Unit 6: The flow of energy Flashcards
Decomposition
the process by which decomposers break down dead material and waste into simpler substances
Energy pyramid
a diagram that demonstrates the flow of energy through a food chain
Photosynthesis
the process by which producers/plants use the energy in sunlight to create their own food
Trophic level
the position that an organism occupies in a food chain, food web, or energy pyramid (e.g., producer, primary consumer, etc.)
Chemical Energy
energy released from a substance, or absorbed in the formation of a chemical compound, during a chemical reaction
Consumer
animals that eat primary producers
Decomposer
an organism, especially a bacteria or fungus, that decomposes organic material
Food Chain
a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food
Food Web
a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains
Producer
an organism that makes its own food from light energy or chemical energy without eating
Radiant Energy
the energy of electromagnetic waves (light energy)
Autotroph
an organism that can make its own food ex. Photosynthesis
Heterotroph
an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients`
Thermal Energy
also known as heat energy, is the energy an object has because of the movement of its molecules
Mechanical Energy
the energy that is possessed by an object due to its motion
