessed by comparing the measurement with the true or accepted value, based on evidence independent of the measurement.
Pulsar
An object discovered at Cambridge University in 1967 which has the mass of a star and a radius no larger than that of Earth and which emits radio pulses with a very high degree of regularity.
A small circular DNA molecule found in the mitochondria of a cell. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother.
Mitochondrial DNA
Evaporation
The process whereby atoms or molecules in a liquid state (or solid state if the substance sublimes) gain sufficient energy to enter the gaseous state. It is the opposite process of condensation.
An application that provides the user with tools needed to write and edit and format text and to send it to a printer.
Word Processing Software
The position that an organism occupies in the energy pyramid or in the food chain. The trophic level describes what an organism consumes, as well as what consumes the organism.
Trophic Level
