Word Vocabulary Flashcards
Abdomen
the part of an animal body located between the thorax (chest) and pelvis (hips); the hind section of an insect or spider’s body
Abiotic
all of the nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Abrasion
When sediments are transported, they collide, scrape against each other, and break apart. Rough edges get broken off and the sediments gradually become rounded. Rounded stones and pebbles are results of abrasion
Absolute age
Most geological events, like this intrusion, happened millions of years ago. How do we know when they happened? Geologists calculate the age of a rock by determining the decay of radioactive isotopes present in the roc
Absolute humidity
Scientists can calculate absolute humidity for a sample of air by measuring the dew point - the temperature at which water condenses from the air
Absolute magnitude
Absolute magnitude of a star is the actual brightness of the star irrespective of its distance from Earth. Absolute magnitude is measured by calculating the brightness a star would have at a distance of 32.6 light-years from Earth
Absorb
Plants absorb soil nutrients they need through their roots. Humans absorb nutrients from food through villi. Villi are tiny structures present in the small intestine, which absorb the nutrients from the food and pass them to the blood in the capillaries
Absorption
Absorption is a physical process by which one substance gradually soaks in another substance. Water from rain is absorbed by soil and then by the roots of plants
Abyssal plain
a large, flat region on the seafloor adjacent to the continental rise of a passive continental plate margin
Abyssal zone
the zone of deep ocean below a depth of 4000 meters
Acceleration
a change in the velocity (speed, direction, or both) of a body (related word: accelerate)
Accuracy
how close a value is to the true value; in science, it is important to take accurate measurements
Acid
any substance with a pH less than 7; acids turn blue litmus paper red (related word: acidic)
Acid
a substance that has a pH below 7; will increase the concentration of hydrogen ions in solution
Acid rain
Acid rain is toxic precipitation. It results largely from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, gasoline, and fuel oils. When these fuels are burned, they release sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen into the atmosphere. These compounds interact with moisture in the air and form different types of acid. The acids then fall back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, fog, and hail. The negative effects of this precipitation on all forms of life are severe. Freshwater habitats are in particular danger because most organisms cannot survive in highly acidic environments. Acid rain also damages forests and other vegetation. Acid rain can cause or aggravate such respiratory diseases as bronchitis and asthma. Nonliving things are also affected. Acid rain has damaged many historic monuments. The Roman Forum; the temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia; and the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza in Mexico have all been damaged by acid rain
